Page 37 of An Irish Hope

Rory laughed and pulled away. “Sorry.”

“You’re not that sorry,” Aisling grumble-teased.

“You’re right.” Rory winked. “But I am glad we found out something about your man.”

She coughed again. “He’s not my man.”

“Don’t you want him to be?”

Well, yes. But admitting that in front of her sister was one thing. Admitting it in front of her sister’s fiancé was another.

“Just pretend I’m not here,” Aidan said.

“That’s a little hard.”

“And honestly, Ash, it’s a little hard for anyone to believe you don’t like him. Not when you admitted as much to him before.”

“What?”

Rory laughed. “I overheard Mam and Andy earlier. Apparently you hit your head and started saying all kinds of things.”

Her chest tightened. Oh no. “What did I say?”

“I don’t really know. But from what I overheard, it sounded like you were telling him he’s so handsome, and stuff like that.”

Mortification scorched her cheeks. “Was I on drugs? That sounds like I was high.”

“The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Aidan smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m sure he was flattered.”

She winced, humiliation rolling off her in heated waves. Nobody wanted to feel like a fool. And from what had been said, she could guess that Rory had probably edited what Aisling had said. She huddled under her pink blanket. What on earth must Andy think of her? And what on earth would she say to him when she met him again?

* * *

The drama of the morning seemed to have eased by the afternoon, the rain having set in so Andy was happy to read and watch TV. Doing so during the day felt self-indulgent, but with Grady having returned home, it wasn’t like he had an abundance of people to hang out with. He had friends, but he could also be content alone. But here, in this fancy hotel, he couldn’t help but wish there was someone else to talk with. Someone to laugh with. Someone to enjoy. Just like he’d originally envisaged when they’d booked the Castle Griffin Hotel for his and Greta’s honeymoon. For as spectacular as it was, as many activities were on offer, sometimes he still felt a little lonely.

Which was why he was now lingering around the foyer, killing time until the restaurant opened for the evening meal, pretending to read one of the books in the small library next to the lounge room off the entrance hall, while he tried not to wonder how Aisling was, and whether she really was as messy as her bedroom had suggested. Had that knock really loosened her inhibitions so much that she truly had meant what she’d said? Or was it simply the vulnerable spaces of his heart running away into Neverland?

Whatever it was, he felt edgy, itchy with nerves, nothing was settling. He needed to be doing something, not hanging around passively trying not to wonder about what was going on upstairs.

Footsteps and low voices drew his attention to the staircase. Rory and Aidan. Had they just been with Aisling? They spoke with Maeve on reception, the exchange quiet so he couldn’t hear. Not that he wanted to hear. Except he also kind of did. Only to check Ash was okay, of course. Rory glanced his direction and he straightened.

“Hey, it’s the hotel hero,” Rory teased.

He shook his head at the name as Aidan grinned.

“How is your sister?” Andy asked her.

“She’s taking it easy. Been resting, watching TV.”

He nodded. “She took a nasty knock so I’m glad she’s being sensible.”

“Sensible is not a word associated with my sister very often, but yes, she’s being careful.” Rory smiled. “Thank you for helping her. I know she appreciated it.”

He shrugged. “I only did what anyone else would do.”

Although whether anyone else would have received those words from her he wasn’t sure. He’d barely been able to get them out of his head. Which was why he was glad to not see her down here. How could he act normally with her knowing she’d said what she had?

He glanced at Aidan. “I understand you’re heading back to Australia soon.”