Page 5 of Irish Betrayal

He’d made her cut those ties, but if she were honest, the ties were far from severed. Daniel didn’t speak, which was typical. He kept his thoughts to himself for the most part, though he did share with Jonathan…and her.

Correction. He used to share with her. Now he watched her with sad eyes, hurt eyes, desperate eyes.

Blair felt cruel in that moment, more so than any other. She wanted their synchrony back, their secret touches, inside jokes, knowing looks, and absolute loyalty.

Ciar thankfully broke the tension building between her and Daniel. “Gray mentioned a few weeks ago that her dad was out of sorts with your dad, Blair, because he was considering letting you go to America by yourself. I told Gray then that your old man would cave when you batted those big green eyes his way. Didn’t I, babe?” he asked his wife.

Gray rolled her eyes before kissing her husband’s cheek. “You did.”

Swallowing down her unease over Daniel’s continued silence, she told everyone about the master’s program, Stillwater and Muskogee, Oklahoma, and what species she would be studying for a semester in hopes of eventually getting it off the state’s endangered list.

“I’ll miss you, but it sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Mags spoke and signed simultaneously. “From what I remember, Rowan and Katy Stanton are close.”

Close was an understatement. Rowan had dated Katy’s husband, William, before marrying Bébhinn’s dad, but became lifelong friends with her when they were kidnapped for ransom by a rogue Stanton employee.

“Bébhinn, didn’t your dad design the compound for him and your brothers originally?” Mags asked.

“Yes,” Bébhinn answered, a soft smile playing over her lips. Mom, Raven, and River have the best stories about the times they spent there.”

“I recall hearing a few racier tales—and by hearing, I mean eavesdropping,” Gray chuckled. “One in particular included River, Patrick, and kitchen counters. I’d avoid those, Blair, if you ever eat at the main house.”

“Shut your disgusting mouth, Gray,” Jonathan groaned. “I know for a fact that my mother had sex exactly one time and that was the night I was conceived—in a bed with white sheets and a priest outside the room blessing the union.”

“Of all the delusional bullshit, Jon,” Daniel said, breaking his silence. “Our dads, Uncle Ulf included, are as horny as they come. Best to accept that fact and then never, ever think on it again.”

Amidst groans and fake gagging, the group piled into the kitchen to dive into the three giant bags of food Ciar’s aunt Alya prepared for them.

Blair grabbed a container of wild greens topped with tons of vegetables and Murphy’s Pub’s signature Crab Vinaigrette dressing. It was her favorite, and Ciaran Murphy knew it. As she pulled it from the pile before anyone else could make a go for it, she felt someone’s fingers drag down her spine.

Her breath stuttered, knowing exactly who was touching her back. Before considering her actions, she looked over her shoulder and locked eyes with Daniel.

He mouthed one word. “Later.”

three

STEM Summer Program

Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Seven years ago

BLAIR DAISY BARR

Dear Diary~

I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven. Today is the fifth day of my second STEM summer program at Trinity. Why haven’t I been writing every day like I did last time? Because I’ve been too flipping excited!

I have the same botany instructor, Dr. Peter Samson, who is teaching a class again on pathology. AND… Wait for IT… He learned BSL. In one year!

FOR ME!!!

I almost cried—how embarrassing would that have been? I can tell that some of the older students in the class are jealous that Peter (he told me to call him that when we’re alone…REMEMBER) gives me so much attention.

I don’t want the other kids to feel that way, and I try to not raise my hand to answer so much, but a lot of times, NO ONE knows the answer. What am I supposed to do?!

I can tell when I please Peter. He has a special smile that he only gives me. I swear, I’m not making that up.

His signing isn’t the best. YET. But it will be by next year, I’m sure. He’s THAT smart. I did tell him that I read lips, and so a few times he’s tapped my hand to get my attention when he has something to say.