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“If you do, I’ll wake you up when it’s time to leave.”
So they drove to Oceanside, where Mike met Aisling. A friend of the hostess, Aisling was a nursing student at the same college. She saw him from across the room, and a sensation went through her body that would occur every time she saw him for the rest of his life. Mike was gorgeous, tall, built, with thick black hair; he looked like a model or an actor. Having nothing to lose, she decided to approach him, her self-confidence fueled by a glass of wine.
“Don’t I know you from Western civilizations?”
He’d been staring at a blonde who was doing shots at the kitchen counter when Aisling approached him.
“I don’t think so,” he said dismissively.
“I swear I recognize you,” she persisted, refusing to be dismissed. “I thought you were the guy who fell asleep duringThe Agony and the Ecstasyand got in trouble for snoring.”
Reluctantly pulling his eyes away from the blonde, Mike finally made eye contact with Aisling and couldn’t help himself; he started laughing. “You caught that, huh? How embarrassing.”
While she attempted to put him at ease, Mike studied Aisling’s face. She was so pretty, with a beautiful complexion and auburn hair, dark eyes and a smile that was doing weird things to his heart. He was sorry he’d been rude when she approached him.
“Do you want to walk on the beach?” he asked after they made small talk and it looked like she was about to give up.
A look of concern flashed on her face.
“I promise, I’m safe,” he said, putting his hands up.
“I watch too many oldDatelinecrime mysteries. I’ll just let my girlfriend know I’m leaving with you. What was your name again?”
He dug his wallet out and showed her his license. She read, “Michael Clark Saint. That’s an attorney’s name if I ever saw one.”
“I’m a firefighter,” he said, laughing. “At least I’m trying to become one. What about you?”
“Take a guess,” she said. “We’re almost cliché.”
“Nursing school?”
“Yes. That was too easy. Maybe I should reconsider.”
They both laughed. “I don’t know,” Mike said, giving her a sidelong glance as they walked along the surf. “I might regret asking you to come out here with me.”
“And why is that?”
She stopped to pick up something that had reflected the moonlight. Squatting down to get it, she turned to look up at him, handing him a small piece of metal.
“Because you’re even prettier in the moonlight,” he said, taking the object from her. “I’m determined not to let a pretty face keep me from my goals. Do guys really talk this way?”
“They do tonight,” she replied, grinning up at him. “Can you see what it is?”
“It’s a religious medal of some kind.”
They stared at it as he held it up. “It’s a saint. There are letters on it.” She spelled out the letters. “St. D-w-y-n-w-e-n.”
“Never heard of him,” Mike said. “And I’ve been a good Catholic all my life, too.”
“Is that right?” Aisling asked, laughing again.
“It’s true. You don’t believe me?”
“Oh, I believe you. It’s just that I’m a good Catholic too, so what am I doing on a dark beach with you in the middle of the night?”
“I don’t even know your name,” Mike said. “I’m so sorry.”
“Aisling Murphy,” she said. “Nice to meet you, Mike.”
