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“You’ll know something is wrong.” God, this was making her shoulders tight. She was going to have to act before the precaution went into effect; otherwise, they’d find her out because it wasn’t like she could refuse the extra security when she’d gone in and asked him for it. “Unless we have to pee along the side of the road.”
“That’s what the sat phones are for, which we want everyone to carry after this,” Wilt told her.
She’d already thought of buying herself one. “Yeah, because CBs won’t communicate far enough, right?”
He regarded her with amusement. “Aren’t you an arts and culture reporter?”
“What can I say? I’m a Gemini. I live for random info. Plus, CB radios are in plenty of older movies. Hello,Breaker! Breaker!I used to wish I could have one of those as a kid.”
Which had displeased her snobby rich parents, who’d told her not to fantasize about the lives of “uneducated truck drivers.” God, how she hated Bitsy Hartman-McGowan and Theodore McGowan III. Liam had called it last night—walking away from her parents had been the best decision of her life. Fuck her trust fund and their money. She’d done more than fine on her own and been a whole hell of a lot happier.
“I’ll see what I can do about the CB radio—but only for fun. Can’t be easy arriving as you did. Everyone is dedicated to making your first days smoother and more pleasant in the coming weeks. Me included.”
She wanted to punch him in the shoulder and buy him a beer after that comment. “Thank you. You’re a good egg, Wilt. I can see why Linc hired you.”
“He listens, and when he gives his word, it’s golden.” He got a shuttered look in his eyes, as if he were reliving bad memories. “That’s the kind of person you want to work with.”
“I hear you. There are a lot of assholes out there.”
She almost got a full smile out of him, but she imagined it would be bad for his image as a fifty-some-year-old security officer hardened by life. Oh, she was such a reporter sometimes.
“We plan to spread the word about the increase in security,” he continued, “with the intention of getting Malcolm and those associated with him to back off. While Officer Hart didn’t say, I think he’s going to pay a call to Malcolm personally, and if he can get Denis Walsh on stalking you from the airport, I think he’ll charge him. Denis does still live within this jurisdiction.”
But would Malcolm find a way to get Denis out? Or had part of his motivation for orchestrating the showdown been to see what the new Garda guy was going to do? “Let’s hope so. We’re dealing with some pretty pugnacious pricks. If you’ll forgive my French.”
Smile achieved. “Forgiven. That sums up my unofficial take. I’m glad you’re on board, Taylor. And I agree with everyone. You handled yourself with incredible toughness and smarts yesterday. Now it’s my job to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Excuse me. Linc is motioning me over.”
Part of her wanted to sidle closer and listen to their conversation. But police officers didn’t like to talk shop in front of victims, and to the new Garda guy, John, that’s what she was. Disgusting really. She headed into her new kitchen instead, picking up her phone on the side table on the way. Liam’s text shone like a spotlight at the top of the screen. Excitement raced through her. He’d been her happy thought last night and this morning.
Good morning! I hear you’re talking with the Garda now. I thought I’d see if you wanted to go for a ride after to blow off some steam. Why don’t you text me when you’re ready and I’ll pop by?
She reread the text. Easy. Casual. So like him. Save that insane chemistry between them, which had made her skin sizzle. She fired one right back at him.
Wrapping up now. Come on over.
He simply sent a thumbs-up emoji. Yeah, he was being good about taking things slow even though he believed they were soulmates. She was a little more open to the idea this morning. She’d watched the video of the incident herself—an out-of-body experience in some ways—so she’d seen the way her expression had changed when Liam pulled up. First, her shock and delight after he took off his helmet and then the fear and anger in her tight mouth as she’d stepped forward to protect him.
But maybe she would have felt that way about anyone who’d shown up to help? Hard to know, and she wasn’t going for another roadblock meeting to find out.
Thankfully, Sorcha had left her alone last night. But she did need to thank the ghost at some point. Shehadbeen handling the situation, but she couldn’t deny having Liam arrive had been a relief. What did a thank you gift look like for a ghost? Some cultures made offerings of fruits and nuts, but wouldn’t that be cruel since they couldn’t eat them? Maybe Liam would know—since he knew so much about spirits and woo-woo.
When was she going to get used to that? And his mind reading? Although maybe that could be a plus. Communicating her feelings could be a problem for her. Sometimes it felt like she was still talking to her parents, explaining until she was blue in the face but not getting anything across.
Then again…
Maybe his mind reading was going to be a problem. She had her secrets, ones she’d promised herself to never reveal after being burned in the past right around her first encounter with the cops. And yet, Liam had told her he wanted to learn about herfromher—not through his gifts.
Gifts!
He’d mentioned welcome gifts, and sure enough, her kitchen table was full of them. She’d noticed them last night when she was scanning the space—flowers in cut vases, a cute stuffed Kindness sheep with the word “welcome” on its fluffy belly (apparently they had memorabilia now), and some Irish green candles—but she hadn’t taken inventory.
Her energy had crashed after she’d armed the house, her adrenaline giving out, and all she’d wanted to do was take a shower and start researching ways to protect herself better in Ireland.
She walked over to the gifts and, taking a huge breath to relieve the pressure in her sternum, sifted through them. She unwrapped a green blanket with an Irish wool sticker on it. It was from Sophie, the card said. Okay, her family too—but she knew who’d selected it. It was lovely, and she ran her fingers over it before setting it aside, her attention drawn to a large hand-carved box made of some kind of light wood with her initials carved into it that had her heart racing. She knew Liam had worked as a handyman, and maybe it was his influence, but she could almost feel his energy in the wood. She pulled out the card wedged inside the box.
Hi Taylor,
Look forward to meeting you. I heard you needed these. Welcome to our town.
