by Jenna Brandt
“I know what you mean. When I agreed to come along with my sister, I had no idea that I would be seeing you again, let alone finding myself wanting to believe you’re interested in something real with me.”
“For the first time in a long time, I’m realizing that for the right woman, I’d be willing to change my lifestyle and commit to a relationship.”
“Are you saying I’m the right woman?”
Samuel let his mouth drift down to hers, deciding that a kiss could do the talking for him. The moment their lips touched, it was like a firecracker going off. The spark that had turned into an inferno, was now a firework show, lighting them both up from the inside. Vanessa moved her arms up and wrapped them around the back of his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. Samuel held her tight, his heart pounding so hard, he felt like it might burst from his chest.
As he deepened the kiss, a fragment of a memory came floating back. This wasn’t the first time he’d kissed Vanessa. The intimate familiarity of the moment took him by surprise. Kissing wasn’t new to him, but Vanessa made it feel like it was.
A happy sigh escaped Vanessa as she pulled back and opened her eyes to look into his.
“We’ve done that before, haven’t we?” Samuel asked, already knowing the answer before she gave it.
She nodded. “Like I told you earlier, two years ago on New Year’s Eve, we had quite an evening. I knew by the end of the night, you wouldn’t remember it though. It was humiliating to be that forgettable, so I didn’t want to bring it up when we ran into each other again.”
“I don’t know how that was even possible; nothing about you is forgettable, Vanessa.” He couldn’t help himself. He dipped his head down to sample her lips once more. This time, he let his mouth linger, enjoying the feel of hers against his.
They spent the rest of the evening dancing under the stars, talking about his show and her plans to take over and expand her father’s advertising firm once she finished school. They found out that they both enjoyed watching classic movies and attending concerts. What surprised him most was that she attended church. She wasn’t pushy about her religion. It was more a part of who she was rather than something she did and expected others to do. As she talked about how it changed her life, he was taken back to a time when he went to church with his own family. There had been a time that he had really been close to God, but as his career took off, his faith took a back seat. He wondered if that was something he should rectify.
As they made their way back to the train, Samuel was certain of one thing; he was going to do whatever it took to make it work with Vanessa. She was the woman of his dreams, and he wasn’t going to let her go a second time.
Chapter Eight
Vanessa stretched her arms over her head as she woke up after a surprisingly restful night of sleep. It wasn’t often she slept so well while traveling. She attributed it to the previously wonderful night with Samuel. She hadn’t expected to fall for him so fast, or let her heart get wrapped up into whatever was going on with them. He seemed sincere when he told her that he wanted to pursue a real relationship with her, but she’d been hurt by him and other men who had said the same thing but didn’t follow through. Not to mention, Samuel had a reputation of being a party-animal playboy, and part of her was still skeptical whether he could reform his ways.
She climbed out of her bed and turned on the water to take a shower. Before she could climb in, there was a knock at her door. Was Samuel early? She slipped on her robe and padded over to the front of her cabin.
“You’re early, Samuel. I thought we agreed on ten a.m. I guess you couldn’t wait to see me again,” she teased as she pulled the door open, her smile fading when she found her sister standing on the other side with a disapproving look on her face.
“We need to talk,” she demanded as she marched into the room and past Vanessa without an invitation.
“Can it wait? I need to get ready.”
“No, I heard all about your day with Samuel Butler yesterday from several of my friends. What were you thinking, acting that way with him?”
“What are you talking about?” Vanessa asked defensively, crossing her arms over her chest as she took a seat in one of the chairs.
“You were flirting with him the whole time, and someone even saw you kiss in the garden. What’s gotten into you? You’ve always been the practical sister.”
“You mean safe. What’s wrong with me wanting to live in the moment for once?”
“What’s wrong is who you’re doing it with. Samuel Butler isn’t the settling down type. You’ve been away for the past several years, but I socialize in the same circles as he does. You don’t do casual, and that’s all he does. If you get any further involved with him, he’s going to break your heart.”
Vanessa tried to swallow the lump in her throat that had formed while she listened to her sister explain how her choice to get involved with Samuel was a mistake. Was she being foolish? Was he only leading her on, to ditch her once they returned to New York? They talked about their plans once they got home, but maybe that was just part of his game. If he was the player everyone said he was, he knew exactly what buttons to push to get what he wanted from her. Did he look at her as just another conquest?
“I know the two of you have a history, that you spent New Year’s Eve with him two years ago. I know you were smitten, but just remember how that turned out. He got so drunk, he forgot all about you. Leopards don’t change their spots. They just get better at camouflaging themselves.”
Was that what was going on? Was Samuel pretending to be something he wasn’t so she’d give him a second chance? Was it only a matter of time before he went back to his old ways? She could feel the walls building back up around her heart, the fear of being hurt too much to keep them down.
“I appreciate you coming by and talking with me, Heather. I’ll be careful where Samuel is concerned.”
After her sister left the room, Vanessa sat down at the writing desk in her cabin, her shoulders slumped forward like a deflated balloon. Was she being naïve to hope Samuel might really care about her? She debated about canceling on him and staying in her cabin, but then she reminded herself, she didn’t have to make this decision on her own. Silently, she sent up a prayer, asking for guidance on what to do. By the time she finished praying, her spirits were lifted, and she felt a peace. She felt like she should continue to spend time with Samuel.
She made quick work of getting ready for the day. Samuel told her to wear comfortable clothing, including a pair of pants. She slipped on her black Valentino mid-rise skinny jeans and a cream cashmere blouse. Rather than heels, she opted for a pair of Alexander McQueen leather knee-high boots. She grabbed her jacket and purse just as she heard a knock at her cabin door.
“Are you ready for our next adventure?” Samuel asked from the other side of the door.
She opened the door with eagerness. His smiling face greeted her, causing the butterflies to return. “Let’s get out of here.”
“We’re going to grab breakfast in town. I know a great little restaurant on the outskirts of Galway I want to take you to.”
Outside the train depot, they climbed into the back of a waiting taxi.
“Sorry about the ride accommodations. Apparently, the few limousines they have in town are booked up for the day.”
Amused, Vanessa laughed as she shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me. My family may be from old money, but I’ve had to take a taxi a time or two while attending Yale.”
“That’s refreshing. The women I’ve spent time with in the past would snub their noses at taking public transit.”
“Sounds like you were hanging out with the wrong women,” she pointed out.
“That’s becoming clearer every moment I spend with you.”
The somberness of his statement made Vanessa’s breath catch in her chest. The way he was staring at her, she could swear he could see right into the center of her. When he reached over and took her hand, she couldn’t help b
ut lean into him and revel in how he made her pulse race with joy.
After a half hour ride, they arrived at a quaint stone cottage with a thatched roof. The sign above the door read, “The Woodlet.” For being so far away from the main part of the city and tucked away in a corner of a field, the restaurant was surprisingly busy.
Samuel opened the door for her, and as they entered the room, a man rushed up to them, a giant grin on his face. “Welcome, Mr. Butler; it’s so good to see you again.”
“What did I tell you about calling me that, Niall? Please, call me Samuel.”
“Sorry, but you know I can’t do that, Mr. Butler,” the older man with salt-and-pepper black hair apologized as his cheeks tinged red with embarrassment. “I have your special table ready in our private backroom.”
They made their way into a room that was decorated with pictures of the local countryside and Celtic crosses. There were sconces on the wall as well as on the table that gave a warm glow to the friendly place.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’d like sparkling water, please,” Vanessa requested.
“I’ll have the same.”
“You can order a glass of wine,” Vanessa offered. “Don’t refrain on my account.”
“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t always have to have a drink in my hand. Sparkling water sounds refreshing.”
Immediately, Vanessa chastised herself for assuming he would need to have a drink. She’d actually noticed that other than the wine-pairing for the meal, he hadn’t had a drink all day yesterday. “I can see that.”
“I’ll get your drinks and take your order when I return.”
“Oh, I can take care of that right now, if Vanessa doesn’t mind me ordering for the both of us,” he asked, looking at her for the go-ahead. When she nodded, he continued. “We’ll take two of the coddle and mutton.”
“I’ll put the order in right away.” Niall dashed away, leaving them alone.
“Okay, you have to tell me how you know him,” Vanessa asked with curiosity. “I mean, I know you’re a celebrity, but the way he’s acting around you, it’s as if you’re royalty.”
“I featured his restaurant on my Taste of Ireland show last year. He emailed me a few weeks after it aired and told me how it tripled his business. Now he’s going to be able to pay for his kids to go to college.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. You know, from a marketing standpoint, it would be a great follow-up for you to come back to the restaurants you featured and show how they’re doing. It would be a great human-interest piece—I think viewers would really respond to it.”
“That’s a great idea. I might have to hire you as my permanent marketing consultant when we get back to New York.”
“That’s if you could afford me,” she teased with a wink. “But I think we could work something out.”
“Could I pay you in kisses?”
“I don’t know; why don’t you try out your payment plan right now?”
Samuel leaned across the table and placed a kiss on her lips. Just like the night before, a rush of butterflies took control of her stomach. She was tempted to climb right over the table and into his lap, but she knew that wouldn’t be ladylike at all. Instead, she gently pulled back and said, “I think that’s an acceptable form of payment.”
Their drinks arrived, followed by their food. They enjoyed the delicious meal before saying farewell to Niall and heading to their next destination.
The further they got from the city, the more curious she got about where they were headed. The rugged cliffs of the Irish coast dotted the panoramic postcard snapshots from the taxi’s window. Slowly, the unmistakable Carrowholly beach came into view, and Vanessa clapped her hands together with enthusiasm. “I’ve always wanted to visit here, but my parents were city people, preferring Dublin and Belfast. The sands are supposed to be epic.”
“I have some great news then; you’re going to get to find out first-hand. I had Simone book us horseback riding after I found out that you’re an accomplished equestrienne.”
“I’m not that good,” she said, trying to deflect his attention.
“You’re being a little modest, aren’t you? You won the New York state championship in dressage your junior year of high school.”
“How did you know that?’ she asked with surprise.
“I may have looked you up on the internet after the first night on the island.”
Vanessa had no idea she’d had that much of an impact on him. The news took her by surprise, and she couldn’t help but be flattered. “I have to warn you, I haven’t ridden since I went away to college.”
“Isn’t it like riding a bike? You never forget?”
“I wouldn’t know. I was never taught to ride a bike as a child. We’ll soon find out, however, if you’re right,” she stated in a leery tone. “I hope I don’t make a fool of myself.”
A few minutes later, they arrived at a stable where they were assigned a pair of young horses.
“Are you sure you want to ride that one? Stallions can be feisty,” Vanessa warned Samuel as he mounted a brown horse. “We can switch if you want.”
“No, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, but if it goes wrong, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Vanessa mounted the brown mare, the movement like second nature. Apparently, it must be just like riding a bike because she felt at ease on top of the majestic beast. “Good girl, nice and easy,” she coaxed as she flicked the reins, signaling for the horse to move forward.
Samuel came up beside her with his own horse, who was proving to be a little more skittish than Samuel anticipated. He spent the first several minutes looking as if he might be unseated by the stallion before he finally got the stubborn horse under control.
They made their way across the white sand beach until they were on the water’s edge. The horses seemed to be enjoying the ride as much as Vanessa and Samuel, competing against each other to go faster as they moved along the strands of Clew Bay until they reached the open coastline.
After several minutes of running at full gallop, Vanessa pulled back on the reins and pushed her feet in at the sides of the horse, issuing the cue to slow down to a canter, and finally a trot. Samuel’s horse followed and matched the other horse’s speed.
Along their ride, Samuel would call attention to various points of interest, explaining their significance. They passed by “The Seal’s Rock” where the lethargic mammals were sunbathing on the shore’s rugged boulders. In the distance, they could see several famous islands including Dorninish, once owned by Beatles member, John Lennon.
“You look good on a horse,” Samuel praised, “even better than in the pictures I saw online.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. “I’ve forgotten how much I love this. I got so busy with school, I had little time for anything else.”
“Sometimes it’s hard, but it’s important to find a way to make time for the things you enjoy.”
After they finished their ride along the beach, they made their way up into the hilly terrain, wandering through the ruins of Rose Hill Castle, one of the rumored hideouts of Gráinne Ní Mháille. Samuel told Vanessa the quick bullet points of the famous sixteenth century icon’s life.
“I never knew there was an Irish woman who broke the mold like she did. I can’t believe she took the position as chieftain of her clan, not to mention being a pirate queen,” Vanessa marveled. “What an extraordinary life she must have led.”
“I can tell you all the details over dinner if you like. My mother’s maiden name is O’Malley, which is the modern version of the Mháille clan. My mother’s family are direct descendants of Gráinne.”
“Does that mean my boyfriend’s an Irish prince?” Vanessa teased with a laugh.
“Is that what we are, boyfriend and girlfriend?”
The smile vanished from her face. Vanessa had been joking, not realizing the impact of the word she used until it was too late. She didn’t know how t
o define what was going on between them. She knew she wanted him to be her boyfriend, but they hadn’t talked about the status of their relationship. She wasn’t sure if he was that serious about her.
“I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I’m sorry,” she apologized, glancing away. “We don’t have to make more out of this than it is.”
“Listen, Vanessa, I just think we need to be clear about what this is.”
As she looked at him, hope filled her heart. She wanted to believe he was ready to commit to an exclusive relationship, but her sister’s words came floating back into her mind: A leopard doesn’t change its spots. Perhaps, she was naive to think he could ever be able to give her more than just a casual fling while on vacation. It would be better to let it go, than make an idiot of herself asking for more.
“Shouldn’t we be getting back before it gets too dark?” she questioned, trying to change the subject as she looked away.
“Not until we finish talking about this.” Samuel reached across the gap between them, taking her hand in his and squeezing it. When she wouldn’t look at him, he pulled on her arm, trying to get her to look at him. His sudden movement must have spooked the horse, because without warning, his stallion took off at a gallop.
Vanessa could hardly believe her eyes as she watched Samuel wobbling as he gripped his saddle for dear life. He looked like a rag doll being tossed around. She was certain he was about to be kicked off and pressed into the sides of her own horse to urge the animal to charge forward at full speed. Before she could reach him though, her biggest concern happened. The stallion reared back, thrusting his front legs high in the air, and tossed Samuel off his back. Samuel tumbled to the ground, landing with a hard thud just as Vanessa reached his side. The stallion took off toward the direction of the stables, leaving them in his dust.
Vanessa quickly dismounted from her own horse, then fell to her knees beside him. “Are you all right?”
Samuel blinked several times before letting out a heavy sigh as he rubbed first his shoulder, then his side. “I think I’m fine; just a few bumps and bruises.”