"Tea?"
"Sure, I'll have a cup," Cait said and moved to sit down at the table. It would be useless to help her mother, as Sarah never liked people to do things for her. Sarah brought Cait her tea with just a dash of milk and lemon, the way that Cait loved it. Cait's stomach did a little flip as she thought about how to approach the conversation she wanted to have.
"What brings you here today?" Sarah asked.
"Can't I just stop by to see you?" Cait asked.
"Well, yes, you certainly can, Cait. No need to be rude," Sarah said huffily and eased her thin frame into the chair across from Cait.
Cait studied her mother's face, so much like her own. Deep worry lines etched Sarah's forehead and her shoulders slumped forward, giving her a constantly defeated look. Cait wondered if Sarah had been different before Cait's father had left.
"I'm sorry, I didn't sleep well," Cait said and blew on her tea. Sarah didn't say anything and Cait gave her a small smile. It had always been like this between them. Forced conversations, awkward hugs, and a lot of underlying resentment.
"I…well, I wanted to talk to you about something kind of important," Cait began.
"Oh? Finally giving up on that foolish pub dream of yours?" Sarah asked as she calmly stirred her tea.
Cait felt her breath hitch and she closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her calm. Now was not the time to go over all of the reasons that the pub was the best thing for her. Cait had long since stopped defending her choices to her mother.
"No, actually the pub is doing great and I am making a profit, thanks for asking though," Cait said bitterly. "I have something else to talk about."
Sarah gestured with her mug for Cait to continue.
"Do you have any special abilities that you haven't told me about?"
Cait quickly dropped her shields and reached out to her mother's mind as Sarah carefully composed her face.
"I don't really understand what you mean. Are you looking to hire me or something?" Sarah said deliberately.
Cait shook her head and listened to her mother's mind. Getting what she needed, she put her shields back up and calmly met her mother's eyes.
"You're lying."
"I most certainly am not. What are you talking about? This is confusing, Cait. I don't have time for this, my show is on." Sarah shot a glance to the small television.
Thinking quickly, Cait pulled a Gerbera daisy from her purse that she had foolishly tucked into the outside pocket earlier today. She slid it across the table to her mother.
"Who gave this to me?"
An angry look crossed Sarah's face and she kept her hands on the teacup.
"I have no idea, I'm quite certain one of the foolish lads that sniff around you at the pub," Sarah said and lifted her chin at Cait.
"You could though…couldn't you? If you wanted? You'd be able to touch that flower and tell me who it was from," Cait said stubbornly.
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?"
Cait met her mother's eyes and held them. She jumped as Sarah stood up and threw her teacup across the room, the cup shattering against the wall. Cait leapt out of her chair and turned between the broken remnants of the cup and her mother. Sarah's hands were trembling and her chest was heaving with emotion.
"Get out. Don't come back," Sarah said, her voice low with menace.
"What? Mother, you can't mean that!" Cait said, astounded at the response.
"This is the devil's work. I knew that you were tainted. As am I. I did something wrong…somewhere along the line. This is my cross to bear," Sarah said quietly. She walked to the kitchen to get a broom, muttering about God and the devil. Cait's body trembled with fear for her mother. It wasn't until now that she realized that her mom had moved past reclusive into crazy.
"Mom, these are gifts. Not the devil's work. You can use it to help others," Cait said gently. She moved towards her mom and Sarah held up the broom in front of her small body.
"Stay away from me, Cait Gallagher. I no longer acknowledge you as my daughter," Sarah said.
"Ma, stop. You are being way too dramatic. Can't we work through this?"
Sarah raised her eyes to meet Cait's. The older woman trembled with emotion and for a moment, her eyes looked through Cait.
"No, I don't suppose that we can. We've always been too different. I don't want what you want. I'm happy with the way my life is. You have delusions of grandeur with trying to be some fancy pub owner. And, if you think that a poor girl like you is going to fit into rich Shane MacAuliffe's life…you're dead wrong. Yes, I know that is who gave you the flower just as I know that he is far too rich for your blood. You'd be smart to settle down with a fisherman or a farmer, make babies, and stop trying to rock the boat. Now, get out."
Cait's heart cracked a bit and her eyes blurred with tears. She'd thought she was past the pain that her mother could inflict on her but it seemed that no matter what, she'd always want that approval. With a small nod, Cait turned her back to her mother and slammed the door, running blindly into the street.
She couldn't go to work like this, Cait thought and turning, she ran up the street, away from the town, away from it all.
A late-model sedan slowed by her side.
"You alright there, Cait?"
Shit, shit, shit…was all Cait could think. She would know Shane's voice anywhere. Refusing to look at the car, she continued to walk on the side of the road, hoping he would go away. She sighed as she heard the car stop and the door close.
"Cait, wait," Shane said from behind her.
Cait continued to pound her feet on the pavement and willed herself to stop crying. She stiffened as Shane grabbed her arm and forced her to stop. Cait swallowed and turning, she met his eyes. Instant concern flashed across his handsome face.
"Oh, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Instantly, Shane ran his hands over her arms, down her waist and over her legs. "Where does it hurt?"
Cait froze as heat trailed down her body wherever his hands touched. A warm ripple of lust tugged low in her stomach.
"I'm not hurt. Just, it's nothing," Cait said.
Shane surprised her and pulled her close for a hug. Cait held her back ramrod straight and struggled to breathe.
"It's okay to lean on someone, you know," Shane whispered. Cait nodded against his hard chest and giving in a little, allowed herself to melt into his hug.
"There you are. Now tell me who I have to beat up," Shane said.
Cait hiccupped out a laugh and stepped back, wiping away her tears.
"Unless you are into beating up old women, I don't think that there is much that you can do," Cait said.
"Your mom again?" Shane asked. He'd watched more than his fair share of Cait and Sarah's battles throughout the years after Cait had opened the pub.
"Aye, though this one was a bad one. I don't suspect we will be seeing much of each other after this."
"No, but she's your mother!" Shane said.
"I know. I…I’m not sure if she is right in her head to be honest. She's always been reclusive but today she kicked me out and ended our relationship," Cait admitted.
Shane stared at her, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"Well, that's completely un-Irish," Shane said and teased a laugh from Cait.
"Isn't it just? Ah, well, we've never been your normal Irish family, as you know. I've got Fiona and my friends. I'll be fine." Cait shrugged her shoulders helplessly.
"And me," Shane said softly, his hands still on her shoulders.
Cait nodded softly and lost herself for a moment in his warm brown eyes. Shane glanced around quickly at the street. Finding it empty, he leaned over and brushed the softest of kisses across Cait's tear-stained lips. For some reason, this gentle gesture made tears well up in her eyes again.
"No, no, God, no, please don't cry more. Shit, that is the last thing a man wants is a woman to cry at his kiss," Shane said and awkwardly patted her arms.
A swell of laughter bubbled up through Cai
t and escaped in a choked gurgle. Too many emotions swarmed through her and, bending over at the waist, she laughed from her gut, unable to stop. Catching her breath, she stood to find Shane with his hands on his waist, a grumpy look on his face.
"Well, I'm glad to see that I was able to cheer you up," Shane said.
"Oh God, I'm sorry, it's just…too much," Cait gasped. Shane nodded and started to turn, hurt in his eyes.
Acting on impulse, Cait wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face down to meet hers. She pressed her lips to his blindly and prayed that he wouldn't reject her. Shane's arms wrapped around her waist and drew her closer. Cait let out a small sigh and moaned slightly as Shane deepened the kiss, nibbling lightly at her lower lip. Heat shot straight through her core.
A cheerful horn honk startled them apart and Shane waved as a blue van drove past. Cait kept her face averted but she could feel the color creep up her cheeks.
"Well, now, this will be some gossip for the town," Shane said cheerfully. He stepped back and gestured to his car. "Need a ride?"
Unable to speak, Cait nodded. She had no idea where to take this from here.
"Off to open the pub?"
Again, Cait nodded. She stayed silent on the drive to the pub and nodded a few times at Shane's cheerful discussion of the weather and some local gossip. Pulling up to the pub, Cait turned to thank him quickly, meaning to slip hastily from the car.
"Oh no you don't," Shane said and grabbed the strap of her purse, pulling her close for a blistering kiss. Cait gasped into his mouth and closed her eyes with a soft moan. Her body trembled and her mind emptied of thoughts. She jerked as Shane broke the kiss. Cait raised her hands to her lips; they felt like they were on fire. Shane raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a cocky smile before reaching across her and opening the door for her. Cait had never seen this side of Shane before. Deep down, she thought that she kind of liked it.
"Have a nice day, Cait," Shane said quietly and Cait nodded, unable to speak, and ran for the safety of the pub. Her stomach churned and her face flamed as his long, low chuckle floated from the window of his car.
Chapter 12
Cait's mood stayed with her much of the day. After the second time she was short with a customer, she called Patrick over.
"Listen, Patrick, can you handle this? It should be fairly slow as we have no music tonight."
"Sure thing. Got a big date?" Patrick asked and Cait whipped her head around to scan his face.
"No. What makes you think that?" Cait said, menace lacing her tone.
"No reason. I was just joking," Patrick said, his hands in the air. Cait rolled her eyes. She really needed to calm down.
"Sorry, I'm just in a mood. Going to call it a night," Cait said.
"Okay, I'll call your cell phone if I need anything." Patrick smiled easily at her and Cait blew out a breath. She really needed a break or something…else. Cait was feeling itchy. As she walked home, Cait thought about how long it had been since she had dated anyone. Counting back…she realized it had been since before she opened the pub that she had dated. Why, that made almost three years! Cait stopped in her tracks at the realization that she had gone that long without sex. No wonder she was on edge, Cait thought. Her whole life had been devoted to the pub.
Cait arrived at her apartment and stood looking at the door. She didn't know what to do with herself. Not used to downtime, Cait typically didn't relax well. She eyed Aislinn's shop down the street and debated going to see her cousin. Aislinn would be able to see her emotional turmoil from a mile away, Cait thought. She wasn't quite ready to hash through everything that had happened today. Maybe she should take a drive out to see Fiona, instead.
Having made her decision, Cait detoured around her apartment building towards her bright red compact car in the back parking lot. A nice drive along the coast as the sun set would be a good way to unwind.
Cait rolled her windows down to encourage the sea breezes and turning her car towards the long seaside road, instead of the shorter route over the hills, and she allowed the tension to drain out of her shoulders. Turning up the radio, Cait sang along to bad 90s music as she wound through the curves that hugged the cliffs. The sun was tipping towards the horizon and the water looked like someone had dropped a bag of diamonds onto a blanket of blue velvet. Cait felt her heart soar at the sight. She loved this cliff drive and doubted that she would ever tire of looking out over the water. There was something so incredibly soothing about the sea for her. Even when she was younger, if she had a fight with her mom, she'd bike to the water and stay there for hours, allowing the magnetic pull of the ocean to soothe her angst.
Cait came to a small fork in the road. If she continued to drive straight, she would wind along the cliffs and bypass Shane's house. If she took a right, she'd cut over the hills to Fiona's cottage. Cait stalled the car and turned her head between the two forks. With a soft curse, she drove her car straight, her heart hammering in her chest. Had she known that she would come here? To him?
Cait bit her lip as she drove closer to Shane's spread. Slowing her car to a crawl, she eyed his estate and debated turning into the drive. Shane's house was one of the most modern in the village, all sleek lines, dark wood and ceiling-height glass windows. Cait had never been inside though she was certain that the view had to be killer. The house perched proudly on a cliff, with windows wrapping three sides of the house to let the ocean breezes in. Behind, several stables and small outbuildings clustered around pastures lined with beautiful wood fences. To say that Shane was doing well for himself was an understatement.
Feeling foolish, Cait began to back her car away and slammed on her breaks when she heard the jaunty beep of a horn behind her. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she saw Shane's car pull up and then ease to a stop next to hers.
Caught, Cait gripped the wheel before turning to look at Shane through the open window.
"Stopping by?" Shane said and raised an eyebrow at her.
"Um, I was just out for a drive. So, you know, I can keep driving," Cait stammered.
"Okay," Shane said and smiled widely at her.
Damn it, Cait thought.
"I mean, unless, you, um, wanted company or something," Cait said lamely.
Shane chuckled. "Cait, can't you just say that you came to see me?"
"Can't you just make it easy on a woman?" Cait felt her temper rise and she almost threw her car into reverse.
"Yes, ma'am, come on in," Shane said and pulled his car up the paved drive.
Cait glared at his taillight and contemplated leaving. It wouldn't matter now. He knew that she had come to see him so that would give Shane the upper hand. Determined to regain her footing, she pulled her car behind his and parked. Shane leaned against his car with a small canvas bag in his hands. He crossed his arms and waited for her to get out of her car.
Crossing to him, Cait met his eyes stubbornly.
"Why aren't you at the pub?" Shane asked.
"I was in a bad mood and taking it out on the customers. I went for a drive to soothe my nerves and ended up here," Cait said.
"Well, well. I'm honored," Shane said. Picking her hand up, he brought it to his lips and traced a kiss over her palm. Cait felt her skin heat up. Shane's eyes narrowed into that look that men get when they focus on the object of their lust. Cait drew in a deep breath and shuddered it out.
Whoa, boy, she thought.
She wasn't sure when she had developed a crush on Shane. He'd always been the affable guy around town. He owned several properties, was a fair landlord, and went to church on Sundays. Nothing about him screamed sex, yet for some reason that was all Cait could think about when she was around him these days.
"Don't feel too special. You'll get over it once I say something to make you mad," Cait said breezily and pulled her hand from his to tuck it in her pocket. She nodded at the bag and raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, yes, for Baron. He's been acting odd for days. Doesn't want to run, won't eat much, I'm really
worried about him," Shane said as concern creased his brow. Baron was his thoroughbred and Shane talked about him as if he was a son. Immediately concerned, Cait turned towards the stables.
"Let's go see him," Cait said. She was excited to explore the property as well.
"Sure," Shane said. As they crossed to the stables, they fell into an easy conversational rhythm as Cait peppered Shane with questions about the stables and how many animals he owned. Cait breathed in the scent of hay and horses and jumped as the lights automatically popped on when they walked into the gleaming building. Cait surveyed the clean stalls, dark wood, and open windows that peeked to the sea. The stable was stunning and Cait could tell that any animal housed here would be well cared for.
"Shane, your stable is gorgeous," Cait gushed as they walked down the main aisle towards a large stall at the end. A few shuffles and soft nickering came over the wall of the boxes and several horses poked their heads over their stalls to check out who had come into their home.
"Thank you, it's a passion of mine," Shane said softly.
Cait looked at him and warmth flooded through her. The heat in his eyes was unmistakable. If she was reading him right, then Shane had just as much passion for her as he did his horses.
"I can see that," Cait said and brushed her hand softly over the muzzle of a soft brown pony mare that had stuck her nose over the stall.
Reaching the last stall, they both peered over the edge to see Baron, a shining black thoroughbred, lying on the ground. Immediately concerned, Shane slid the stall door open. Baron struggled to get up but Shane pressed him down.
"Can you flip the extra lights on?" Shane asked and pointed to a small switch. Cait ran to it and light illuminated the stall. Gingerly, Cait stepped in and, disregarding her jeans, she kneeled at Baron's head.
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