Shocked, her heart hammering in her chest, Cait tried to pull away. Shane increased the pressure of his kiss and Cait fell into his warmth. As the cheers surrounding them broke into their kiss, Cait stumbled back. Turning, she bowed to the clapping crowd and laughed, playing the kiss off as showmanship.
Cait dashed from the floor. Throwing a glance over her shoulder, she saw Shane standing in the middle of the dance floor, his eyes offering as much of a threat as a promise. A shiver ran through Cait and she ducked beneath the pass-through of the bar, determined to return to normal.
"Aye, so you let that one kiss you but not me?" Patrick demanded, half-joking.
Cait poked him in the ribs and moved to take a drink order.
"He owns the place, after all," she called lightly. The bitter truth of it hit her though and she swallowed against the anger that rose in her throat. Why did Shane think that she couldn't afford the building? Was she just some charity case to him? Her mother's words rising in her head, Cait tried to shake off her feelings of insecurity.
"Hey, what's with you?" Aislinn called from the end of the bar. With a sigh, Cait went to her.
"Nothing, why?"
"Um, I can read your feelings? Duh?" Aislinn said and knocked her fingers against her head.
"Yeah, well I can read your thoughts. Should I take a peek at what you think of Dr. Hotness?" Cait said bitchily.
Brushing off Cait's comment, Aislinn reached out and touched her hand.
"What's wrong, honey? Why are you feeling insecure? The kiss?"
Cait shrugged her shoulder and glared across the room at Shane's back where he sat with Baird.
"Shane laughed at me when I said that I wanted to buy this building. And, well, I went to see my mom tonight. She pretty much echoed the same sentiment about me not being good enough for the rich folk." Cait shrugged her shoulders and wiped at a spill on the bar.
"Cait Gallagher, that is nonsense. You are just as good if not better than every person in this town. You have good heart, a solid reputation, and this business is wonderful. Just look around you!" Aislinn gestured to the full pub of happy people dancing and drinking. "You did this."
Cait smiled at her cousin's enthusiasm. "You're right. I did do this."
"And that makes you a badass woman."
"Yes. That makes me a badass woman," Cait agreed with a wicked smile on her face. Leaning over she kissed Aislinn's cheek.
"You're good for me, cousin. Now, go flirt with the good doctor," Cait instructed.
"I think that I am just going to go. Have to open the shop early and all," Aislinn said and averted her gaze.
Cait raised an eyebrow at her but only nodded. Cait watched as Aislinn stood and walked to the edge of the dance floor. Instead of going over to the table, she waved at the men and then hightailed it from the pub. Cait gasped as Baird jumped up and followed her. Oh, she so wished that she could run out on the street to see what would happen!
Shane cocked his head at her in a question but Cait turned from him. She needed to think about her reaction to him and now was not the time. Mechanically, Cait moved through the motions as the evening wound down.
"Last call," Cait called, checking her watch. Most of the crowd had dwindled anyway. Some of the pubs around town locked the doors at closing time, allowing patrons to stay longer but no longer serving new customers. Sometimes Cait did that but not this evening. She needed some time to think.
Cait smiled and settled tabs until she felt like her face would crack. Finally, she blew out a breath and made her way over to wipe off a bar table.
"Cait," Shane said from behind her and Cait jumped and turned.
"Oh, I thought everyone was out," Cait said. Her pulse jumped as she looked into Shane's eyes.
"They are. Patrick is doing dishes in the kitchen," Shane said.
Cait's stomach did a little twist and she watched Shane warily as he walked towards her, backing her up against the bar. Cait put her hands up on his chest lightly to stop him.
"Shane, stop."
"Why? I want you. Come home with me," Shane asked, his lips inches from hers. Cait's head swam as lust pooled low in her stomach. She felt so tiny pressed against the bar, Shane's muscular body pressing into hers. Gently, she eased back from his lips.
"No, not tonight. Not like this," Cait whispered.
"Not like what? It's clear that we want each other. We are both single, unattached adults," Shane said, his arms braced on either side of Cait.
"I know. But, I don't know. Perhaps it isn’t best, you know, what with you owning the building that I work in and all that. Wouldn't want you to go slumming for an evening," Cait said and ducked under his arm. She jumped as he grabbed her arm and whipped her back to him.
"Slumming?" Shane asked dangerously.
"You know, having your fun with us poor people before you move on to something better," Cait said bitterly.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Cait," Shane said. Cait met his eyes and wished that she would let herself read his mind.
"I'm sure that you wouldn't," Cait murmured and eased her arm from his hand. Shane threw up his hands and backed up from her.
"You are, quite possibly, the most infuriating woman. Hot, then cold, hot, then cold. Figure it out," Shane shouted and stomped from the bar.
Cait's pulse hammered and she took a deep breath against the twist of unease in her stomach. Every inch of her wanted to run after Shane. Instead, she hefted a tray of glasses and called for Patrick. There was work to finish.
Chapter 18
Cait woke with a grumpiness that wasn't going to be shaken just by the cup of coffee that she brewed. Staring morosely into her empty fridge, she contemplated going for a full Irish somewhere. Cait wondered if she should go talk to Fiona about her mood. Shaking her head, she slammed the refrigerator door. What she needed was a nice healthy crying jag. Or a good long sulk. The problem was, Cait rarely allowed herself a crying jag or a good sulk. She'd cried more this week than she had in three years. Cait hated feeling moody. Perhaps cleaning her apartment would shake her mood, she thought as she eyed her small space.
Dismissing that idea, Cait thought about the one thing this week that had truly made her happy.
Smiling, she drank her cup of coffee and checked her watch. If she hustled, she'd have enough time to stop by the Donovans' for a surprise chat. Maybe she'd even get some insight into lasting relationships, Cait thought.
Pulling on a black tank and jeans, Cait tossed her messenger bag over her shoulder and hit the street, detouring down the road to the flower shop. Cait pulled sunglasses over her eyes to block the bright sunshine. Squinting, she saw Ellen, Shane's employee, leaning against a building talking into a cell phone. Ellen brought her hand up to cover her mouthpiece and Cait cocked her head at her. That was weird.
With zero shame, Cait reached out and scanned Ellen's mind.
"That idiot is clueless. I've got the books rigged and he thinks everything is fine. Just be sure to transfer the rest of the money by tomorrow and we'll get out of here. Let's go to London," Ellen said into the phone.
A white flash of heat hit her and, instantly enraged, Cait stormed down the street to grab Ellen's arm.
"Ouch, what are you doing?" Ellen shrieked. "Oh, it's you. I'm not sleeping with your man so you can back off." Ellen sneered at her and jerked her arm from Cait's hand. Cait stared at her open-mouthed.
"No but you're stealing from him," Cait hissed.
Ellen's face paled and she hit the button on her phone and shoved it in her pocket.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Ellen said, straightening her shoulders.
"Don't I?" Cait blocked Ellen from moving past her. She barely registered that people were beginning to stop in the street to watch.
"I will not stand here and let you throw accusations at me," Ellen said.
"Oh, you aren't cooking the books?" Cait demanded.
"What are you talking about?" Ellen said.
"You and your little boyfriend. You're skimming the books. Planning to transfer money tonight?" Cait nodded towards the phone.
"You'd better back off," Ellen said and pushed Cait. Cait stumbled back a moment, in shock that Ellen had laid hands on her. A flash of rage ripped through her.
Cait saw red. Without thinking, she slammed Ellen back against the building and got in her face.
"Going to London, are you?" Cait whispered.
Ellen's face went white and her eyes opened in horror.
"There is no way you would know that," Ellen whispered.
"So it's true then," Cait said.
"What are you, some kind of freak?" Ellen shouted at Cait and shoved her hard. Cait stumbled back again, no match for the taller woman. Ellen eyed her with her fist raised and then turned from her.
"Stay away from me, you freak. So help me God if you say one word to jeopardize my life, I'm coming after you," Ellen shouted at her before stomping down the sidewalk.
Cait watched her go, shame flowing over her at being called a freak. Her chest rose as she struggled for breath. What had just happened? She never fought. Not physically at least. If anything, being a pub owner, Cait was always the peacemaker. Looking up, she saw a line of people on the sidewalk across the street.
"Did you get a good show, then?" Cait shouted at them. The crowd quickly dispersed, but Cait knew that the damage was done. The news that Cait and Ellen had gotten into a fight on the street would be all over town by noon. With a sigh, Cait decided against the flowers and went back to get her car. It wasn't like she was running from town, but now was a good time to leave the small village. Cait prayed that the Donovans were home.
Chapter 19
Cait's hands trembled as she gripped the wheel on the drive out to the Donovans' house. She replayed the ugly scene with Ellen in her head.
Ellen had known that something was off about Cait. Perhaps she had heard rumors that Grace's Cove had a few mystical touches to the village, Cait thought. She tried to shake off the feeling of being called a freak and instead focused on how to tell Shane what she had discovered about his business manager.
If Cait went and told him, Shane would ask for proof. Cait had nothing to give and it would be her word against Ellen's. Would Shane believe her? Cait wondered if she could tell him about her ability or not. Remembering how he had dismissed her ambitions the night before, Cait slammed the door shut on that thought.
And yet… Cait pounded her fist on the steering wheel. She couldn't let Shane continue to get ripped off either. Her thoughts in a whirlwind, Cait pulled into the drive at the Donovans' cottage.
Getting out of her car, Cait stretched and took a deep breath, allowing the soft summer breeze to calm her down. The door cracked open and Mr. Donovan popped his head out.
"Ah, Cait, I hear you've been fighting on the streets this morning!" Mr. Donovan waved cheerfully and came out to greet her.
"Seriously? Already?" It never ceased to surprise Cait how quickly gossip traveled in their small village. She supposed she should be used to it by now.
"Now, Cait, this is exciting stuff here," Mr. Donovan joked and led her around the corner of the house to where Mrs. Donovan sat in the shade, enjoying the view of the water. Two dogs raced across the grass to sniff at Cait's feet. Automatically she reached down to pet them.
"Hi, Mrs. Donovan," Cait called and felt a warm rush of happiness go through her when the old woman's face lit up.
Cait took the seat next to Mrs. Donovan and Mr. Donovan rushed to bring another chair forward, eager to hear the gossip.
"Cait got herself into a fight this morning, dear," Mr. Donovan said. Mrs. Donovan raised an eyebrow at Cait.
"I did, at that," Cait said. She opened her mind to Mrs. Donovan.
"Well, I'm sure that she had it coming to her," Mrs. Donovan said.
Cait laughed and reached out to pat the old woman on the shoulder. "She did indeed."
"What did she say?" Mr. Donovan asked.
"She said that the other girl probably had it coming to her," Cait said.
"Well, of course she did. I've never known you to fight. Break up a fight, yes. Restore order, yes, but fight? Never," Mr. Donovan said briskly.
Cait leaned back in her chair and stretched her legs out, allowing the calmness of her surroundings to soak into her bones.
"I have a problem," Cait admitted.
"Tell us, we'd love to help you," Mr. Donovan said immediately. Mrs. Donovan gave a subtle nod with her head.
"I found out some information this morning. About Shane. And I didn't find it out in a normal way," Cait said, raising a finger to her head.
The Donovans watched her, waiting for her to go on.
"And, I…I think that I may have fallen for him." Cait raised her hands and let them drop back into her lap.
"Ah," Mr. Donovan said.
"I can't tell him about this information without telling him about my ability. I'm scared that he'll walk away from me," Cait said.
"How bad is this information? Is this what you were fighting about?" Mr. Donovan asked.
"It was and it's bad. It will hurt him and his business significantly," Cait said.
"Well, if you love him, you must tell him," Mrs. Donovan said.
"But I can't prove it. That's the problem," Cait protested.
"Does he love you?" Mr. Donovan asked.
"I suppose that is the question, isn't it?" Cait whispered.
"Is there any way that you can show him what he needs to know about his business without telling him about your ability? Gather proof?" Mr. Donovan asked.
Cait sat forward and thought about that. If she went to Galway and confronted Ellen, perhaps she could gather more information. Or, maybe she could gather some clues from the various people that lived in his investment properties. She'd be a detective!
"If I go to Galway, I bet that I could confront her and get what I need," Cait said.
"Tell him about you. Trust him to believe in you," Mrs. Donovan urged.
Cait sighed. "How? How can I trust him with this? What man would want to be with a freak like me?" Cait whispered, tears pricking her eyes.
"That's nonsense," Mr. Donovan said briskly. "I can tell you that after years of living with a woman, she can read your mind whether she has the ability to or not. You're a fine woman, Cait Gallagher, with a heart pure as sunlight."
Heat crept up Cait's cheeks and she couldn't help but smile at Mr. Donovan.
"He's right, Cait. Don't go to Galway. Tell him how you know. Trust him to believe in you. Give him the chance to believe in who you are," Mrs. Donovan urged.
"I don't know if I can do that yet," Cait said.
"It's true, what he says about relationships. When you love someone for so long, you fall into this rhythm of knowing who they are, what they want, and what they are thinking. You don't need to be a mind reader to know when they are mad at you or unhappy, you just feel it," Mrs. Donovan said.
"Look at how you have helped us. You're no freak. You're special," Mr. Donovan said.
"Well, thank you, and speaking of that, how can I help you both today?" Cait said, switching the subject. She needed some time to think.
Cait spent the next hour giving Mr. Donovan instructions on how to run the household, errands to do, and suggestions for Mrs. Donovan's medical care. Towards the end, she just acted as an interpreter for the couple, allowing them to laugh and enjoy a conversation about local gossip. When it came time for her to go, Cait could feel that her mood had lifted a bit.
Bending over, she pressed a kiss to Mrs. Donovan's papery cheek. The old woman clasped her arm.
"Tell him. Have faith in him," Mrs. Donovan urged.
"We'll see," Cait said.
"Will you come on Monday, still?"
"Of course, you can plan for it. I like being here," Cait said.
Mr. Donovan led her to her car. He stopped her before she got in and embraced her in a big bear hug. Cait allowed herself to relax into
the hug and inhaled the scent of cigar and soap.
"You're a good girl, Cait. Shane would be lucky to have you," Mr. Donovan said.
"Thanks, Mr. D. That means a lot," Cait said.
Smiling, she backed out of their driveway and followed the road towards the village. She opened her windows to the ocean breeze. Should she tell Shane? Cait allowed the thought to circle her head all the way into town. Finally, she drew her car up in front of Shane's office, knowing that he was probably working today. Sitting in her car, she stared at his office for several minutes, her stomach in knots.
Could she just go in there and tell him that she had read Ellen's mind and that she was skimming the books on him? Cait clutched the wheel and a faint sheen of sweat broke out across her brow. The Donovans made it seem so easy. Paralyzed by fear, Cait drew in a deep breath before finally shifting her car out of park and down the lane.
Reaching for her cell phone, she called the pub.
"Patrick, can you handle the shifts today? Maybe call Annie in? I need the day off," Cait said into the phone as she passed the sign pointing towards Galway.
Chapter 20
Cait grimaced as she drove into Galway. She hated driving in bigger cities and though Galway wasn't as big as Dublin, Cait had grown used to the ebb and flow of small-town traffic. She swore as a car cut her off. Typical of the city.
Cait drove towards city centre, uncertain where to start. She wished that she had done a little more research prior to coming into the city. She knew that one of Shane's buildings rested right on the main square and planned to go there first to ask after Ellen. As a property manager, Ellen most likely lived in one of the apartment buildings that Shane owned.
Cait smiled as she drove into the square and admired the line of flags on one end and the people sitting in cafes along another. Galway was a fun city – a cross between small-town Ireland and big-city Dublin. If she had to pick, she'd rather spend time in Galway than Dublin. Spying a parking spot, Cait wrenched her wheel to the left and pulled in, waving a hand as angry horns sounded behind her.
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