by E. C. Hier
“Oh, she’s not my friend. She’s so fired,” she replied, and he gulped his tea too fast choking on it. “I’m joking.”
“That’s good,” he said grabbing a napkin to wipe his mouth. “You should know, I asked her for your phone number and she told me not to be so cheeky and to ask for it myself.”
“She’s definitely not fired,” Olivia said laughing.
She didn’t date but this sweet, funny redhead was possibly Irish so he didn’t count and the fact that he was only in town for three weeks meant that she couldn’t get attached to him so she would go on a couple of dates and have some fun, some safe fun.
There would be flirting and hopefully a simple kiss. There wouldn’t be kissing with tongues, wandering hands, and definitely no naked fun. There most definitely wouldn’t be any love. She would just ignore the desire to lick his peachy skin because that was trouble.
Chapter 3 - Kieran
Kieran left the cafe with a light step. He’d been thinking about the woman he now knew to be Olivia since she’d walked into him and the thought of a date with her made him both excited and nervous. She was a sophisticated woman with chiseled cheekbones and delicate features. Her almond-shaped eyes held a dark mystique that made it near impossible to look away from. Was he making a fool of himself? He came from a family of tough, hardy people who said what they thought and put practicalities above all else.
He could picture the sort of men she dated, and he wasn’t part of that picture. He tried to imagine them together, but he was a tall, lean and muscular, ginger-haired Irish boy with callouses and the need to fill awkward silences. He truly believed that she was so far out of his league that he couldn’t understand why she’d even agreed to go out with him. He’d never dated an American before and that alone set them an ocean apart but she owned the coffee shop and he was just hired labor traveling to where the work was. She wasn’t going to miss him when he left for his next job.
“What’s the matter with you, man? Anyone would think she said no,” Jerry asked.
“I don't know what I was thinking,” he said.
“You were thinking about that hot little body,” Jerry said laughing.
“How did you get someone to marry you, Jerry?” Kieran said shaking his head.
“I showed her my sexy body but I don’t recommend it in your case, she’d just laugh,” Jerry replied.
“I think it’s great that you found a woman who is attracted to beer guts and bad breath,” Kieran called out as they separated on the site.
“Like I said; I’m sexy,” Jerry’s voice floated off into the crisp air.
“Ignore him and your own self-doubts,” Callum said. “Everyone just wants to connect with someone who understands them.”
“Who are you and where did you hide Callum?” Kieran said.
“I’m not as worldly as you, dude, but I date,” Callum replied.
“Do you?”
His last remark earned Kieran a slap in the face with a soggy rag that smelled like dead rats so he figured he’d better shut his mouth. Callum didn’t say much but when he did, it was often profound and sensitive which led to teasing and then silence from Callum.
Kieran didn’t know why they all teased him and he didn’t know why Callum was so sensitive but it was a shame because every time Callum opened his mouth something sensible came out and he needed some sense in his life.
If Olivia stood him up, he would take it as a sign that she’d come to her senses or she was just too polite to turn him away. If she turned up, he’d wing it but he would make a conscious effort not to talk too much and not to make an issue of the fact that she would be well and truly slumming it with him. If he was lucky, she might have fun and they could be friends and he’d get to continue going to her coffee shop and wouldn’t have to walk to the more expensive one a few blocks over.
He spent the day asking various colleagues and even the occasional passerby where he should take her for the date. He got several replies but two people suggested the Italian restaurant just a mile from where he was staying. He’d passed it a few times and thought it looked cozy and he could work with cozy. He would be close enough to gauge her reaction when he spectacularly messed up which he was bound to do.
His last date had ended with a slap to his face which had stung because the woman had long sharp nails that removed a fine slither of skin from his cheek. It wasn’t totally uncalled for. He’d told her, after having a steak with her, that he’d been planning to ask her friend out for months but she was in a relationship and he’d asked her instead. She had jumped up and he should have seen it coming but he felt it when it knocked him clean off his chair.
Kieran didn’t have many clothes that weren’t work related. He had three pairs of steel toe-capped boots and several pairs of cargo pants in various stages of deterioration. He didn’t have smart trousers, but he did have a fairly new pair of dark blue jeans and a shirt that his sister had sent him for Christmas. She had a knack for choosing colors that didn’t clash with his hair and brought out the color of his eyes. He wished he could talk to her, but he was pretty sure she’d be in the middle of a dream about Johnny Depp or whoever she was crushing over at the moment.
He spritzed himself with the aftershave she’d picked out for him as a leaving present and hoped that it wasn’t too much for Olivia. His sister had begged him to find a pretty American woman while he was away and he’d dismissed her as a romantic teenager with nothing but love on the brain but maybe she just wanted him to be happy.
He missed his family but working away from home was in his blood and his father had been more than keen to help him travel. The Irish had always found America a good place to set up home.
Kieran hadn’t planned to stay forever. He was following his firm where the work was and his contract was short term. Next month he’d be in a new city and maybe even a new state because that’s where the work was. Olivia was just a pretty temptation and the chance to make a connection just like Callum said.
He walked to the restaurant, enjoying the buzz on the street. There were wine bars and jazz clubs alongside a multitude of restaurants with every nationality he could think of and a few more besides. He wanted to try them all, but he wasn’t a rich man and he wasn’t brave enough to eat alone. As he neared the corner the Italian was set on his stomach tensed. It was no big deal if she didn’t turn up and if she did, he’d try his best to make it fun. Why did he feel so nervous?
“Hi, you’re early,” her silky voice startled him.
“So are you,” he replied as she appeared from behind him.
He awkwardly leaned in to kiss her cheek and felt a blush warm his skin. She would see it, of course, being fair-haired was bad enough but when you had the ginger gene, you wore every emotion on your skin. He forgot his embarrassment when he caught the scent of flowers on her skin and breathed deeply before stepping away.
“Did you just smell me?” She asked laughing.
“Maybe, a little bit,” he replied and was well and truly beetroot now. “You smell nice.”
He felt like an idiot but it was worth it to hear her laugh and her face took on a warmth that radiated all around her when she smiled. He opened the door for her and they went inside. Her scent was replaced quickly by garlic, warm bread, and wine. There were low lights and candles placed on every table making the restaurant the perfect romantic venue.
They were seated by the window which looked out onto the cold pavement and he could see the lights of the park twinkling over the road. The window was draped with white fairy lights and her beautiful skin glowed under the soft lighting. She was wearing a sparkly top that caught his eye and then drew it into the plunging neckline. The fine bones of her neck and collarbone were looking invitingly tasty.
“Shall we share a bottle of wine?” She asked making him jump.
“Love to, your choice,” he replied.
He knew nothing about wine but he would drink anything she chose because her company was what he came f
or not the food or wine. When he looked at the menu, he was suddenly aware that he was hungry and hoped she wouldn’t opt for a salad because he didn’t want to load up on creamy carbs when she was eating leaves. His job made sure he was lean and strong without an ounce of fat and he was usually hungry, although, never as hungry as Jerry.
Chapter 4 - Olivia
Olivia was impressed by the small restaurant that she’d overlooked because she didn’t date. The room was the most romantic setting on the planet: soft lighting, check; candles, check; Italian smooch music, check and not forgetting the smell of heaven on a plate.
They were shown to a window table that looked out across the park or what she could see of it which was mostly the pretty twinkling lights. Just for a moment, she envisioned herself in Paris because the ambiance was really that romantic.
When a bottle of white wine, her choice, arrived at the table in a cooler she was eager to fill her glass but waited patiently for it to be poured. Kieran was silently watching her with a strange look on his face that made her feel hot and sweaty in the pantie area. She wanted to kiss his smug lips until he moaned and holy hell where did that idea come from?
“What are you thinking?” Kieran asked.
“I’m wondering where that chatty mouth of yours has gone,” she replied sipping the cold delicious wine.
“I’m on my best behavior,” he replied grinning widely to show perfectly imperfect teeth.
“Don’t be on your best behavior, be your normal charming self,” she replied smiling.
“Really? Because I’m not sure how that will work out. I want you to like me, you see,” he replied, and she laughed.
“This is good wine,” she said changing the subject to make him squirm.
“It is,” he said not taking his eyes off her.
“You haven’t even picked up your glass,” she said.
“Yeah, but it’s perfect,” he said, and she saw the color rise in his cheeks.
Olivia liked the way he looked at her and the way it felt. She felt like a prize or delicate piece of art. He made her feel powerful, put her at ease, and made her laugh. Maybe it was part of him being Irish but she had a feeling it was a little piece of magic that was all his.
She hadn’t felt so affected by someone in years. She didn’t even think David had held this kind of power over her and if he had, he would have used it for his own gain. Kieran was handing it right back to her by making himself vulnerable, laying his feelings out there for her to see. Damn, the boy was something.
“So, I’m going to have the bruschetta,” she said gladly as she’d already studied the menu.
There was nothing worse than eating messy food and unknowingly carrying around a piece of food on your face, hair or teeth for the night. She had her compact mirror, and she intended to use the restroom after the main course. She wanted to distract him with her subtle flirting, not with her inability to eat and not wear food.
“I’ll have that Parma ham thing,” he replied. “I’m not going to attempt to speak Italian. It doesn’t sound right from my mouth.”
Her eyes were immediately drawn back to his mouth which was incredibly sexy, even more so now that he was biting his bottom lip. She briefly wondered if Louise had slipped some aphrodisiac in her coffee that afternoon. His green eyes were barely leaving her face although they had slipped to her cleavage a couple of times and she felt her body responding to him.
“So, where are you from?” She asked.
“Northern Ireland, a small seaside town in the north called Portrush,” he said.
“And you’re going back in three weeks?”
“Not to Ireland; wherever the next contract is,” he said, and she caught the apprehension in his eyes.
Olivia couldn’t know what she would be thinking in three weeks’ time when he disappeared from her life she only knew that sitting no more than two feet away from him felt too far away. It was like an insanely powerful magnet was pulling her towards him and she was pretty sure he felt the same way because his hand shot out and wrapped around hers. It was moving too fast; they hadn’t even eaten anything yet but her connection to him felt strong.
“Your skin is soft,” he said quietly.
“Are you ready to order?”
The waiter had appeared out of nowhere and they both jumped back in surprise. Once he’d taken their order she looked back to find him gazing at her with his beautiful jade green eyes. She could look into those eyes for the rest of her life, she thought. They mirrored the ocean that spanned their home countries and made him look exotic to her. Their physical differences were striking but she couldn’t be more drawn to him.
“When we get out of this place, I’m going to kiss you and if you don’t want that to happen you need to let me know now,” he said taking a shaky audible breath.
“Let me think about that,” she teased but the smile that creased her face told him that she was more than willing to surrender her lips.
The food was delicious and in between their lively conversation she found the odd moment to appreciate it. She wanted the date to go on forever, but she also wanted to skip to the part where he kissed her. She couldn’t wait to feel his arms around her and his body pressed against hers but she wasn’t just attracted to him physically, she liked the way he chatted easily about everything.
Words flowed and there was none of the pretentiousness she’d gotten used to with her previous dates. He was honest and straight to the point and his soft accent did really amazing things to her, occasionally making her shiver.
By the time the meal was cleared away she felt more relaxed with Kieran and his ability to make her laugh had warmed her more than the wine ever could. Three weeks was starting to feel like a very short time and she wasn’t about to waste it on dessert. She paid half the bill, and he reluctantly agreed before grabbing her coat.
“You seem like you’re in a hurry,” he said frowning. “I’m hoping it’s because you want that kiss and not because you’ve had enough of my company.”
She laughed, but she didn’t put him out of his misery. A girl needed to retain some mystery and at least a portion of her dignity. He would soon know how she felt about him.
He opened the door for her and they stepped out into the cold air. She shivered, and he put his arm around her pulling her closer. She’d seen a small bar that looked cozy and dark on the way to the restaurant and that was where she planned on getting her first kiss from an Irishman, not the freezing damp street.
“Where are you taking me woman?” he asked sounding amused as she led him down the steps to the bar.
“Somewhere warm,” she replied.
He went to the bar while she found them a table in semi-darkness tucked away in an alcove. It was designed for the purpose by the looks of it because it was lit by a candle and contained a love seat rather than hard-backed chairs. Butterflies were now dancing in her stomach because the anticipation had been long filled with reminders. She wondered if he was as nervous as she was.
“This is cozy,” he said sitting beside her. “I hope you’re not going to be let down by my lack of expertise. When I said I wanted to kiss you I didn’t tell you I was any good at it. I can only apologize if I make a hash of it.”
She placed a hand on his cheek and put her lips on his, surprising him before he could say anything else. His mouth was warm and his lips parted inviting her in. His scent enveloped her, and she felt the magic of the first kiss for a second before heat rushed through her body. His arms pulled her closer until she was crushed against him and it was the most intimate and exciting thing that had happened to her for years. She moaned into his mouth while her body tingled.
“I’m glad this isn’t too public,” he said against her hair as she caught her breath. “Your lips have fired me into action. I won’t be standing up for a while.”
Olivia laughed and her hand strayed to his thigh pulling him closer to her. She wanted him more than anything and it scared her but it was also invigorating.
Her body was alive with feelings that she hadn’t experienced before. She wanted to take it slow with him but her body wanted to be naked and in very close contact.
Chapter 5 - Kieran
Her kiss had been electric and her hands gripping his body like she couldn’t stand to be parted from him made him feel good. He wanted to whip off her clothes and make love to her for the foreseeable future, maybe with some food and sleep thrown in but he also felt the need to treat her right.
He wanted to take her nice places and show her off on his arm. He had the strangest urge to introduce her to his sister, the sister who was three thousand miles away. She seemed to like is humor which was a bonus because most people wanted to gag him after a while. She was still so far out of his league, it made him nervous.
“I’m starting to think three weeks won’t be enough,” he said and then clamped his mouth shut.
“What do you mean?”
Why had he opened his mouth? He really did have to work on vetting what came out of his mouth before it actually did. He’d always worn his heart and mind on his sleeve and it had always brought him trouble. This girl was too special to lose because he was an idiot; he had to play it smart.
“I didn’t mean to say it out loud, I was just thinking that we have so little time before I leave and I don’t think it’s enough,” he said digging in deeper.
“I’m not usually this forward but we could embrace the three weeks we’ve got,” she said licking her bottom lip and making him shiver.
“What do you mean? I don’t want to misunderstand. A man could get into a whole lot of trouble if he’s not clear on the rules,” he replied and she laughed.
“I think I’m suggesting that you walk me home and come in to try a nice bottle of rum I have tucked away,” she said slowly not looking at him.
“Okay,” he said and grabbed his beer taking a big gulp.
“You can finish your drink first,” she said laughing again.
He liked the way she laughed, it relaxed him but not enough to get the nervous feeling in his stomach to disappear. He didn’t have any condoms because he wasn’t expecting anything naked to happen and there was no way he was going to broach that subject. She might have some in her apartment but it would be a real shame to miss out on the fun bits just because he wasn’t a boy scout, prepared for the unexpected.