Niall

by Diane Darcy

  “The water, streaming out like that.”

  “Don’t they make refrigerators like this in Scotland?”

  He truly didn’t know, but shook his head.

  “Oh, well,” she pointed over to the sink. “There’s a tube that runs from the water filter under the sink to the refrigerator. And that tube is connected to where the water comes out.”

  “Of course. I should’ve thought of that.”

  He’d not even left her property since arriving, but the new experiences were adding up. He’d never seen basketball before, never eaten food like she’d served earlier, and never seen a girl quite like Jenny.

  The girls in his village and the surrounding ones had tended to be shorter, for one thing. Less vibrant somehow.

  He tried to remember Fiona once more, and was frustrated when once again, her features eluded him.

  Would he even recognize her if she were to walk in front of him? What of when he went to his just reward? Would she be there? Would she know him? Had she been waiting for him? Those were all questions that had eaten at him over the years.

  With Jenny standing in front of him, alive and vibrant, he couldn’t deny the attraction, nor his fascination.

  Was he some kind of debaucher? He’d never thought himself such a miscreant, but perhaps he’d tendencies he needed to fight.

  He handed her back the cup. “Will your brother return soon?”

  “Zach’s at his favorite sports bar.” She grinned and lifted her phone from off the counter. “I checked my Find My Friends app and found him. He’ll probably just stay out late. You never know what he’ll do when he’s in a temper, but I suspect he’ll come back here to sleep eventually. He’d better be back by morning, anyway. He took my car.”

  So Niall would be in the house alone with the girl.

  He inhaled and let his breath out slowly. “Perhaps I should wait outside for his return?”

  “Oh, that is above and beyond nice of you. You said you could stay for the weekend, right?”

  At his nod, she continued. “Feel free to go to bed. You can see Zach tomorrow sometime. I just want to mention once again how much I appreciate your willingness to help. Seriously, the questions you asked and the points you made were just brilliant. Zach needs another man his age to open his eyes to the fact that a wife isn’t just a disposable commodity to ditch when the going gets tough.”

  “Certainly not.”

  She smiled at him. “Again, I like your attitude.” She opened a box he’d not noted before and placed their cups inside.

  Again, he couldn’t help himself; he had to know. “What is that?”

  She glanced at him and followed his gaze. “What? The dishwasher?”

  “It washes dishes for ye?”

  “Uh, yes?” She drew out the word, letting him know his question was unusual.

  Still, he’d rather she think he was a bumpkin than to leave such questions unanswered.

  She shut the box again, and turned and headed to the staircase. “Follow me, and I’ll get you settled.”

  He was right behind her on the stairs when she stopped and turned around. “Wait, I think we should —”

  Whatever she was going to say was lost as they stood on the stairs, now face to face as the height difference was removed.

  She looked at his mouth, and his entire body seemed to tighten.

  Her breath caught on a gasp, and he knew the attraction racing through him was affecting her as well.

  His swallow was audible in the sudden silence. He would not act dishonorably. He would not—

  She kissed him.

  His mouth clung to hers, the only point of contact.

  The sensation of her soft lips fitting to his set him afire in both mind and body.

  She leaned into him, and he pressed his hands flat against both sides of the wall, and it was everything he could do not to grab hold of her.

  She was a temptress.

  And he was a weak, weak man.

  He didn’t know if the kiss lasted but moments or eons, but when a shiver raced through her, engendering his own, he pulled away with a gasp.

  Wide-eyed, they stared at each other.

  He tried to grasp all the reasons he should not pull her to him, but all he could see were her beautiful eyes, creamy skin, and lush mouth, slightly plumped from the kiss.

  He shuddered. “Lass —”

  “No, don’t say anything. I’m sorry.” She sucked in a breath. “That was presumptuous of me, and let’s just leave it at that. I don’t know what came over me, and I’ll show you to your room.”

  He heard her words, but still struggled with his own conscience, versus what he wanted.

  They should forget about this?

  That would probably be for the best, but impossible all the same.

  She turned and walked the rest of the way up the stairs, and he followed. In a slight daze, he found himself looking at her bare legs once again.

  He averted his gaze as she opened a door and turned on a light.

  She faced away as well. “This will be your room for the next couple of days.”

  “Thank ye.”

  “The bathroom is right next door, and there are towels on the shelf in there.”

  She still wasn’t looking at him, and he thought that was for the best. “Thank ye, lass.”

  “Well, I’ll just leave you to settle in. I’m sorry there’s no television, but you can come downstairs in the family room and watch whatever you’d like.”

  “Again, I thank ye.” He quickly shut the door, relieved when the impact of her presence started to recede.

  He glanced around at the bed and the dresser, then walked over to look out the window. A large tree partially obstructed the view out front and he wondered if he ought to open a window, climb out, and run away from this place. From her.

  Was this what Soni wanted of him? Was this part of his test, and he’d already failed it?

  He tried once again to remember Fiona’s face and all he could see was Jenny’s.

  Was he simply a dishonorable man, then?

  He’d not initiated the contact, and he’d broken off the kiss, but both seemed trifling, compared to the feelings Jenny was generating within him.

  He needed to do his job and do it well, and he’d finally get the answers he wanted.

  Best he stay away from Jenny.

  Jenny looked at the closed bedroom door, and mortification heated her cheeks.

  Well, that had been instructive, anyway.

  And inflaming, and sweet, and utterly fantastic.

  She’d tried to control herself, she really had.

  If he’d pulled her close, she’d have wrapped her arms around him and clung like a leech, no doubt.

  His seeming regret, versus the hungry way he’d kissed her, left her feeling confused.

  She supposed if she’d thought about it first, which she hadn’t at the time she assured herself, she’d understand better what had just happened.

  Had he wanted to kiss her, or hadn’t he?

  You would think after a kiss like that, the question would’ve been answered.

  But instead, she was standing outside of his bedroom door, feeling confused.

  Maybe he was attracted, but there was someone else?

  Maybe he thought that as a hired therapist, a line had been crossed?

  Maybe—

  Oh, forget it. She headed to her own room and quietly shut the door. Maybe she needed to get him off her mind.

  She could get her iPad and watch a movie, or call her brother. That actually wasn’t a bad idea, and just as she reached for her phone, it rang.

  It was her grandmother.

  Well, she couldn’t think about romance and her grandmother in the same thought process, so it was probably a good thing she was calling. At least it would get her mind off the situation.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, dear! It’s your grandmother.”

  “I know, Grandma.”

&nbs
p; She chuckled. “You younger generation with your newfangled toys. In my day, we never knew who was calling when we answered the phone.”

  She smiled, thinking of her grandmother’s old landline phone. “You still don’t.”

  Her grandmother laughed. “That’s true. We used to have a box that told us, but it broke, and so now we don’t know anymore. Still, I think it’s more fun to wonder when you answer the phone.”

  “Unless it’s a salesperson.”

  “Sometimes that’s okay too. Not that we buy anything, but it’s nice to chat with people now and again.”

  Jenny laughed. “I can just see that happening. By the time you’re about ready to wrap up the phone call, you’ve probably invited them over for pie.”

  Grandma chuckled. “That’s true; I have done exactly that before. But I have found that most of those calls originate from another state, and sometimes from another country, so we’ve never actually had anyone come by.”

  “That’s probably for the best.”

  Grandma chuckled again. “Anyway, that’s not what I called about. Your father called and he’s worried about Zach and Tina. I’m worried about them too.”

  “Make that three of us then.”

  “Oh, dear. I was hoping you might have some good news, what with him staying with you. What do we do?”

  Jenny sighed. “I’m not sure there is anything to do. Though I am actually trying something at the moment.”

  “Do tell?”

  “Well, this might sound crazy …”

  “Honey, I live on an experimental potato farm outside of Denver, and your grandfather wins awards every year for his practices in natural farming. Nothing you say is going to surprise me, I promise.”

  It was Jenny’s turn to laugh. “Okay, you wild and crazy woman. But I don’t want you to tell anyone.”

  “My lips are sealed.”

  “Well I decided what Zach and Tina need is some therapy, but of course I couldn’t get either one of them to agree.”

  “Of course not, dear.”

  “Anyway …” She explained the plan to have a therapist come to the house and treat Zach unawares, and how Niall had turned up tonight.

  “I wouldn’t have thought a therapist would have agreed to that.”

  “You know, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask. Most everyone turned me down, but Niall showed up tonight, spent some time with Zach, and he was fantastic! Zach is at the sports bar fuming at the moment, but that’s better than sitting on my couch, right? He’s got Zach thinking.”

  Jenny left out her own experiences with Niall, and the fact that she’d actually spent more time with him than her brother had.

  “Well, I’ll be darned. Who would have thought that would work? That is innovative thinking at its finest. I’ll tell you what—I have a plan as well, and I think that if we both work together, we might be able to knock some sense into their heads.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “I thought I might invite Zach and Tina to brunch tomorrow. Sometimes, good food can lead to good conversation, and if we have you and your wonderful therapist there as well, perhaps the country air, country cooking, and some old-fashioned common sense will rule the day.”

  “That is a great idea.”

  “I think so too.”

  Jenny was bursting to tell her grandmother that Tina was expecting, but couldn’t, of course. Besides, it would only upset her grandmother further. “How do we go about making it happen?”

  “Here’s my plan. We’ll invite Tina out at 9:45 a.m., and Zach out at 10 o’clock. We’ll have Tina park around back, and when Zach pulls up, he won’t see her car.”

  “You know, that might actually work.”

  “I believe it will.”

  Excitement built within her. Finally, after all this time, things were starting to happen. “All right. I’ll text them both and let them know.”

  “Text?” Grandma scoffed. “Don’t you worry about it. I think the invitation will be better coming from me. I’ll call them both myself.”

  Jenny chuckled. “Whatever you think is best.”

  “I think what’s best is to get those two knuckleheads back together. They’ve had enough time to stew.”

  “I completely concur.”

  After they hung up, Jenny considered going and knocking on Niall’s door, but the weight of shyness overcame her. She didn’t want him thinking she was coming on to him or anything, especially after the way he’d practically shut the door in her face.

  No, tomorrow morning would be soon enough to talk to him. He’d said he was there for the weekend.

  She couldn’t resist, and quickly opened her laptop for a quick peek. Her breath caught. Fourteen people had already watched the video she’d posted earlier! It wasn’t exactly viral, but the excitement of sharing something that caught on never got old.

  The urge to link his name and address to the video was overwhelming. Surely the man wanted more business?

  She knew how online advertising worked. Even if he ended up turning people away, he’d simply become more exclusive, and he’d be able to raise his prices.

  He’d thank her for it, she just knew he would.

  Unable to resist, she went to the original website where she’d gotten his information. She quickly copied and pasted his business name, phone number, and address. She could always remove it later.

  Feeling pleased with herself, she uploaded the new information labeling it Scottish Wisdom from Dr. Niall Salazar.

  She got ready for bed, climbed under the covers, and picked up her tablet. She looked at the list of streaming romance movies available, sighed, and placed the iPad back on the bedside table.

  Niall hadn’t exactly rejected her, but at the same time, he hadn’t seemed happy either.

  Well, tomorrow was another day for her as well as her brother.

  She was attracted to Niall, and if anything came of it this weekend, that would be all right with her.

  Chapter 6

  The next day, Niall slid into the passenger seat of Jenny’s car to take his first ride and excitement gripped him hard.

  Jenny slipped into the driver’s seat, shut the car door, pulled on her seatbelt, clicked it into place, and gave it a tug.

  Niall copied her, then reached over to double-check hers, giving it an extra tug.

  Her brows rose. “Keeping me safe?”

  “Aye, lass. Always.” He kept his voice light, determined to forget all about last night’s kiss and keep things neutral between them.

  She was staring again.

  He self-consciously rubbed his smooth face, liking the feel of his freshly shaven skin.

  She chuckled. “It’s a good look for you.” She placed the key in a slot and twisted it, starting the engine, then turned around to watch as she backed the car out of the driveway. “They sure make them different in Scotland. If I’d have known, I’d have visited a long time ago.”

  They drove out of Jenny’s neighborhood, down a main thoroughfare, and eventually ended up in the country.

  Jenny chuckled beside him and he glanced at her, brows rising.

  “Sorry, it’s just that you seem so wide-eyed and bushytailed this morning. How long have you lived in Denver?”

  That’s right, she was under the misapprehension he lived and worked here. He shrugged and tried to keep it as honest as he could. “No’ long.”

  “Is that why you were able to accommodate me? I don’t think there are many therapists who would be willing to come to the client these days. But I want to assure you that I appreciate it.”

  Feeling uncomfortable and still not sure what a therapist was or why he was one, he glanced out the window once more, slightly relieved to see the homes and businesses were thinning as they entered the country.

  This was much more his style. The big city, while awe inspiring with its large buildings, flashing lights, and multitude of cars and people, made him slightly nervous. “I’m glad to do it, lass. It was a task
I was more than willing to take on.”

  “Oh? Did Zach and Tina’s story inspire you in some way?”

  He shrugged. “I once had a girl I left behind. I’ve always wondered about her, worried over what became of her, and I can’t help but feel that perhaps my experience is what placed me here at this time. I’m hoping I can help Zach, even if I was unable to help myself.”

  She threw him a quick look of concern before watching the road once more. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

  He glanced at her quickly, then away. “It was a long time ago.” Eager to change the subject, he said, “You’re quite competent with this vehicle, lass.”

  “Oh? Do you think so? My dad would be gratified to hear you say that. He swears most of his gray hairs popped out when he taught me.”

  He glanced around at the thinning traffic, still going quite fast, but the cars were becoming farther and fewer between. “Mayhap ye might teach me how to drive this vehicle?”

  She threw him a startled glance. “You’ve never driven a car before?”

  He shook his head.

  She slid him a narrow-eyed look and grinned.

  “Ye find that amusing?”

  “I do. A big, powerful, Scotsman … and he doesn’t know how to drive a car.” She chuckled.

  His adrenaline seemed to spike and his heartbeat pounded as long-forgotten emotions welled in his chest. The Scottish part was a given, but she saw him as big and powerful? Mayhap a protector? The thought of it soothed that part within him that believed he was a man who let women down. He cleared his throat. “If ye were to teach me, I think I’d catch on quickly enough.”

  “Well, not here because we’re on a time schedule. But if we get the chance later, sure, why not?”

  “Truly?” He’d seen the vehicles for years, coming and going from the moor. In the beginning, there’d been much talk about how they worked, how fast they could go, and the function of the different types of vehicles. In later years, some had become much more attractive to the eye. The one Jenny owned seemed to be a serviceable sort, but still, he’d not mind a chance to drive before whatever came next for him.

  She slowed the car and turned down a dirt road, the type that he was much more familiar with. There was a large house ahead, painted white with blue trim. It looked to be well maintained and surrounded by much property. “Your grandfather is a landowner, is he?”