“Hurry up!” his friend shouted. “We don’t have time to lay into her now.”
He moved his jaw back and forth, grinding his teeth together, his hand still around my neck. He leaned in so he was inches from me. “Clearly ya don’t give a fuck about yar own personal safety. But what about that bartender boyfriend of yours, huh? Maybe we need to carve up pretty boy’s face. Maybe then ya’ll be more cooperative.”
My stomach went into freefall. “No! No!” Not Killian!
“We’re gonna give ya one more chance, Mrs. Flatery. ’Cause that’s the kind of softies we are. Tell us where to find Tommy or come up with some quid, or we will break every one of your boyfriend’s bones in front of ya.”
I sobbed. “But I don’t have any money.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” his friend called.
Then, it flashed through my mind. “Wait. Wait.” The funds raised for my hospital bills. “I can get the money ya need.”
My assailant tilted his head, squinting his eyes at me.
“I swear. I’ll get it.” I was losing it. “Just don’t hurt him.”
“You worry about getting us that money. And don’t even think of going to the guards. We have people working as guards all up and down this fair isle. The report ya filed with Duncan and Yeats has conveniently ‘disappeared,’ by the way.”
The tall one spoke to Mr. Hennehan in that deep voice he had. “Ya say a word to anybody, you’re a dead man.”
I couldn’t turn, but I heard a thump, a moan, and a bigger thump.
“Let’s get out of here.”
The man holding me released his hold on my neck, giving me one last shove. “Ya have until first light tomorrow.” He pivoted as if to walk away. I gulped in air and wasn’t paying enough attention to catch the backhand aimed at me. It connected with my face and spun me like a top into a hot chocolate display. I lay on the ground amid smashed boxes of cocoa with my eyes closed.
Please, Lawd. Make them go away. Don’t let it happen again.
The bells above the door jangled, and my eyes popped open. I didn’t move, afraid to hope.
Please, God.
Slowly I pushed to all fours. My arms were shaking.
Mr. Hennehan.
Grabbing onto shelves, I dragged myself to standing, then rushed to the end of the row. I looked out the window. The sun was shining in, and not a soul was on the street.
“Mr. Hennehan?” I murmured.
A groan of response came from the counter five feet away. Forgetting about everything else, I ran around the end of it. The older gentleman was pushing himself into a sitting position. I rushed over and crouched beside him.
“Oh, gracious. Are ya all right?” A large lump was visible near his right temple. “Let me get ya some ice.”
“No!” He stared at me with round eyes. “Ya get out of here.”
“But I could—”
“Get out!” he screamed.
I stood, staring at him, then backed away. “I need tomato paste.”
“Take what ya need and go.”
Tears formed, making it hard to see. I stumbled down the aisle, grabbed two cans off the shelf, and returned to the front. The grocer was on his feet. My ears were ringing.
It’s my fault this happened to him. They came because of me.
I slid some bills out of my jean’s pocket.
“I don’t want your money.”
I gaped at him, stunned. He glared at me. I walked toward the door. He exhaled. I set several Euros on the end of the counter and left.
Killian
I helped Deirdre haul boxes into the storeroom and shelve or unpack them. When I came out, two cans of tomato paste were on one of the stainless steel kitchen tables.
“Did Bridey go up front?” I asked Tag.
“I thought she was with you.” He looked around. “Didn’t ya bring her home from the doctor’s?”
“Aye. But she went to get tomato paste.”
Since his hands were in water, he used his shoulder to point at the table. “That tomato paste?”
“I presumed.”
“She must have snuck through here without me seeing her.”
“All right.” I turned to the bar.
“How’d the cast thing go?” Tag asked.
“Fine. It was a quick appointment.”
Tag nodded. “Good. Good.”
Paddy was filling a tray with shots. I searched the room.
“Seen Bridey?”
“I thought she was with you.”
I frowned. “She was.”
Paddy slid the tray of drinks to Bre, and half-turned to smile at me. “Lose her, did ya?”
I chuckled. “I guess so.”
I searched the premises and decided she must have gone home.
That’s odd for her to not tell someone. I rubbed my chin. I wonder if she’s trying to avoid our conversation.
I decided not to press her on it after she got back. I wanted her to come to me when she was ready.
But she was acting strangely when she returned. Keeping eye contact to a minimum, and conversation was held even more rarely. I watched her carefully and reviewed our earlier conversation for a clue but found none.
At one point Deirdre stopped beside me and followed my gaze. “Uhh…what’s wrong with Bridey? Are yous bickering?”
“Not that I know of. Why?”
Deirdre continued to study her. “She seems a smidgeon…off.”
“I thought so, too. But, whatever it is, she’s not sharing it with me.”
“Hmm.” She patted my hand. “Let me have a go at her. She may confide in me, woman-to-woman.”
I smiled. “I’d be grateful. I’m pure flummoxed on what course to take next with her, so I am.”
Twenty minutes later, I walked in on Paddy and Deir’ talking in the kitchen.
“He says they didn’t have a spat. But—”
Paddy saw me approaching and touched her arm.
Deirdre spun around. “Oh, hallo, Killian.”
I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “Uhh…did ya discover anything?”
She shook her head. “She insists everything is all right.”
I sighed. “Thanks a million for trying.” I turned but twisted back. “You two can go on talking about us now.” I pivoted on my heel and left.
The next time Bridey came up with an order, she stood staring at her empty tray.
“Did ya have an order?”
“Hmm.” She jumped. “Oh, aye. Two minerals, please.” I got the glasses out and filled them while still watching her. She looked at me. “What?”
“Are you all right?”
She adjusted the drinks on her tray a fraction. Not nearly enough to make a difference. “Aye. Why?”
I leaned forward. “Anyone ever tell ya not to play cards, Bridget? Ya do a poor job of bluffing.” Now, seeing her up close, something seemed different about her face, though I wasn’t sure what it was.
She shifted her weight. “I guess I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”
“Why don’t ya go home? It’s slowing down. I’m sure we could handle it.”
“I might take ya up on that. Thanks.” She headed off to her table.
Around nine, the grocer from next door ambled in and took a seat at the bar.
Deirdre beamed at him. “Why, Jacob Hennehan. It’s been ages since ya sat down to my bar.”
Bridey was walking toward us, but seeing the grocer, stopped abruptly, almost causing the couple behind her to ram into her.
“Excuse us,” the man said pointedly.
“Oh. Pardon me.” She stepped to the side and let them pass, then continued her trip to the bar.
Deirdre addressed Mr. Hennehan. “What can I get ya?”
“Umm…” he seemed stumped. “Tullermore Dew. A double.”
“Oh, my.” She leaned in. “Well, my Paddy says it’s better than Gawd’s dew, the blasphemer.” She winked, but the
man only grunted in response.
Bridey came behind the bar.
“That’s quite a lump ya have on your noggin there, friend. How’d ya get that?”
Bridey stopped again and looked at him, and his gaze shifted to hers. “Can fell off a shelf and hit me.”
“Oh, now. That’s a shame.” Deirdre served him his drink. “I guess that would be one of those occupational hazards they speak of. We get burns,” she turned her wrist to show him one, “ya get a bruised noodle.”
Bridey exhaled and squeezed past me and into the kitchen.
Odd.
I eyed Hennehan. After our encounter on the walk outside a month ago, did he say something inappropriate to her?
An hour later, I delivered a bar order to the kitchen, only to find Paddy elbow deep in suds.
I looked around. “Tag out for a smoke?”
“Nah. He’s walking Bridey home.”
“What? She left?”
“Aye. She asked Tag to go with her. Ya two…ya know…all right?”
“I thought so.” I left him and went immediately to my phone to text her.
YOU ASKED TAG TO WALK YOU HOME?
I washed a few utensils in my sink but rushed back when the screen lit up.
I’M SORRY. YOU WERE BUSY, AND I DIDN’T WANT TO BOTHER YOU.
I screwed up my mouth. Malarkey.
I WOULD HAVE GLADLY INTERRUPTED WHATEVER IT WAS TO WALK YOU HOME.
I set it down. Perhaps a tad too roughly. She didn’t respond.
The next time I went into the kitchen, Tag had returned. He nodded at me sheepishly.
I stuck my hands in my pockets and rocked from toe to heel. “She home safe?” It came out slightly sharp.
He didn’t look at me. “Aye.”
I wanted to ask him if she said anything to him, but my pride prevented it.
I went out front to check my phone. Still no response. I dialed her number. I thought she was letting it go to voice mail, but she picked up at the last second.
“Are ya angry with me?” I blurted out.
“Killian, no. Of course not.”
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. Lifting my gaze, I caught Deirdre spying on me and turned my back. “If ya were, I’d want ya to tell me what I did wrong. Did I say something to upset ya?”
“No. I’m not upset. I’m just tired.”
I closed my eyes. “Ya didn’t even say goodbye.”
After a pause, she answered, and she sounded like she was crying. “I’m sorry.”
“No. Hey, wait. I’m being silly. I guess I’m tired, too.” I shuffled my foot along the bar floor, moving a Smithwick’s cap from side-to-side. “And…I was looking forward to walking you home.”
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was barely audible.
“It’s all right. I’m not angry with ya.” I tried to tease her into a good mood. “Ya can make it up to me on the morrow.” She didn’t respond. “Bridey?”
After a pause in which I thought we’d been cut off, she murmured, “Aye?”
“I love ya. Sleep well, all right?”
“Uum-hmm. G’night.” She hung up.
I had half a mind to trot on down there, but someone knocking on her door at night would scare her. Anxiety gnawed at my stomach. Fifteen minutes later I texted her.
CAN I COME OVER SO WE CAN TALK?
The message showed as delivered but wasn’t read. Perhaps she was that tired and fell asleep. Perhaps she switched her phone off. I was distracted for the rest of the evening and went to bed after work for a fitful night’s sleep.
Around three o’clock in the morning, a storm woke me. I got up to check if by chance she texted me back. After checking my phone on the dresser and finding no return text, I went to the window to see how much rain we were getting. Oddly, someone was walking down the center of the street in the rain without an umbrella. Who would be out at this time? As they drew closer, I could see it was a woman, her silky blouse plastered to her body. She veered as she approached the pub, shuffling toward the rear of the building and the cliff. I jolted when something in the way she moved told me it was Bridey.
My Gawd. She’s been acting so strange. Is she intending to throw herself off the cliff?
I threw on jeans, but didn’t bother with a shirt, grabbing the quilt off my bed instead. I scrambled down the stairs so quickly I slid on the edge of the last few steps and almost ended up falling on my hoop. The big camping lantern was by the front door. Paddy probably put it there in case of a power outage. Grateful for his foresight, I snatched it on my way out.
When I got outside, I was glad to find the rain had slackened some, and the thunder had moved off into the distance. I ran around the side of the building, my feet slapping through the water flowing along the drive. I swung the quilt over me, holding it above my head to keep the rain off and see better. I spotted her, thankfully, far away from the cliff’s edge, facing the water, arms crossed in front of her.
I knew she was too far out to hear me, even if I weren’t competing with the sound of the rain falling all about me, but I called to her anyway. She turned, lifting the hair from her face and pushing it back, squinting in my direction.
I slowed as I neared her, relief easing my pounding heart a particle. I didn’t stop until I was a foot away. Wet strands of hair clung to her, and her clothes drooped from her frame, but in the lantern’s powerful beam she was still beautiful in an entirely unearthly way. I was so captivated by her, I couldn’t think clearly.
“What are you doing here?” I had to shout to be heard.
“I needed to see you.” Desperation coated her voice, and my alarm again ratcheted up.
But ya didn’t come to the pub. And ya could have called.
Belatedly, I came to her side, extending my arm out behind her to cover her, although she was already soaked. “Well, not that I’m not happy about that, but it’s the middle of the night.” I searched her lovely face for an explanation, waiting for her to move toward the shelter of the building.
She shifted in front of me, and I needed to adjust to keep her protected from the elements. Lifting her hands, she placed them on my cheeks. “I need you to know I love you.”
I stared at her. “I love you, too. Could we maybe have this conversation inside where it’s quieter? And, ya know,” I looked up at the rain, “drier?”
Her gaze roamed over me. “Make love to me, Killian.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Please.”
Why in heaven’s name was she acting so peculiarly? “Well ya have no reason to beg.” My voice became softer. “I’ve thought about making love to you since that first stolen kiss in the press.”
She smiled, and it was like the gold at the end of the rainbow. “You knew it was me?”
“Well, not at the time, but your strawberry lip balm gave you away, love.” Why were we having this conversation in the rain?
“If that’s true, if ya love me, then I want us to be together. Here. Now.”
I cocked my head, fear squeezing my heart. “Bridey. What’s wrong?”
She turned from me, so I barely caught her words. “Does something have to be wrong for me to want you to make love to me?”
I circled around in front of her. “No, of course not. It’s just—”
She crushed her lips to mine. Their warmth in the chilly night air seemed to breathe life into me. She took a step away. “Here. Now.”
“Are ya off your nut?”
She tore at her jeans’ button. My mouth hung open. I’d been craving her for well over a month. But out in the open, where anyone could see us—should they be up at this ungodly hour—in the mud?
“Holy shite. We’re both crazy.” I set the lantern on the ground between us, and when I straightened, she’d already shimmied out of her jeans and discarded them in the grass. She closed the gap between us and clawed at my jeans’ button, and I took claim of her lips.
Holy feck.
Our mouths were hungry and franti
c. She unzipped me and parted the denim, then slid her underwear off.
We’re really doing this?
I rested the quilt on my head and fought my jeans and underwear off. She was already lowering herself to the ground. I scrambled to keep up, spreading the quilt above us like a tent. The lantern was there, somewhere, but I think it had fallen on its side. The light seemed to fill our enclosure.
I stretched out on my side beside her, holding the quilt up so I could see her. “I’m not sure if my usual sexual prowess will be evident in the mud,” I joked.
She smacked her palms against my shoulders and pushed me onto my back, straddling my body as she rolled with me and rose above. The light was extinguished for a second or two, then she took a hold of the edge of the quilt and spread it over us. She let it go, to rest against her shoulders, and wrestled with her shirt buttons. I reached up to push the blanket away and hold it for her. She gazed into my face as she ripped through the buttons, yanking the last few apart as she worked her arms out of the sleeves. Her expression was fierce. She moved her hips, sliding her pelvis against mine in an utterly mindblowing way. I closed my eyes to fully take in the sensations she was creating, my thoughts blank, save for one.
Oh, my Gawd.
She lifted onto her knees, and I opened my eyes to see what she was doing. She reached down and grabbed me, stroking me once or twice before guiding me inside her. A sigh escaped from both of us, having finally united our flesh. Then she began to move.
“Oh.” She moaned. throwing her head back. Her gorgeous, full breasts moved above me, and I forgot about the blanket, letting it go as I cupped her. I spread my thumbs out along the satin, feeling her nipples beneath the cloth and becoming turned on all the more.
“Oh, Killian.” She flopped over me, her mouth searching. I opened my mouth wider, my tongue gliding along hers. She moved faster. I didn’t want this to end.
I bucked my hips, rolling to take the top position, becoming tangled briefly in the quilt, but fighting my way through. I straightened. The light swung crazily. Her hands clutched at my chest, then slid to my waist where they took hold. I yanked her bra away from her breast and closed my mouth on her nipple, sucking, and pulling on it before releasing and doing the same on the other side. She moaned and lifted her hips, driving her pelvis into mine. I clawed at the clasp between her breasts and got it open, pushing the cloth aside and twirling my tongue around her nipple. High pitched noises came from her, coming faster and faster as I thrust into her deeper. I cracked my eyes open. The mud was making sucking noises with our motion and as my hands moved along her, they coated her creamy skin. As they cruised over her hips, they were painting her. The slipperiness added to the pleasure as we grappled with each other, trying to touch each other everywhere. She wove her fingers through my hair, the nails scraping along my scalp before she yanked on the curls as she bucked her hips again. Then she clutched my ass and brought a heel to dig into my thigh as we rocked in tandem. The pressure in my groin built, and I clawed at the ground, seeking some kind of purchase so I could bring myself even deeper into her. She whimpered then let out a soft cry, and I released. We continued to move, riding the wave of our orgasms to the end. I panted then laughed as I slipped a hand beneath her neck to tilt her chin up and kiss her.
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