“I didn’t mean you had to stop,” he said. “The garda usually doesn’t patrol these roads during the day.”
“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” she said. “I’m already in…” She paused, then pointed out the window. “Drive on.”
They continued their drive along the coast and when they passed by Castle Cnoc, Kellan slowed the car and stopped at the gate. He pointed up the driveway. “That’s one of my projects,” he said. “Just finished last month. Jordan was the project manager.”
“It’s lovely,” she said. “Do you like your job, then?”
“Sure. I’ve always loved historical properties. It’s like mixing history with architecture. New buildings just don’t have the same appeal to me.”
“I wish I knew what I was meant to do,” she murmured. “I’ve never had to choose a path for my life. It was chosen for me. How do you pick?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “It just always seemed like the right thing. You’ll figure it out.”
“I’m twenty-seven years old,” she said.
“Is that in fish years or human years?” he teased.
“Human,” she said. “Sometimes, I feel like I’m just starting my life. Like a baby taking her first steps.”
An odd expression crossed her face and Kellan could only read it as regret. He knew nothing of her past or what she was running away from. But he knew that he cared enough to give her a safe place to stay for a while. “You won’t need to buy a car,” he said. “My family has a little Fiat that we lend out to tourists who rent the cottage. It’s parked behind Danny’s smithy. You can use it for as long as you like.”
She glanced over at him, her expression shifting suddenly. “Thank you,” she said. “That’s very nice of you. But I still think I should get a car of my own.”
The smile she sent him was like a ray of sunshine, warm and bright and full of everything that he needed to survive. But Kellan got the uneasy feeling that his affection for Gelsey would come at a price. The more he got to know her, the more he needed her. So what would happen when she decided to leave?
It wasn’t a question that he’d thought about in any great depth, but now, the idea of losing her outweighed any fears he had of getting too close. “I suppose we could drive into town and see if anyone is looking for help.”
“You really think someone would hire me?”
As Kellan turned the car around and headed back to Ballykirk, he realized that Gelsey’s job hunt might provide a bit more insight into who she really was. She’d have to give a last name and if she wasn’t an Irish citizen, she’d have to give a whole lot more than that.
GELSEY HAD BEEN CURIOUS about the inhabitants of Kellan’s hometown, but she’d never expected them to be so curious about her. “Why is everyone staring at me?” she murmured as she and Kellan strolled down the main street of Ballykirk.
“Are they?” he asked.
“Yes! Haven’t you noticed? They don’t really think I’m a-”
“No,” Kellan said. “I suspect they’re just curious about what’s going on between us. Everyone in this village is in everyone else’s business. You can’t sneeze in this town without a half-dozen people offering medical advice. It’s kind of the same with romance.”
She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. Of course. She and Kellan been shacked up together for two days now, eating take-out food from the pub and no doubt creating all sorts of speculation. Now that they’d emerged from their den of passion, people were bound to be curious.
“I suppose I’ll have to get used to that kind of thing,” she murmured.
“They’re just excited to have something new to gossip about. They’ll move along to a new subject soon enough.”
Gelsey forced a smile. Or maybe not. How long would it be before someone recognized her? Without the makeup and the skimpy dresses, she barely looked like the girl in the tabloids. But was Ballykirk really that isolated from the rest of the world? “I love this village,” she said. “It’s so…picturesque.”
“Ballykirk? When I was a lad I couldn’t wait to leave.”
“You did leave,” she said.
Kellan nodded. “For university. In Dublin and then a year in London.”
“Why did you come back?” Gelsey asked.
“I’m not technically back. I just finished the job at Castle Cnoc and I don’t have anything else lined up until after the new year. I usually live in Dublin.”
“I ought to have finished university,” Gelsey said. In truth, she hadn’t given it much chance. She’d been too restless to sit in a class all day, so she’d decided to go to cooking school. When she’d grown bored with that, she’d tried fashion school. Paired with her lack of real work experience, she’d been left with a rather unconventional résumé.
“They have universities where you come from?” he asked. “Oh, wait. I don’t know where you come from, do I?”
She slipped her arm through his and gave him a playful slap. “How do you think I learned to speak French?” she asked.
“You speak French?”
“Mais oui,” Gelsey replied.
“You’re hiding all sorts of secrets, aren’t you?”
Her expression suddenly turned serious. “We all have secrets. I suspect you have a few of your own.”
“No,” he said.
“None?”
“Well, when I was fourteen, I wanted to be James Bond. I mean, the bloke was a god with the women.”
“And you weren’t?”
“No. Far from it. I’d never kissed a girl before. And then, that summer it happened and after that it was a brand-new world.”
“Tell me about it,” Gelsey said.
He glanced over at her. “I suspect you know how it goes.”
She drew in a sharp breath. Was he referring to the kiss they’d shared all those years before? Did he remember her? She’d been so young. Eleven years old and all arms and legs. And so flat-chested she was sure she’d never grow breasts.
“Sure,” Gelsey said. “It’s always very clumsy at first. But you obviously got the hang of it. In fact, you’re quite an expert now.”
She glanced into a shop window as they passed by and then stopped short. “Look,” she said, pointing to the hand-lettered sign: Help Wanted. Enquire Within. Gelsey stepped back to look at the sign hung above the door. “Maeve Dunphrey’s Potions and Lotions,” she read.
“You don’t want to go in there,” Kellan said.
“It looks nice. And she’s looking for help.”
“Trust me, there are lots of other places that would be better suited.”
“But this looks like fun. She sells soap and hand lotion and perfumes. I know about those things.”
“All right. But before you go in, you should know that she’s crazy. A complete nutter. Gone in the head. She thinks she’s a Druid priestess. She makes all sorts of potions. She almost poisoned Billy Murphy with a love potion once.”
“Really?” Gelsey reached for the door. “She sounds very interesting.”
“And I doubt that she has any money to pay you. She barely scrapes by and no one really visits her shop anymore. Those who do, buy her things just to be charitable.”
“Then she really needs my help,” Gelsey said. She pulled the door open and stepped inside. It was apparent from the outset why her shop wasn’t doing well. It was a top-to-bottom mess. Beautiful old display cases were overflowing with jars and tins and boxes of homemade beauty products. Some looked as though they’d been there for years and others were wrapped in brightly colored paper and tied with little bits of string.
“Hello.” An elderly woman dressed in a long tapestry robe appeared from the back of the shop. “Welcome.” She tipped her head and smiled, blinking at Gelsey through horn-rimmed glasses. “You must be the one they’ve been talking about. The one who came to us from the sea.”
“And you must be the priestess,” Gelsey replied.
“That I am.” Maeve motioned her forward. “
Let’s have a look at you. I must say, I have been a bit curious since I first heard your story from Doc Finnerty. He comes in for my sea-salt scrub. His wife loves it for her feet. Keeps them soft.”
Maeve made a careful study of Gelsey, then nodded. “You’re quite a beauty. I expected nothing less. It’s a fortunate thing Kellan found you when he did.”
“I’d like to inquire about the job,” Gelsey said. “The sign in your window says you need help. And I think I could help you.”
“Oh, dear. That sign has been there forever. And you’re the first person who’s come in.”
“What are the job requirements?”
Maeve looked around. “I suppose organization would be crucial. As you can see, I’m not much with that. I need someone who is creative. I’ve always thought I could do a better job with my displays, but I haven’t the patience or the time.”
“I could do that for you,” Gelsey said.
“I can’t pay much and I’m not sure how long I’m going to keep the shop. I’ve wanted to sell it for a while now, and move to Galway to live with my sister. But with help, I might be able to shine the place up a bit.”
“I’m your girl,” Gelsey stated.
Maeve reached out and took her hand. “I do believe you are.”
“When would you like me to start?”
“How about next week? We’re closed on Mondays, so Tuesday morning. How is ten?”
“I’ll be here at nine,” Gelsey said. She shook Maeve’s hand, but then couldn’t control herself and threw her arms around the elderly woman. “You won’t regret this. I promise.” Embarrassed, Gelsey stepped back. “Sorry. I’m just very excited. I didn’t expect it would be this simple.”
“Yes. Well, having a mermaid in the shop might liven things up a bit.” She paused. “Oh, and one more thing.” Maeve hurried over to one of the display cases and picked up a small jar, then handed it to Gelsey. “I can see you haven’t been getting much sleep lately. Try this. It does wonders for bags under the eyes.”
“Thank you,” Gelsey said. “I will try it tonight. And I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
When she walked out of the shop, Gelsey jumped into Kellan’s arms and yelled, “I got a job!” She gave him a long, lingering kiss. When she finally drew back, she looked around to find several people staring at them. “Well, that will give the townsfolk something new to talk about,” she said.
“Yes, I suspect it will. And congratulations-I think. Can we go home now and have some lunch?”
“All right. But I want to do something more. I’ll cook for you tonight. A wonderful gourmet meal.”
“That’s not necessary,” he said.
“But I want to.” She pushed up on her toes and gave him another kiss. “This has been an amazing day. I think we need to celebrate, don’t you?” Gelsey paused. “She mentioned the mermaid thing. You don’t think she’ll fire me once she realizes I’m not a-”
“I think everyone knows already,” Kellan said. He dropped another kiss on her lips. “But that’s not going to stop them from talking about it. Twenty years from now, you’ll still be known as the mermaid girl.”
4
THE ONLY LIGHT in the cottage came from the peat fire flickering on the hearth and an oil lamp Gelsey had set on the floor. Outside, a roaring wind from the sea scoured the windows. Though they had a perfectly adequate table at which to dine, Gelsey had chosen to spread their gourmet dinner out on the floor in front of the fire, creating a much more romantic atmosphere.
As Kellan poured her another glass of wine, he studied her features, still rendered breathless by her beauty. What bit of luck had brought her into his life? He could have walked in the other direction that morning. She could have climbed up the cliff on her own and disappeared again, without the two of them getting a second chance. But something had brought them together and he couldn’t help but wonder if there were magical forces behind it all.
Kellan groaned inwardly. This was exactly how it began for his brothers. He’d listened to Riley and Danny tell their tales and he’d heard them both blather on and on about the incredible power of love. And now he was doing the same thing. Turning himself inside out over a woman he barely knew.
Clenching his fist, Kellan fought the urge to reach out and touch her. Was it even possible to resist anymore or was he completely lost? Yes, the sex was incredible. And he did enjoy spending time with Gelsey, talking to her and kissing her. But that didn’t mean he was falling in love.
Still, he couldn’t help but admit that everything that passed between them was different, as if it had been touched with something extraordinary, some little bit of magic.
She drew a deep breath and sighed, stretching her bare legs out in front of her. Gelsey was dressed in nothing but one of his oxford shirts. “I feel like a stuffed hen. I knew I could cook, but I didn’t expect it would turn out so well.”
“It was pretty amazing. That sauce on the salmon was incredible.”
“Capers and lemon,” she said, scooping up a bit on her finger and holding it out to him. “It’s one of the first sauces I learned. I told you I was good with fish.”
He took her finger into his mouth and enjoyed another taste of the sauce. “And potatoes. And turnips. Even the salad was perfect.”
She grinned seductively, then crawled over the remnants of the meal on her hands and knees to drop a kiss on his mouth. “Are you ready for dessert?”
He glanced down, taking in the view. His shirt gaped at the neck and he could see her bare breasts. The long tails covered her backside. “Would that involve taking your clothes off?”
“I don’t know. It would most definitely involve taking all your clothes off.” She reached out for the hem of his T-shirt, then pulled it over his head. Her attention focused on his chest as she smoothed her hands over his shoulders. “I’ve had a good day. The best day in a very long time.”
Kellan nuzzled her neck. “I’m glad.” He pressed his lips to a spot just below her ear. “And what made it so good?”
“Everything. And nothing at all,” she said.
Kellan stared at her. “Where did you really come from, Gelsey? And why are you still here with me?”
“I think I might belong here,” she said. “I don’t want to go back.”
“There’s no one waiting for you? Wondering where you are?”
“No.” She sat back on her heels and looked into his eyes. “I promise. There’s no one. The only person I want to be with right now is you.” She ran her hands through his hair, smoothing it away from his face. “I don’t care about your past, Kellan. Nothing that happened to you before you met me makes any difference at all. We started the moment you rescued me from that beach.”
“And how will we end?” he asked.
“I don’t know. We don’t need to worry about that right now. I’m happy and you’re happy and we should leave it at that.” She drew in a long breath. “You are happy, aren’t you?”
Of course he was happy. What man wouldn’t be? He had a beautiful, sexy woman in his bed every night, a woman who fascinated him, a woman who drove him wild with desire. And yet, he knew nothing about her. But then, maybe she was right. What difference did it make? There was very little he could learn that would change his feelings for her.
Gelsey leaned in closer. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Only if I can ask one in return,” Kellan said.
“When you found me on the beach, why didn’t you just take me to the hospital?”
Kellan thought about his response for a long moment. “I don’t know. I guess I was curious. I wanted to know what happened, how you got on that beach and why. And I knew if I took you to the hospital, I might never see you again.” He kissed her, his lips brushing against hers. “I lost you once, I didn’t want to lose you again.”
“You lost me?”
“My turn,” Kellan said, quickly shifting the subject.
“Make it good,” she warned. “You only get one.”
She shook her head. “Funny, it was then, but now, I barely think about it.”
“It or he? Answer the question,” Kellan demanded. “Honestly. Was it a man who did that to you?”
“I did it to myself. Up until that moment, I really didn’t like the person I was. I think there’s a bit of magic in you finding me on the beach. I’d like to believe there still is.”
Kellan slid his fingers through her hair and drew her lips to his. She went soft in his arms and on a sigh, she parted her lips to offer him a taste. Everything about her was perfect, Kellan mused. When he touched her, sex suddenly made sense. It meant something, something deep and reassuring.
Kellan knew the risk he was taking. She’d dropped into his life so unexpectedly and he suspected she’d leave in the same way. For all he knew, he’d wake up one morning and she’d be gone. And without knowing anything about her, he’d have no way to find her again.
Grabbing her waist, he pulled her close, then threw his thigh over hers, trapping her in his embrace. He reached for the buttons of the shirt she wore and slowly undid them, kissing a path from the first bit of exposed flesh to the last.
“Who are you?” he murmured, his lips pressed against the soft flesh of her belly.
Gelsey groaned, her fingers smoothing through his hair as he moved lower. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
She was the woman he wanted more than any other. She was the woman whose touch could send his need over the edge. And she was the woman who was becoming a part of his life he didn’t want to lose.
Kellan found the spot between her legs and gently caressed her with his tongue. Gelsey arched toward him, her fingers clenching his hair. He knew exactly how to control her release and Kellan took every advantage, knowing that it might be the only thing in their relationship that he did control. But was mind-blowing sex enough to keep her with him forever?
Her breath began to come in desperate gasps and Kellan knew she was close. He drew back and traced his way up to her neck. Her body was made for his touch, her skin so pale and smooth and her limbs long and lithe. He drew a deep breath and pulled her closer.
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