by Rhian Cahill
“And me.”
Reena’s skin prickled. “Y-yes. And you.”
“You and me.”
Reena nodded. “Yep. Just us. No one else.” Oh god, they were going to be alone in her house for days. Heat washed over her. Muscles clenched and her body trembled with an unmistakable shudder of lust. Her breath stuttered and her voice wobbled when she said, “Which room—”
“Why don’t we go out?”
“Out?” Reena stood in the foyer, a little confused by Rush’s question and his failure to move more than a foot inside her house. “But we just got here.”
His mouth tipped up on one end in a lopsided smirk, making her tummy dip.
Was it bad that all she could think about was kissing that mouth?
“I know but I’m hungry.”
Hadn’t he just eaten at Mary’s?
“Mary’s delicious scones reminded me how empty my stomach is. I’ve spent hours on the road and other than a pack of gum, a bag of chips and a gallon of soda, I haven’t had anything substantial in my belly since last night.”
Unable to pull her gaze away from his mouth, Reena watched his lips move with each word and shivered with the flash memory of that sexy mouth on hers. She licked her own lips while heat zipped through her, tightened her core and filled her face. Great, she probably looked like a human beetroot. Not a good look when you planned to seduce a man.
Wait. His words finally penetrated her scandalous thoughts.
“Last night?” She hadn’t bothered to ask how he’d gotten here. It never occurred to her that he would drive hundreds of miles. When she’d visited the lodge nestled deep in the Adirondack Mountains, she’d flown to Albany then rented a car to travel the final distance. That road trip had taken three hours. The lodge to Baltimore had to be half a day’s drive at least. “You drove all night?”
“No. I am guilty of not having breakfast before starting out though.” He shrugged. “I was in a bit of a hurry.”
“Oh.” Had he been anxious to get here?
“Wanted to make the most of the six days I have off.”
Was it Baltimore or her he wanted to make the most of in that time? Reena hoped it was the latter.
“I could cook…” She tried to recall what she had on hand. Working at Sunday’s meant it was easy to grab a meal before heading home so she usually didn’t have much in her cupboards or refrigerator, and she hadn’t shopped since returning from her holiday. Plus, she wasn’t the best in the kitchen. It was safer to let someone else do the cooking.
“Take me to your favorite place to eat. Count it as our first tour of Baltimore.”
“Are you sure you want to go out after the long drive?” Wasn’t he tired?
Nodding, he said, “Yep. I can’t wait to get to know your city.”
Reena smiled. “I know the perfect place.”
They’d go to Pat’s Pub. Maybe eat at Sunday’s, depending on the number of customers already there. Sunday night was popular with the locals, and it wasn’t unheard of to have a line outside or a bar full of people waiting to be seated.
“Let’s go then.” Holding out his hand, he waited by the door.
“Don’t you want to get settled first? Freshen up or—” The rumble of Rush’s stomach echoed off the walls and Reena laughed. “Okay, I get the message, food first.”
Slipping her hand in his, she let him lead her outside. Their fingers wove together seamlessly, as though they’d been doing it for years, not weeks. It felt so natural, so right, contentment settled over her. For the first time in seven days, the itching, twitching part of her stilled. Reena marveled at the power this man had over her emotions.
Two weeks. They’d spent two weeks together and it seemed like an eternity. As though she’d known him her whole life.
“You’re quiet. What’s that brain thinking about now?”
Reena smiled. Rush had spent their days together pulling her out of her thoughts. He’d told her she spent too much time inside her head and needed to get out of there and appreciate the world around her. Of course, he’d also said he was the perfect man to help her enjoy it.
“I’m thinking about you.”
He glanced down at her with one eyebrow cocked. “Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“What about me?” He squeezed her hand and tugged her closer. “Having second thoughts?”
“No. I want you here.” And she did. She wanted him here so much it scared her. There hadn’t been a minute over the last seven days when she hadn’t thought about him, hadn’t wanted to be with him. Resting her head on his shoulder she said, “I missed you.”
“Good. But I missed you more.” Rush slipped his hand from hers and wrapped his arm around her. “Kinda scary how much I missed you.”
It was nice to hear he had some trepidation about what was between them. She needed him to be with her in this instant connection. “It’s a little crazy how we clicked.”
“Crazy doesn’t mean it’s bad.”
“Didn’t say it was bad. And I meant the speed with which I felt connected to you. I’ve never had that with anyone before.”
“Me either.” He gave her a squeeze and kissed the top of her head. “Okay, which way? Are we walking or driving?”
“Walking. Pat’s is only a few blocks away.”
“The place where you work?”
Reena loved that he remembered. “Yes. Well, Pat’s is the pub side. I work in Sunday’s Side, the restaurant.” She slid her arm around his waist and urged him to the right. “Five minutes, ten if we dawdle.”
“After a day spent sitting on my ass in my truck, I could do with a dawdle.”
“You really drove all the way here?” The thought boggled her mind. It also gave her a thrill. A man had driven hours to see her. Reena couldn’t remember anyone driving an hour to get to her, never mind all day.
“Probably should have thought it through a little better, maybe chosen a quicker form of transport. Spur-of-the-moment decisions don’t lend themselves to much thought.”
“When did you decide to come here?” The idea that he would upend his life to come see her made her happy. On the other hand, if he hadn’t thought of it before now…
“This morning when the boss gave me the week off.”
“Oh.” Disappointment lanced her.
“Hey.” He stopped and swung her around into his arms. Cradling her against his chest, he tipped her face up with a finger under her chin and said, “I would have been here sooner if I’d had the time off. I’ve spent the week regretting not getting your number—”
“How’d you know where I live?”
Rush rolled his lips into his mouth, his gaze going shuttered as a light flush colored his cheeks. “Hm…”
“I didn’t give you my number…well I did, but you wouldn’t have gotten it because you were already on your way here—”
“You gave me your number?”
“I called the lodge this afternoon. Left a message for you. They said you weren’t there. The woman didn’t know where you were or when you’d be in but took the message anyway.”
He grinned. “You called me?”
“Ah, yes, I, um…” Heat filled her face. “Didn’t want to leave things the way we did.”
“The only thing wrong with the way we left things was I didn’t have your number.”
“So how did you know where to find me?” She had a feeling his answer would give her another thrill. Especially if it was the way she thought he’d gotten her address.
Rush sighed. “Could we not worry about that? Maybe pretend I got that message with your phone number…”
“As the bar manager, are you supposed to access the reservation system and the guests’ personal information?”
He closed his eyes and lowered his forehead to rest against hers. “No.”
“So you broke the rules to find me. Probably jeopardized your job doing it.”
“Maybe. Yes.”
She smiled. “Thank you.
”
His eyes opened, their gazes connecting. “Thank you?”
“Yes. Thank you for wanting to find me so much you would risk being fired.”
***
His job hadn’t entered his mind once he’d decided to come to Baltimore. “I didn’t think about it. The only thing that concerned me was finding you.”
Her eyes lit up along with her smile. “No one’s ever broken the law for me.”
“I’m not sure I broke any laws… Unless you count the speed limits between here and home.” He grinned. “I might have bent those a little.”
Reena’s smile grew and he pulled her into a hug. He loved seeing her happy. She hadn’t looked that way the last time he’d seen her. The memory of her frown as she’d driven away had haunted him all week. Now he was here and she was smiling that sweet, sexy smile he’d spent two weeks soaking up, and he didn’t want to ever see her sad again.
He let her go and stepped back, but not before he made certain he secured her hand in his. “Come on. I want to see this Pat’s you’ve told me so much about.”
“It’s great. Pat Collins and his wife Sunday started it when they moved here from Ireland. They had seven kids, who have all worked in either the pub or the restaurant at some point. Some still do. It’s a family business, and no one who comes through the doors is a stranger. Everyone is treated like family.”
Rush could hear the affection in her voice. Would be able to tell even if she hadn’t talked about the Collinses during their time together, Reena considered them family. If what she’d told him was true, and why would she lie, then they were her family. The one her great-aunt had introduced her to.
He hated to think of Reena having no one, and while the Collins clan weren’t blood related, he had no doubt they took care of her. He was looking forward to meeting them. Expected to get the third degree from some of the male members.
Smiling, he relished the thought of proving himself worthy of her.
He’d come close to proving he was a douchebag at her house. He couldn’t go more than two steps inside because if he had, he’d have pushed her against the wall and ravaged her. She’d been so sexy in her nervousness. She’d babbled and trembled and her gaze kept darting away from his.
There was no denying her pleasure at seeing him though. Her skin had gotten a rosy flush, her nipples had hardened beneath her shirt and her eyes, whenever they caught his, were dilated, her breathing shallow.
She was such an open book with her emotions. Rush had watched them flicker across her face, in her eyes, and known she’d been as flustered and aroused as she’d been the night they’d been in bed together.
He didn’t doubt he could have had her on her back beneath him within seconds of closing the door, which was why he hadn’t closed it. They’d already moved fast. This thing between them had definitely lived up to his name, and he wanted—needed—to take a step back. Slow things down and build on what they’d already formed.
Fuck. He’d buried his head in the sand.
The woman beside him wasn’t like any other he’d been with because she wasn’t the fuck-and-leave type. She was the forever kind.
And he’d followed her home.
Chapter Four
Reena waved at Padraig and Slade, both busy behind the bar, as she led Rush through the pub. Every bar stool and booth were taken, however there were a few empty tables at the back of the room. Weaving her way through, she reached the first empty one and slid into a seat. Rush took the chair next to her instead of across and shuffled it close before leaning toward her.
“You’re right. This place is great. I feel like I’m in an authentic Irish pub.”
She smiled, glad he liked Pat’s. She was even happier he sat so close their legs and arms brushed together. “Mr. Collins is proud of his Irish heritage. He and Sunday wanted the place to have all the characteristics of a true Irish pub. They both worked in one before they came to America.”
“I’ve been in a few Irish pubs over the years, and other than the couple I visited during my one trip to Ireland, this is the best one I’ve come across.”
Pride flooded her. She might not be a Collins and this might not be her place but she felt a connection to it and she was delighted Pat’s impressed Rush.
“Hey. I thought you’d gone home.” Caitlyn materialized beside her, a huge smile on her face. “And who’s this?”
“I thought you went home too,” Reena said.
“Nope. Mom needed a hand next door and she volunteered me.”
“Oh. It’s still busy? Do they need me to work?” Reena tried to look through the opening into Sunday’s but from this table, the angle wasn’t right, and she couldn’t see more than a couple of tables. All of them full. “I could do another shift if necessary.”
“Nah. It was just some prep work. They’ve got it under control.” Caitlyn nudged her with an elbow. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you avoided my question.” Her friend held out her hand and leaned across the table. “Hi. I’m Caitlyn Wallace.”
“Rush.” He pushed to his feet and shook Caitlyn’s hand. “Rush Whelan.”
“Well, well, Mr. Whelan, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Caitlyn’s smile and knowing glance had Reena stumbling to divert what would certainly be an inquisition. “We’re here for dinner. Any chance we’ll get a table next door?”
“Sure. I’ll put your name on the list then bring you a drink. On the house, in honor of your special guest.”
Reena groaned when Caitlyn added an exaggerated wink to her offer.
Rush remained silent until Caitlyn walked away.
“She’s exactly how you described her.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah, to a T.” He grinned. “I’m expecting some lawyerly type cross examination to go with the drink.”
“Oh god.” Reena closed her eyes. “This was a bad idea.”
“No it wasn’t. It’s perfect. I get to meet the people you’re close to and experience the best pub in Baltimore.”
“Good to hear you say that, son.” Mr. Collins clapped a hand on Rush’s shoulder. “Who’s your friend, Sabreena?”
“Mr. Collins.” Reena lifted out of her seat and reached for the older man’s elbow.
“Stay where you are, missy, I don’t need help to stand on my own two feet.” Mr. Collins pulled out the seat on the other side of Rush and sat down while muttering about young whippersnappers and not being dead.
“Now, Pop Pop, don’t go making a fuss because people care about you.” Caitlyn appeared with four pints of Guinness expertly balanced on a tray.
“Caitie-bug, caring ain’t the same as mollycoddling.” Mr. Collins folded his arms and aimed a penetrating stare at Rush. “We’ve not seen you around here before,” he said, the words holding a challenge.
“No. I’m not from around here.” Rush’s smile showed amusement, which eased Reena’s anxiety. “I live in New York.”
“The city?” The Collins patriarch reached for one of the pints Caitlyn set on the table.
“No, upstate. A small lakeside town in the Adirondack Mountains to be exact.”
“Ah. Isn’t that where you went on holiday, Sabreena?” Mr. Collins’s gaze moved to Reena. “You bring a stray home with you?”
“Pop Pop, that’s not polite,” Caitlyn said.
If Reena weren’t so freaked out by Mr. Collins’s interest, she’d find him referring to Rush as a stray funny. “He didn’t come home with me.”
“I drove down today. Reena piqued my interest so much with all she’d told me about Baltimore, this place in particular, that I had to come see it for myself.”
“I bet Baltimore isn’t the only thing you’re interested in seeing,” Caitlyn mumbled beside her.
“What was that, Caitie-bug?”
“Nothing, Pop Pop.” Caitlyn hid her smile behind her pint glass.
“The name’s Rush Whelan.” Rush offered a hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Collins. I’ve heard a
lot about you and your pub. All good things, I assure you. I’m even more impressed, now I’ve seen the place.”
“Well now, that’s mighty kind of you to say.” Mr. Collins’s chest puffed out. “I pride myself on having the best Irish Pub outside of Ireland.”
“In my experience, you definitely do.” Rush picked up his Guinness. “Here’s to the luck of the Irish.”
Mr. Collins grinned and tapped his glass to Rush’s. “We’ll be seeing if you’ve got the luck soon enough.”
Reena’s gaze darted to Caitlyn’s. Silently she pleaded for help, although it quickly became obvious she wouldn’t be getting any from her friend. Caitlyn appeared as interested in Rush as Mr. Collins.
She hadn’t had a father to interrogate her boyfriends when she’d started dating, not that Reena had done all that much, but if he had been alive, Reena guessed it would have gone something like this.
One of the reasons she felt so attached to the Collins family patriarch was he reminded her of her father. Or how she thought she remembered her father.
She frowned.
It was hard to say what was real memory and what wasn’t. For years, she’d admired the fatherly traits all the older Collins men exhibited, and maybe she’d wished enough to make up those same characteristics in her memories of her dad. She’d never know.
The only remaining link to her father was a grumpy old aunt who had turned her back on an eight-year-old orphan while screaming “don’t darken my door ever again”.
“Hey, you okay?” Rush brushed a finger along her jaw to get her attention. “Did we bore you with our pub talk?”
“Oh no, it’s fine.” She smiled, hoping he’d go back to talking with Mr. Collins.
Rush’s brow creased with concern. “Maybe we should go home. You look tired.”
Widening her smile, Reena forced false cheer into her voice. “No. I’m fine. Besides, we need to eat and I’ve got nothing in the house.”
“And we all know you and kitchens don’t mix well,” Caitlyn said.
“Oh?” Rush cocked an eyebrow, the corresponding side of his mouth kicking up in that sexy way of his.
She moved her gaze off his smiling lips and concentrated on the conversation, not the scandalous thoughts those lips inspired. “I’m not much of a cook. Basic things are the limit of my culinary skills.”