Where There's Smoke...

by Barbara Mccauley

  Shane forced a polite smile while the woman and her annoying dog passed, then made his way up Emily’s walk. Inside the building, the sound of classical music drifted from one of the downstairs apartments and the smell of baking chicken filled the entryway, reminding him he hadn’t eaten more than a bagel since early that morning.

  At the top of the landing, he hesitated at the sound of a man’s voice coming from the hallway around the corner, then at the sound of Emily’s soft laugh. Frowning, he moved closer.

  “I had a wonderful time today, Joseph,” Shane heard Emily say. “Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”

  “I’ve got an early meeting to prepare for,” the man said. “Maybe next time.”

  Maybe next time? Shane clenched his jaw. Who the hell was this Joseph? Her ex-boyfriend, maybe? Shane couldn’t remember the guy’s name, but Joseph did sound familiar. And why had Emily had a “wonderful time” with him today?

  He stepped around the corner and felt a muscle jump in his jaw when he saw Emily lean forward to hug the guy, then kiss him on the cheek.

  Jealousy, dark and vicious, slammed like a fist in his gut. The intensity of it shocked him, nearly had him grabbing the guy by his collar and punching his lights out.

  “Shane.” Emily straightened as she spotted him, and smiled cautiously. The man with her straightened as well, and he lifted one dark eyebrow as Shane met his gaze. “I…wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I tried to call you this afternoon.” Shane moved forward, kept his eyes locked with the other man, who clearly was no happier about Shane’s appearance than Shane was about his. “Obviously, you were out.”

  Having a wonderful time.

  “I went to lunch and sightseeing with Joseph.” She touched the man’s arm. “Joseph, this is Shane Cummings. Shane, this is Joseph Barone, my cousin.”

  Joseph Barone.

  Her cousin, for God’s sake. The rush of combat eased and so did the fierce need to claim the woman standing three feet away from him. Feeling like a complete idiot, Shane stepped forward and shook the man’s hand.

  “Shane.” Joseph’s grip was firm, his gaze still wary. “Emily’s told me all about you.”

  “Is that so?” Not all about him, Shane was certain. If she had, Joseph would probably be the one wanting to punch some lights out.

  “I told him how you found me in the plant and carried me out just seconds before the explosion,” Emily said quickly. “And how you came to the hospital to visit me afterward.”

  “The Barones owe you a debt of gratitude.” Joseph released Shane’s hand. “If there’s ever anything we can do for you, please let us know.”

  “Thanks, but it’s not necessary.”

  Joseph glanced at Emily. “Well, if you’re all right, I guess I’ll run along.”

  “Of course I’m all right. And thank you again for a lovely day.” Emily gave her cousin another hug. “You can tell Maria you accomplished your mission and that I thank her, too.”

  Shane watched Joseph stroll away. “Your cousin.”

  “Of course it was my cousin.” Emily slid a look over her shoulder as she slipped her keys in the door, then opened it. “Who did you think he was?”

  “Uh…” He squirmed as he followed her inside. “No one.”

  Emily tossed her keys and purse on an entry table and turned to face him. “You find me in the hallway with another man, hugging him, and you thought he was ‘no one’?”

  “Okay, so maybe I, uh…” He scratched at his neck. “Maybe I thought it was your ex-boyfriend.”

  “Jeffrey?” She stared at him in disbelief. “You actually thought that I’d spend the night making love with you, then go out with Jeffrey the next day?”

  He was feeling more ridiculous by the second. “I didn’t know what to think.”

  “I didn’t know what to think this morning when I woke up and you were gone, either,” she said quietly.

  Dammit. Now he didn’t just feel ridiculous, he felt like a heel. He moved toward her, put his hands on her shoulders.

  “My pager went off. I was called in on a new construction fire in Newton. You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t want to wake you.”

  He’d also known if he had, it would have been ten times more difficult to leave. When she just looked at him, one brow raised, he added, “Okay, I should have left a note, I realize that now. I’m sorry.”

  She stepped closer to him, smiled softly. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Shane. It’s all right.”

  She was so damn understanding that now he really did feel like a heel. “It’s not all right.” He slid his hands up her shoulders and cupped her face. “I care about you, Emily. Very much. All the more reason I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I’m not as fragile as you and everyone else seem to think,” she said evenly. “If you don’t want to see me again, then just say so. I won’t fall apart.”

  He should have felt relief at her words, but instead, he felt his temper rising. “I never said I didn’t want to see you again,” he said irritably. “I’m just trying to be honest with you.”

  “You mean that you’re not looking for any kind of relationship and you don’t want to get married.” She sighed. “And to think I already had the invitations and dress picked out.”

  She was making fun of him, dammit. Frowning, he dropped his hands from her face. “I’m so glad you find this amusing.”

  “Oh, Shane.” She surprised him by throwing her arms around his shoulders and giving him a quick kiss. “You’re just so serious. You really need to lighten up and enjoy life a little.”

  “Is that so?” In spite of his annoyance, he slid his hands up her back and drew her closer. “And what do you suggest I do for enjoyment?”

  “Well, let’s see.” She pursed her lips together thoughtfully. “You like to sail, so that’s definitely a good choice. And they say a good book is relaxing.”

  “They do, do they?” He dipped his head to nibble on her earlobe. “What else do they say is relaxing?”

  Her breath came in short little gasps. “Uh…numismatics.”

  He eased his head away from her and lifted a dubious eyebrow.

  “Coin collecting,” she murmured.

  Smiling, he lowered his mouth to lightly brush his lips against hers. “I think I’ve got a better idea.”

  His tongue parted her lips, then slid inside, tasting the sweetness. Her breath came quicker now, and she wound her arms tightly around his neck. He deepened the kiss and felt her shiver when he skimmed along her waist, then slipped under her pretty ruffled blouse to trace the undersides of her breasts with his knuckles. Her breath caught in her throat when he cupped her soft flesh. When he circled her hardened nipples with his thumbs, she moaned.

  Blood pounded in his veins, and his own breath was hard and labored. Need clawed at him, had him wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, lifting her off the ground to carry her to the bedroom.

  They both froze at the unexpected knock at the door.

  He dropped his forehead to hers. “Maybe they’ll go away.”

  The knock came again, louder. “Department of Water and Power,” a man’s voice said from the hallway.

  On an oath, Shane released her and stepped away.

  Emily drew in a breath to steady herself, then opened the door just enough to stick her head out.

  “Sorry to bother you, miss.” A city worker handed Emily a flyer. “But we have to shut down the water to your building. Not sure how long, anywhere from fifteen minutes up to three or four hours, but we’ll come back and let you know soon as we’ve made our repairs. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

  Emily thanked the man, then closed the door and leaned back against it. Shane looked at her lips, slightly swollen and red from his kiss, and the lingering glaze of passion in her eyes.

  Dammit.

  “Come on,” he said with a sigh, then grabbed her purse and keys and handed them to her.

  “Where are we goin
g?”

  “Someplace you’ve never been.” He slipped an arm around her waist, gave her a quick, hard kiss, then pulled her out the front door.

  “You’ve already taken me there,” she said with a grin, then laughed when he shook his head.

  “I’m talking food now, Emily. And beer. Do you like beer?” he asked, leading her down the stairs.

  “I don’t know,” she said, more than a little breathless. “But I can’t wait to find out.”

  On a quaint, cobbled street not far from the marina, Darcy’s Irish Pub sat nestled between an antique jeweler and a used-book store. A green neon sign flashed Open in the beveled glass window while an automated wooden leprechaun puppet danced beside a pot of shiny gold pieces. Fascinated, Emily read a sign over the entrance: “May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live!”

  The sound of laughter and music spilled through the open door when a man and a woman who appeared to be in their twenties came out of the pub. The couple waved a greeting to Shane, then set out down the sidewalk, arm in arm and apparently very much in love.

  “Tell me now if you’d rather go somewhere more quiet and less crowded,” Shane said, holding the door open. “Once we’re inside, there’s no hope of escape.”

  Wondering what he meant by such an odd comment, Emily stepped inside and was immediately captivated. Families sat at dark wood tables eating their dinner, men and women crowded the bar area, drinking from tall, frosty mugs of beer ranging in color from amber to molasses. The ceiling was open beam, the forest green walls covered with pictures of Ireland, famous men of Irish descent and past celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day at the pub. Celtic music and the mouth-watering smell of food grilling filled the air.

  “Shane!” The bartender’s voice boomed over the din in the pub. He was a tall, burly man with a handsome, well-weathered face and a thick crown of pewter-colored hair. “It’s about damn time you showed that ugly mug of yours around here.”

  “You want to see ugly, Darcy O’Dougal, look in that mirror behind you.” An attractive, middle-aged waitress with a lovely Irish accent and a mass of red curls passed by carrying a tray of empty beer mugs. “I may be an old broad, but Shane here still makes my heart flutter. Come here, lad, give Katie a kiss and introduce your friend to me.”

  Emily watched as Shane dutifully kissed the woman’s cheek. “Katherine Murphy, this is Emily Barone. And that blowhard behind the bar is my uncle Darcy.”

  “Blowhard, am I?” Darcy scowled at his nephew. “You’re not too old to have your ears boxed, laddie, but seeing’s how you’ve brought such a pretty lass with you today, I’ll save that pleasure for later. An honor to meet you, Miss Emily Barone.”

  Emily was about to respond when Darcy snatched up a mug of beer from the counter and lifted it as he gave a hearty shout over the noise. “Attention, everyone! A welcome toast to Emily!”

  Everyone in the place lifted a glass and shouted back, “To Emily!”

  For a moment Emily was too stunned to do anything more than stare in amazement. Though the attention made her cheeks flame, she felt a comfortable warmth in her stomach, as well.

  “You want the usual?” Katie asked Shane, who nodded and held up two fingers.

  “Make room for my nephew and his friend.” Darcy shooed two men from their bar stools, then placed two meaty fists on the bar and leaned forward when Emily and Shane sat. “What’ll it be for you, Miss Emily? A pint of Guinness or something that requires less chewing?”

  Emily glanced at Shane in confusion, then back to Darcy. “I don’t know. Why don’t you pick for me?”

  “I like this lass already.” Darcy pulled two mugs from a small freezer and filled them from different taps. “A woman of intellect and fine manners. Can’t imagine what she’s doing here with you.”

  “She’s got amnesia and doesn’t know any better,” Shane said good-naturedly.

  “I may box your ears yet, boy.” Darcy slid the mugs across the bar, then leaned in close to Emily. “Three-quarters of what Shane here says is lies and the other half is without any foundation of truth. You’d do best to remember that, Miss Emily.”

  “You gonna blither-blather all day down there?” a man from the other end of the bar hollered out. “I’ve got an empty mug here.”

  “It’ll match that head of yours, Timothy Johnson,” Darcy shot back.

  When Timothy came back with a comment about a certain part of his anatomy that would match Darcy’s face, the bar erupted into laughter, and a volley of insults ensued between the two men.

  Wide-eyed, Emily stared at Shane, who merely grinned, then lifted his mug and raised it to hers.

  “Cheers.”

  “Cheers.”

  She felt Shane’s eyes on her as she took her first sip of beer. The beer was ice-cold, slightly bitter, but crisp. Not so bad, she thought. She turned her attention to the people around her. In the restaurant area, waitresses served platters of food family-style while a wandering magician in a yellow-plaid overcoat performed tableside tricks and made animal balloons for the children.

  “You okay?” Shane leaned close and spoke into her ear. “We can sneak out now, if you want, while my uncle’s back is turned, though I swear he has eyes in the back of his head and he’ll probably catch us. Then he will box my ears.”

  “Well, we certainly can’t have that,” Emily said with a laugh. “Besides, I can’t wait to see what he’ll do next. He’s quite colorful, isn’t he?”

  “That’s one way to describe him.” Shane looked at his uncle, who was currently arguing with a bald man over city politics. “I’ve heard several other descriptions, most of which I couldn’t repeat.”

  Emily watched Shane’s uncle fill four beer glasses, then one at a time slide each frosty mug down the glossy oak bar to land directly on target in front of four different patrons. All without missing a beat of his political argument.

  “And how would you describe him?” she asked.

  “Loud, quick-tempered, opinionated.” Shane took a long pull on his beer, then looked over at his uncle. “He’s got the biggest heart you’ll ever see, cries like a baby at sappy movies, though he’ll deny that to the death. He works like a dog, and he’s always been there for me.”

  “And you’re always there for him, too, aren’t you?” she asked.

  “Of course.” Shane grinned. “Who else would put up with such a belligerent old coot?”

  “Looks to me like Katie would,” Emily said, watching as the redhead moved between the two arguing men and told Darcy to shake a leg.

  “Katie?” Shane laughed at the idea. “She’s worked here since I was a kid. My uncle and Katie are just friends.”

  Men, Emily thought with sigh. They were so clueless. What Emily saw in Katie’s eyes when she looked at Darcy was definitely not friendship. Anyone could see it.

  Or maybe it was just one woman in love recognizing another.

  It was a foolish, dangerous thing to fall in love with Shane, Emily knew. But it wasn’t as if she’d been given a choice in the matter. From the moment he’d walked into her hospital room, maybe even from the first moment he’d scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of that burning building, she’d been in love with him. Foolish or not, that was the reality.

  Fortunately, her wayward thoughts were cut short when Katie brought out the food, a giant pastrami sandwich surrounded by a mountain of golden French fries. It looked and smelled wonderful, and Emily was about to take a bite when several loud groans and a burst of laughter from the back of the pub stopped her.

  “What’s that all about?” she asked Shane, who’d already dug into his sandwich.

  Without even glancing over his shoulder, he said, “Whiskey poker.”

  “Whiskey poker?” She furrowed her brow. “What’s that?”

  “A mutated form of poker, but no money bets in the pub, just tokens that can be used here on St. Patrick’s Day.” Shane took a swig of beer. “Some people call it knock poker, becaus
e you knock when you think you have the best hand. The rules and stakes vary from game to game, but it’s basically the same.”

  “What happens if you knock and you don’t have the best hand?” she asked.

  “Eat your sandwich, darlin’,” he said with a grin. “And then I’ll show you.”

  Except for the soft lap of water against the boats and gentle creaking of wood, the marina was quiet when Shane pulled into the parking lot later that night and shut off the ignition. Beside him, Emily sat with her head back against the seat and her eyes closed. If not for the smile on her lips, he might have even thought she was asleep.

  Unable to resist, he leaned over and nibbled on one corner of that pretty mouth, felt her smile widen as her arms came around his neck. He traced her lips with his tongue, and when she opened to him he slid inside. She sighed with pleasure, touched her tongue to his and pulled him closer.

  She tasted like key lime pie, a specialty at his uncle’s pub that Katie had insisted Emily try before they’d left. He savored the tangy, sweet taste of her, but it wasn’t enough. The sudden thought that it might never be enough felt like a claw in his gut, but he shrugged the feeling off. It would have to be enough, he told himself.

  He eased away from her, brushed his thumb over her damp lips. “If I don’t stop kissing you right now, marina security is going to have a real show when they make their rounds.”

  “I’ve never been anyone’s show before,” Emily said breathlessly. “At least, I don’t think I have.”

  “There are some firsts that you’re better off not experiencing, sweetheart. Come on, I’m taking you home.”

  “Home?” She blinked, then straightened in her seat. “Oh. All right.”

  The overwhelming disappointment in her voice had him chuckling. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, then murmured, “My home, Emily.”