Straight Up

by Deirdre Martin

  “Let me just take a look,” said Liam authoritatively, hoping she wasn't right. He'd never had a flat tire in his life.

  They both got out of the car. She was right: the rear left tire was as flat as he wished the damn road was. Great.

  “Uh, let me just take care of this, and we'll be on our way.”

  He ducked back inside the car, opening the glove compartment. No flashlight. He opened the trunk. There was a flashlight, but the batteries were dead. Liam rubbed his forehead in frustration. How the hell was he supposed to change a tire when he couldn't see what he was doing? “You wouldn't happen to have a match on you, would he?” he asked Aislinn.

  She joined him in front of the open trunk. 'I do," she said, rifling through her purse. She pulled out a book of matches, and lit one. Liam pulled out the spare tire and the tools. The match went out. Aislinn lit another, and another, losing the battle against the wind.

  “This is just great,” he muttered.

  He stood in front of the flat tire. Stalling. He had no idea how to change a goddamn tire, though how hard could it be? It looked like all you needed to do was unscrew the bolts and -

  “You don't know how to change a flat, do you?” Aislinn asked, sounding highly amused.

  “No, I can change a tire.”

  Aislinn folded her arms across her chest. “Go on, then.”

  He glared at her, and grabbing the jack, began jacking up the car. Aislinn burst out laughing.

  “What?” Liam snapped.

  “Know how to change a tire, do you? First you loosen the lug nuts, and then you jack it up.” She sighed and picked up the lug nut wrench, shooing him away. “Here, let me do it. It'll take three seconds.”

  “I'm not a moron, you know.”

  “No one said you were. But I've no desire to stand here half the night while you try to prove you're no girly man.” Smiling impishly, she put her hand over her heart. “Your secret is safe with me, I swear.”

  Liam frowned and let her take over. Aislinn quickly changed the tire in the dark, whistling a happy tune that Liam was sure was meant to mock him.

  “There you go, city boy,” she said gaily when she was done, returning the tools to the trunk.

  “Appreciate it,” Liam muttered. He kicked the tire gently. Wasn't that something you were supposed to do to make sure it was sound? “Now, here's the thing,” Aislinn said authoritatively. “This spare is as bald as my aunt Charlene. We're never going to make it into Crosshaven and back on this thing. So I guess we'd best turn around so you can drop me home, and we can call it a night.”

  “Not happening.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “We're not calling it a night. We'll go back to your place and eat there instead.”

  Aislinn's mouth fell open. "Oh, will we, then? Cheeky bastard! I'm not cooking for you!'

  “I didn't say you had to cook for me. I said we'd eat something. Then, next week we'll take your truck into Crosshaven and try this again, because eating at your house does not count as a dinner date.”

  “We're not eating at my house.”

  Liam swung the car keys around his index finger. “I'm not driving you home, then.”

  Aislinn shrugged. “No skin off my nose.” She turned and started walking up the road.

  “Goddamn it,” Liam cursed under his breath. “Fine!” he yelled at her back. “You win this one! I'll drive you home, and we don't have to eat anything, even though I'm starving to death!”

  Aislinn turned and walked back to him. “Starving, aye?”

  “Starving.”

  Aislinn frowned. “I suppose you could make yourself a sandwich.”

  “Thanks so much,” said Liam sarcastically. He truly was starving, having eaten very little in anticipation of their meal out,

  “We'll see if you still thank me when Nora plies us with questions till our eyes bleed.” She held out her hand for the keys. “I'll drive. I don't think my spine can take hitting another pothole.”

  “I don't think so. You've already emasculated me once tonight. Twice, and my ego will be in complete tatters.”

  Aislinn laughed. “It's a rare man who can admit such a thing.”

  “Yes, well, I'm a rare man,” Liam murmured.

  Aislinn gave a small snort and got back in the car. “Drive on.”

  Straight Up

  Chapter Eight

  ************************************************************************************************

  As Aislinn had predicted, no sooner did they step into the kitchen than Nora appeared. Damn, thought Aislinn. Here it comes. An interrogation

  “What are you two doing here?” Nora asked, surprised. "I thought you were going out to dinner in Crosshaven.

  “We got a fiat, and there's no way we'd get there on the spare, so here we are,” Aislinn explained. She stared at Nora hard, hoping she'd take the hint to skedaddle. She didn't

  "I take it you're eating here?

  “Just sandwiches,” said Aislinn. "Then Liam will be on his way.

  Liam looked down at the stone floor, suppressing a smile

  “What's so funny. you?” Aislinn asked tetchily

  Liam looked up. “Nothing,” he said, his eyes quickly catching Nora's. Aislinn didn't like it. not one bit. Some chat had gone on between them behind her back. She could feel it

  “Where's Deenie?” Aislinn asked Nora

  "Asleep on your bed, I think.

  "She must be tired. She put in a good, hard day.

  Nora nodded dumbly. She has no idea what I'm talking about. Aislinn thought. Despite growing up here, she still has no clue as to how sheep herding works

  "Did you have Padraig up for dinner?

  Nora frowned. "No.

  "Nora, you know he eats with us!

  "It slipped my mind, Aislinn, all right? I was really absorbed in my research. In fact, I wound up taking my dinner up to my room.

  "So? He doesn't need to be entertained. Please. Nora, if you're ever here on your own again, don't forget to have him up. He eats badly when he's left to his own devices.

  Nora sighed. "Next time you're out, I won't forget. I promise.

  “Thank you.” She turned to Liam. "What kind of sandwich do you want?

  "Whatever you have.

  "I've got a bit of ham. Some nice cheese.

  “There's more than that,” Nora chided with a cluck of the tongue. "We've got focaccia, a little caviar, and some pesto spread. I actually had to order the caviar and spread from London, since the market in Moneygall -

  “Doesn't cater to rich expats,” Aislinn finished for her, shooting Nora an annoyed look. A bolt of tension passed between them. Would you ever take yourself off and get out of here? thought Aislinn

  Liam looked uncomfortable. “Ham and cheese is fine with me.”“How about you?” Aislinn asked Nora. “Shall I make her nibs something, too?”

  Nora smiled politely. “I already ate, thank you.” There was an awkward pause. “Well, I'll leave you two to it. I've got a lot of reading to do.” She surprised Aislinn by kissing her on the cheek. “I'll see you in the morning. Nice to see you, Liam.” She started away then abruptly turned back. “Oh, I forgot to tell you, Aislinn: Donald is coming in next Thursday for a long weekend.”

  Great, thought Aislinn. Just what I need: a weekend with a ponce who points out everything that needs to be repaired as if he knows a damn thing about it, and who drones on about how provincial and boring Ballycraig is. Still, he seemed to adore Nora. And that's what mattered.

  “Grand,” she made herself say. You two can go shopping in Moneygall and despair over the lack of artichoke dip together.

  Night," said Nora with a small wave.

  “Night,” Aislinn and Liam chimed together.

  Liam joined Aislinn at the counter as she started preparing their sandwiches. “Do I sense a little tension between the two of you?”

  “I don't know why in the bloody name of creation she's come here to work on her arti
cle, since she and her husband have never had much use for the farm or Ballycraig. I swear to God, the day she turned eighteen she legged it out of here so fast your head would've spun.”

  “Maybe she needs a breather from London.”

  “That's what she says. But she does pluck on my nerves sometimes, truly. Doesn't help that we're chalk and cheese.”

  Liam smiled. “My mother always uses that expression.”

  “It was a favorite of my mother's, too.” Mam. Aislinn swallowed hard, the image of her mother smiling flashing through her mind. She'd had a beautiful smile: soothing and kind.

  Liam sauntered away, inspecting the kitchen. “This house is huge.” great grandfather built it. My grandfather was born here; my da, too, and his two sisters."

  "It's an amazing place.”

  “Thank you,” said Aislinn, welling with pride. “Padraig claims it's haunted by my grandfather, but I've never seen him about.” She handed Liam his sandwich. “What would you like to drink? I've got milk, water, and Guinness.”

  Guinness would be great.

  "I agree. Sit.”

  Liam sat down at the long, scarred Parsons table, practically devouring his sandwich. He looked somewhat embarrassed. I told you I was starved."

  “Clearly.” Aislinn took a bite of her sandwich. “Now this is my idea of a date.”

  Liam's gaze was unwavering as he took a sip of beer. “This isn't our date.”

  “I'm fulfilling my obligation to you. You dared me to have dinner with you. I agreed. And here I am, having dinner with you.”

  “Doesn't count,” Liam insisted. “If you won't have dinner out with me next week, I'll tell Jack we were together tonight, and within minutes, the whole town will know.”

  Aislinn cocked her head quizzically. 'Did you, by any chance, have to hop it here to Ireland because you were a blackmailing bastard?"

  Liam laughed delightedly. “I love it when you flirt with me.”

  “I don't flirt,” Aislinn retorted with a scowl, annoyed by how turned on she was by his laugh.

  “Yes, yo do, but you just won't admit it.” Wrong.

  “Or maybe you don't know you're flirting, which makes it even sexier.”

  Aislinn snorted. “Jesus, can you ever spin the bull. Did the women back home fall for this rubbish? Because if they did, perhaps I've been giving American women more credit than they deserve.” She nodded at his plate. “Finish up, please, and be on your way.”

  “If we hadn't gotten a flat, we wouldn't even be in Crosshaven by now.”

  “And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?”

  “I think you can spare me a bit more of your time.”

  “Fine,” she grumbled. Bigheaded pain in the neck. But he was right, of course. Had the tire not blown, they'd most likely still be in the car right now. All told, between the drive there and back and dinner, she probably would have spent about four hours with him. Well, handsome and witty as he was, she sure as hell wasn't spending four hours here with him.

  Sandwiches finished, she took their plates over to the sink to wash.

  “Ever think of getting a dishwasher?” Liam asked.

  “Ever think of minding your own business?” Aislinn soaped up the plates. “It's just me and Padraig here, and now Nora. We don't generate a lot of dishes.”

  She could feel him coming up close behind her and held her breath for a long moment, trying to drive away the feeling of excitement inching up on her. Oh Lord, let him wrap his arms around me. Oh Lord. don't let him touch me. Oh Lord, my mind is a muddle.

  He didn't put his arms around her but rested his chin on her shoulder playfully. “When you're done with the dishes, I'd love it if you could introduce me to your flock.”

  “I'm tired. I need you to go.”

  Liam stuck his watch in front of her face. “We'd probably just be getting into Crosshaven now.”

  Aislinn sighed in exasperation. “You really expect me to believe you give a tinker's damn about my sheep?”

  "I'm curious. Seriously.

  “Yeah, and my grandda's ghost haunts the paddocks.” She dried her hands on a tea towel and turned from the sink. “I suppose I'll have to let you wear a pair of my dad's old wellies so you don't ruin your trainers.”

  Liam's gaze softened. “You've still got them?”

  “Yes,” Aislinn said curtly. Nora had wanted to purge the house of all their parents' things the week after they died, as if she still bloody lived here. Aislinn refused, so Nora let it go. It was only after Nora left that Aislinn realized that her sister was only looking out for her, thinking that ridding the house of their parents' things might make it easier for Aislinn to live there,

  “Well, come on with you,” Aislinn urged gruffly, striding toward the mudroom, where she pulled on her boots and slipped into her faithful old barn jacket. “The sooner I show you round, the sooner I get you out of my hair,”

  *****

  Her grumpiness faded as soon as she hit the barn, where her beloved flock were sleeping in the fresh straw she'd put down for them just that morning. She inhaled deeply, loving the warmth, the smell, everything about it.

  She named every ewe, ram, and lamb for Liam, hoping that if she started gabbing on about feeding them, rotating pastures, shearing season, and everything else that had to do with running a sheep farm, it would drive him off. But no, he acted like he was interested in all of it, which she was sure was an act. She could have stood there holding forth on the different varieties of termites, and he still would have stuck around. She'd give him points for tenacity, that was sur

  “Well I've dined with you, and you've seen my flock,” she finally concluded cheerily. “Good night.”

  Liam checked his watch. “We'd probably be getting our menus right about now.”

  Aislinn sighed. “Right, what's next? Shall we peek in on Padraig? Throw stones at Nora's window? I know,” she said, brightening. “Maybe I can teach you to change a tire.”

  Liam chuckled good-naturedly. “Actually, what I'd really love to do right now is just sit in one of the meadows and look up at the stars.”

  “Who's stopping you?”

  “I didn't mean alone.”

  Aislinn's heart gave a small, painful lurch; stargazing was something she and Connor used to do all the time on clear nights. In fact, it was something she often did on her own.

  She looked at him, at his dark, broody handsomeness and playful eyes, and decided to risk it.

  “Fine,” she muttered, trying to appear put-upon. “I'll get the blanket I keep in the truck.”

  *****

  She led him up to her favorite pasture, spreading the small, plaid blanket out on the grass. She could see the lights of Ballycraig twinkling down below; Padraig was still up, too, dim light emanating from his front window and smoke curling from his chimney. If he was still awake when Liam left, she'd pay him a visit.

  Aislinn sat down first on the blanket, secretly thrilled when Liam sat so close their shoulders were practically touching.

  “God, look at that sky,” he said rapturously. “You don't see skies like that in the city. The buildings are too tall, and there's too much light pollution.”

  “I couldn't bear to live in the city.”

  “A true country girl, huh?”

  “Yes.” Liam looked at her. “Chalk and cheese.”

  Aislinn smiled shyly. “Yes, chalk and cheese.”

  Liam casually snaked his arm around her shoulder as his gaze returned upward. “I guess I could understand not wanting to give this up,” he said after a considerable pause.

  Aislinn swallowed. The feel of his arm around her shoulder... it was wonderful, making her feel warm and safe. She hadn't realized how much she missed being touched by a man until now. And yet, her first impulse was to stiffen up. Liam noticed.

  “Why so nervous?” . . obvious. "Look,

  "I'm not. What an idiot she was, denying the obvious. Look, I'm not good at this, she admitted lamely.
<
br />   Liam drew her a little bit closer. “Good at what?”

  “Being comfortable with a man. Not after what happened.” She looked him square in the eye. “I don't quite trust you.”

  Liam glanced away for a moment. "I don't blame you. Not after what happened with Connor McCarthy

  “ She shook her head ruefully. ”What kind of eejit can't tell her man is gay?"

  “You shouldn't beat yourself up.”

  “I suppose not.” Aislinn felt tears coming and clenched her jaw. Thinking about what happened still angered and humiliated her.

  “That must have been hard, being jilted and losing your folks in the same year.”

  “It was. But I've dealt with it.”

  “Have you?” Liam asked softly.

  She burst into tears. For a year, she'd bitten back the pain, pushed it down, not letting anyone get near her for fear of looking weak. She hated that the whole town pitied her because of what happened with Connor. The only ones she'd let comfort her had been her parents, and they, too, were soon gone. All she had was Nora, who lived in another country and with whom she'd never been particularly close. In order to go on, she'd had to toughen herself, inside and out. If that made people think she was a hard bitch, so be it. Let them walk a mile in her shoes and see how they'd cope.

  Liam held her tight. “It's okay,” he whispered. “Let it go.”

  And so she did, sobbing into his shoulder as if her heart were breaking all over again. Liam rocked her quietly, stroking her hair. Finally, when she was all cried out, she pulled away from him abruptly, swiping at her eyes, hard. “Sorry about that.”

  “No need to be sorry.”

  “I must look a sight.”

  “You look fine,” Liam assured her.

  “Ha! Now there you're lying. My nose gets all red when I cry, and my face goes blotchy.” She swiped hard at her cheeks. “I feel like an idiot.”

  “Why? Because you dropped your defenses?”

  “I don't enjoy being an object of pity.”

  “You're not an object of pity.”

  Aislinn laughed bitterly. “Not to you, maybe. But to the rest of Ballycraig I am.”

  “There's a difference between pity and feeling bad for someone who was deceived and humiliated by the person they love.”