Wild Irish Dreamer (The Mystic Cove Series Book 8)

by Tricia O'Malley

  Yet this one was tricky. She couldn’t imagine Luis actually trying to kill Liam. That was… laughable, Fi decided, standing up and moving to the shower to turn the water on. She waited as the water warmed, then slipped off her sleep tank and panties and stepped under the stream. Appreciating the waterfall shower head, Fi sighed as the heat loosened the tension in her shoulders. She braced her hands on the wall, letting water run down her back and soothe her muscles.

  Was it simply trying to show her that Luis wasn’t good for her? Or that he had ulterior motives? Or was her gift playing tricks with her mind? There was no handbook on something like this, no rules she could consult, and the last thing she was going to do was wake up any of her family in these pre-dawn hours. Deciding to push the dream away to take out and examine later, Fi spent longer than necessary in the shower before wrapping herself in the plush robe once more and padding out to her room. There, she brewed coffee and settled into the chair, forcing herself to read the papers for the day.

  Routine soothed her, and within minutes, her mind had focused on translating the Spanish news and the dream was forgotten.

  Chapter 30

  They had a rare afternoon off the next day, and with the weather cooperating, Liam coaxed Fi into a walk down by the waterfront. The dream from the night before still lingered with her, but she’d spent the morning highly focused on Luis and had not been able to read anything untoward in his demeanor. Pushing it away as nothing more than a dream – after all, not all of her dreams were premonitions – Fi watched on the sun playing on the water and the lazy swoop of the gulls overhead.

  “It always feels like home,” Liam said, taking a deep breath of the sea air.

  “Aye, it does at that, doesn’t it? I think if you’ve grown up around or on water, you’ll always be drawn to it.”

  “I always say that I get land legs,” Liam said, stopping by a small gelato stand and gesturing to it. Fi nodded; a gelato on a warm afternoon sounded perfect.

  “Land legs?”

  “Yes, I get itchy when I’ve been on land too much.”

  “I suppose I get the same when I’ve been in one spot too long,” Fi said, and then paused to peruse the gelato flavors. She decided on her go-to choice, pistachio, and laughed when Liam raised an eyebrow at her.

  “What? Pistachio is delicious. You haven’t tried it?”

  “No, it’s green. Gelato should be decadent looking, like this salted caramel.” Liam gestured with his cone.

  “Mmm, I’m thinking you might be changing your mind after a taste,” Fi said, offering Liam her cone. Bending, Liam licked her gelato, and a shock of lust seared Fi’s core. Despite her best efforts, her mind shot back to their night all those years ago in Croatia and memories of just what he could do with that mouth. Blushing, Fi turned away to look out at the water while Liam considered her gelato choice.

  “Well, I’ll have to be honest here – it’s not bad. It’s no salted caramel, and I can’t say I’ll be waking up in the middle of the night craving pistachio gelato, but it’s not as bad as I was thinking.”

  “Do ye wake up in the middle of the night craving sweets often?” Fi laughed, grateful her momentary lust had subsided.

  They continued down the cobblestone pathway by the water. Here, people clustered together in small groups, enjoying street food or biking past on their way to university. The crowd was a blend of tourists, businesspeople on their late lunch, or students with backpacks chattering in groups. Spying a rare empty bench, Liam dashed over and commandeered it before anyone else could take the spot. Settling on the bench, he waved her over before devoting himself to his gelato with a single-minded focus that made Fi smile.

  “I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that I’ve awoken a time or two with a craving for something sweet.” Liam shrugged one muscular shoulder.

  “I’ll admit, I have similar moments,” Fi said with a laugh.

  “Duly noted. Call Fi at three in the morning and woo her with pistachio gelato.” Liam pretended to write a note and Fi laughed again, stretching her legs out in front of her. She watched a container ship being loaded in the harbor and her mind drifted back to work.

  “Do you enjoy this part of the job? The negotiations, that is?” Fi asked, savoring another mouthful of her gelato.

  “Mmm, yes and no. I’m good at it, as I’ve a mind for details. But being good at it and loving it are two different things, no?”

  “Sure, I feel the same with my work.”

  “You don’t love translating?” Liam asked, turning to look at her with surprise.

  “I do… but the business translations aren’t what I enjoy,” Fi admitted, amazed to be telling him this. She’d never even spoken the thought out loud before.

  “But isn’t that most of what you do?”

  “Aye, it is. But… I don’t know.” Fi shrugged a shoulder and then took another bite of her gelato.

  “Out with it, Fi. What would you rather be doing? You seem to light up when you’re translating, so I’m surprised to hear you don’t like it.”

  “Oh, I love it. The business contracts just don’t excite me. If I’m to be honest… can I tell you what I’d really love to do?”

  “Please,” Liam said, leaning back so his shoulder bumped hers companionably.

  “I think I’d like to translate books for a living. Fiction – novels, to be specific. Grand sweeping romances, cold murder mysteries, psychological thrillers – I think it’d be great fun. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to travel as much, but I could travel on me own dime, couldn’t I?” Fi demanded, warming to her subject. “And now that I have the flat, I could see myself working from there. Looking out over the water and translating books, then taking off for a holiday.”

  “I think that sounds wonderful, Fi. Why don’t you do that?”

  “Because… well, it’s not what I went to uni for. I have a degree in business. That’s what I should focus on.”

  “Why? I have a degree in business as well, but I prefer getting my hands dirty and building things or being at sea. I still use my degree when I need to, but I’m happiest when I’m doing physical things.”

  Fi’s mind immediately flashed to a very naughty place and heat flushed her face. She hoped he wouldn’t notice, and trained her eyes out on the water.

  “I… uh…” Fi cleared her throat. “I don’t think I’ve ever given myself permission to really explore what that path would look like.”

  “You should. It’s what I’ve done with working for Dylan. He knows I’d go crazy if all I did was sit in a boardroom negotiating contracts all day. Instead, we’ve agreed I can have my hands in all levels of the business. I’m happy as a pig in shite getting dirty on a worksite or running a vessel through a storm at sea. It’s good to have balance. Do you feel you have something to prove?”

  Fi looked down to see she’d eaten all of her gelato. “I guess I do. I’ve always been so focused on getting out and exploring the world and proving I can be a strong businesswoman – I don’t think translating novels fits with that image.”

  “Why not? It’s a business. A very lucrative one, I imagine. I’m betting you’d be quite good at it as well. Why not give it a go?”

  “I just might, at that. I’ll think about it.”

  “Want to go to a museum with me?” Liam asked, standing up.

  “What?” Fi forced her brain to change directions. The man had cut straight to her secret life dream, told her to go do it, and now he had bounced to visiting a museum?

  “A museum? There’s a Picasso museum here. I booked some tickets. I’ve never seen a Picasso. I think it’d be nice to add that to my list. Unless you’ve already seen a Picasso?”

  “Actually, I haven’t.”

  “Great! Should we both do something we haven’t done before then?”

  “I think we should.” Fi laughed and stood, enjoying Liam’s easy company and the fact that he’d kept his word not to push her. Being with him like this was as simple and as uncomplicated as hang
ing out with any of her friends.

  If she ignored the stabs of lust that rocketed through her every so often, that is.

  “Perfect. Shall we explore?” Liam offered her his arm.

  She took it and, without a care in the world, took off for a wander with her friend.

  Chapter 31

  The next few weeks sped by quickly. Fi’s days were filled with translating business meetings and contracts, and her nights split between dining with Liam and Luis, or alone. True to his word, Liam had kept everything professional with her, and Luis hadn’t overstepped any boundaries. She sensed his interest more than a time or two, but he hadn’t made a move in that direction.

  Luis was the type of man she’d typically have dated on her travels – slick, smart, and not interested in anything long-term. With no fear of attachments or feelings getting hurt, he’d be an ideal partner for a little fling after work was concluded.

  Liam, on the other hand, was something altogether different. He… bothered her, in ways that she wasn’t remotely ready to examine. Maybe it made her a bit of a coward, but if she had the choice between simple uncomplicated fun and messy emotional attachments, Fi was going to choose simple. It was just easier that way, Fi reminded herself – no messy attachments, no issues with overlapping friendships. She could easily see herself having a whiskey with Liam at the pub after Grace’s wedding and not having any issue with him. But if they tangoed in the sheets? There would be issues. Fi didn’t like issues. It was part of what made her dearly love traveling. She could love ’em and leave ’em and go on to explore the next place. Nobody got hurt, and everybody knew the score. With Liam, the truth of it was, she feared she would hurt him. Whatever was simmering beneath the surface between them was too potent – too large – to leave either of them unaffected. For her, it just wasn’t worth having a taste.

  “Where is this special place you’re taking me?” Fi asked, smiling at Luis as she joined him outside the hotel. He’d invited her for dinner alone, as they would be dining together for their last night of work tomorrow.

  “It is for fun. You’ll enjoy yourself, I promise,” Luis said, joining her in the back seat of the car.

  “We’re almost done with the negotiations, no? Tomorrow should finish everything,” Fi said, stretching her legs out. Tonight she wore a flowing red skirt that stopped mid-calf and a simple black scoop-neck top. In lieu of necklaces she’d hung long silver dangles at her ears and had her Chanel bag on her arm. She’d learned quickly she’d never compete with the Spanish women Luis hung around, so instead she dressed how she felt most comfortable.

  “I believe so.” Luis looked away and then back to her, a smile stretching his handsome face. “And then… maybe we could spend some time together, if you stay on.”

  Fi paused for a moment. She wasn’t entirely surprised by his question, as she’d sensed a bit of interest from him. However, this was the first time he’d been direct about wanting something more with her.

  “Not likely.” Fi laughed at the crestfallen look on his face. “We’re getting close to my friend’s wedding, so I won’t be staying much longer.”

  “Ah, but you travel frequently, no? We can plan around such things.”

  “Perhaps. I have had some inquiries on various projects, so I’ll review the offers in the next few days and get a better idea on what’s coming up next for me.”

  “Any projects in Spain?”

  “I believe there were one or two. I am a Spanish translator, after all,” Fi said with another laugh as the taxi rolled to a stop in front of building with a line of torches on the balcony outside.

  “I like this news. We can plan for a future date. Maybe someday you will take me to one of those craft markets.” Luis smiled as he held out a hand and helped her from the car. Fi immediately dropped his hand once they were on the sidewalk, and she looked curiously at the building.

  “Is this a restaurant?”

  “Yes, a restaurant, bar, and dance club. Come, come. You’ll see,” Luis said, motioning her inside as he waved to someone across the way. They entered a room with a wide-open dance floor, already teeming with couples who were swaying to the music. Tables hugged the edges of the dance floor and a long bar dominated one wall of the room.

  “Is this… are they doing the tango?” Fi clapped her hands in delight.

  “We do many dances here. Tango, salsa, and free-form dancing. But yes, right now, there is tango.”

  “Oh, how fun, I’ll love to watch. Thank you for bringing me.” Fi followed Luis through the crowd until they reached a table tucked into the corner of the dance floor.

  “Watch? Surely you’ll try a dance?” Luis said, nodding to the waiter who appeared with a bottle of red wine in hand.

  “Me?” Fi laughed and shook her head, caught up in watching the complicated movements of the dancers. “It’s a very intricate dance. It would take ages to learn the steps.”

  “They have beginner dances. We’ll try.”

  “Mmm, I’m not sure. Let me have some of this lovely wine and maybe liquid courage will help me.” Fi laughed again, her eyes stuck on the movement of the dancers. They moved so well together, the delicate steps looking fluid and flawless as they executed the dance. Fi, caught up in the moment, stood and clapped when the dance finished. Luis smiled up at her.

  “See? You have a passion for it. That is all that is needed. I promise,” Luis said, squeezing her hand.

  “Maybe,” Fi said, sitting back down and glancing at her outfit. “At least I’m dressed for it.”

  “You look lovely this evening. But you always look lovely. You’re a fascinating woman, Fiona.” Luis never called her Fi, she realized, but always Fiona.

  “You’re very sweet,” Fi said and then turned her eyes back to the dance floor, riveted as a new set of dancers took to the floor. Over an hour later, with two glasses of wine in her, Fi finally broke down and accepted Luis’ invitation to dance when they called for a beginner round of dancers.

  “I suppose, if we’re all beginners, people will be kind to us?” Fi asked.

  “Of course. We like when people try things. It is important to live life with a passion. Why sit on the sidelines? You’ll make mistakes, of course. But you’ll also learn.”

  “Tell me what to do,” Fi said as Luis tugged her onto the dance floor.

  “I will lead. Don’t worry about the fancy footwork for now. Just get into the rhythm and twists. Fancy footwork comes much later in learning,” Luis said, placing a commanding hand at her waist. Fi nodded and took a deep breath, focusing on the beat of the music when the song swelled around her. Following Luis’ lead, she let him hold her close and together they twirled around the floor. She didn’t stumble as much as she’d expected – with years of Irish dancing under her belt she could be quite light on her feet. By the time the song drew to an end, Fi was flushed and smiling. She caught Luis’ intention right before he tried to kiss her and quickly turned her head so that his lips landed on her cheek. In doing so, her eyes locked on a familiar pair next to her.

  “May I have this dance?”

  “Liam,” Fi said, pulling back from Luis. “I didn’t know you were coming here.”

  “Nor I you,” Liam said, nodding a hello at Luis.

  “I just tried tango. I think I did all right, no?” Fi beamed over at Luis who smiled down at her.

  “Of course. You were a delight,” he said.

  “May I have this dance?” Liam repeated, completely ignoring Luis.

  “Certainly. I think I’m ready to try this again,” Fi said. She kept her tone light, cutting through the tension that seemed to fill the air between the two men. For a moment, her mind flashed back to the dream she’d successfully ignored. The music began before any of them could speak again, and Liam whisked her to the middle of the dance floor.

  “Have you tangoed before?” Fi asked, deciding to keep the conversation light. She didn’t want to ask if he’d followed her here tonight.

  “Believe it o
r not, I have.” Liam smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist. His nearness had an entirely different effect on her than Luis’ had, and her stomach flipped in knots. Holding her eyes with his own, he dipped his head closer to hers, and for a moment she thought he might try to kiss her. “Luis is not the only man here with moves.”

  With that, Liam twirled her out and away from him, her skirt swirling in an arc around her legs, and Fi lost herself to the music and the dance. Every time Liam pulled her near, her pulse picked up, and by the time they ended the dance, they were both panting, their eyes locked on each other’s. Fi took an unsteady breath, and then another, before stepping lightly back from Liam.

  “Thank you for the dance. Please, won’t you join us at our table?” Fi asked.

  “I believe I will,” Liam said. “Though I don’t want to be out much later; we’ve a big day tomorrow.”

  “I agree,” Fi said, returning to their table.

  Luis stood on their arrival. “Ah, Liam, will you be joining us?”

  “Just for one drink and then to the hotel. We’ve much to cover tomorrow,” Liam said simply, and Luis nodded his head in agreement. Another glass was procured and soon the three sat at the table sipping their wine and admiring the dancers. Though the conversation was light, touching on the history of the dances they watched, Fi felt as though the tension had thickened in the air around them. Finally, annoyed with it all, she pushed back her chair to stand.

  “I’m ready to go home. I’ll just grab a taxi to go back to the hotel. Thank you, Luis, for a lovely evening.”

  “But – Fiona, I can take you.”

  “Really, it’s fine. Finish your wine and your meal. I’m just tired,” Fi said, stepping back from the table.

  Liam rose. “I’ll go back with you. I need to look over a few things.”

  Mentally, Fi groaned. She knew what it would look like to Luis, but found that she actually didn’t care. The emotions at the table were messing with her head, and it was time for her to clear out before she did something stupid like let down her shields and read their minds.