Page 42 of Trying Sophie

Damn him for being so observant.

“I’ve been here weeks. You’d think I’d have gotten the hang of things by now.”

He studied me for a couple of seconds. “It looks like you’re on your way somewhere but I thought maybe, that is if you have time, we could grab a coffee?”

Was it just me or did he look nervous?

I didn’t spend too much time wondering though because the mention of coffee proved a huge, perfect, wonderful distraction.

“Please tell me there’s somewhere close by to get a good cappuccino,” I begged in an overly-dramatic voice while grabbing the neck of his hoodie and twisting it in my hands. “This is a matter of life and death,” I added on a laugh.

When he laughed right along with me, the sound was like honey in my ears. No, not like honey. Whiskey. Rich. Smokey. Warm. It made me think dirty thoughts.

“Whoa, there,” he snickered, his twinkling eyes dipping to my fingers twisted up in his clothing. “Life and death, you say?”

Realizing how close I was to him, I dropped my grip and stepped away. “Yes. My grandma swears by instant and it’s killing me.”

He mock shuddered. “That’s terrible,” he acknowledged, glancing beyond my shoulder. Lifting his chin, he indicated something down the way and my eyes followed. “You know the bookstore at the end of the road?”

“I know of it.”

I loved bookstores but hadn’t been in yet since the pub kept me busy pretty much twenty-four seven.

“I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long,” he answered. “They make the best coffees in town.”

“Well, my survival has been touch and go for a while,” I admitted with a chuckle. “Hence today’s supply run. I’m not going to lie, between the wonky car, these tiny roads, and not knowing any of the brands, I felt a little like Glenn on The Walking Dead, trying to find the necessities.”

“Let’s make sure you don’t expire from withdrawal then and get eaten by zombies.”

Ten minutes later, I stood clutching a steaming mug of cappuccino—the foam prepared exactly the way I liked—between warm, grateful fingers.

“This is heaven.”

I exhaled a satisfied sigh, my eyes catching and holding Declan’s over the rim of the cup.

A small scowl creased his forehead and he looked away, his attention focused on the bookshelf to my right. Call it woman’s intuition or some strange sixth sense, but I got the impression Declan was uncomfortable.

“So,” he said, picking up a random book from the shelf and flipping through its pages. “How do you like being back?”

Setting it back on its shelf without really seeing it, he strolled down the aisle before I could answer. My only option was to follow him.

“It’s certainly different from when I was a kid,” I answered. “When you’re young, so much flies right over your head so I never really realized how much the adults here gossip about everything.”

He let out a sardonic laugh. “Lemme guess, you feel like an animal in the zoo with everyone your grandparents know—and even some they don’t—dropping in to see you in the flesh.”

“Yeah, something like that,” I agreed. “And, of course, people seem inordinately interested in you.”

He cast me a smile that could charm the pants off a lesser woman. “Well, I am kind of a big deal you know?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I answered as we reached the door and Declan held it open. “Obviously you’re the local hero, but it goes way beyond being proud of you into something bordering on … I don’t know, god like status. It seems you, Declan O’Shaughnessy, can do no wrong.”

He lifted his shoulder on a shrug and said, “It’s not bad, Ballycurra. The people are nice and supportive. Don’t tell anyone, but I actually love this place. Doesn’t really fit with my reputation, but a guy’s gotta have his secrets.” Another deadly dimpled smile followed. “Anyhow, you should give it a chance. You might find you actually like it too.”

He nudged his shoulder against mine and though the contact was brief, I couldn’t ignore how solid he felt beneath the padding of his winter coat.

“Here I am,” I said, stating the obvious, when we’d reached the Volkswagen. “I should get going.”

He looked down at the large, metal watch on his arm. “Yeah, me too. I have to be back in Dublin in a bit.”

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