Page 4 of SCRUMptious

“Hey, wait up!” Donal called, jogging to catch up with me. “I want to talk toyou.”

Since his comment about being all man earlier in the week, I hadn't seen Donal even once—and that was just fine by me. When he wasn't around, I was able to forget the strange pull he had over me and instead focus on doing my job. Aside from a food delivery gone wrong the day before, it had been a blissfully quiet 72 hours.

Hefting my bag higher on my shoulder, I slowed my stride and waited for him to catch up. “You better make it quick,” I said, glancing at my watch. “My bus will be here in 10 minutes.”

“You don't drive?”

“I haven't had time to look for a car, much less get my license. As far as I can tell it's a bitch of a process and since I'm only here for another eight weeks, it's not worth the effort.”

“Ah, right,” he said, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

“Nine minutes.” I tapped my watchface.

“Right. So … I wanted to apologize for the otherday.”

I suppose I could have made him squirm for a bit, but I didn't have it in me. Maybe some other time when I wasn't feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders I would have, but not today. “Thankyou.”

“The thing is, I like you, Lauren. And I'd like to get to know you better.”

I tried to ignore the way my stomach dropped to my knees and my heart galloped in my chest when he said my name. Tried, and failed. “I don't think that's a goodidea.”

Donald crossed his arms and scowled down at me. “Whynot?”

“Well, for one, I'm pretty sure we have absolutely nothing in common. And second, I'm only here for a few more weeks.”

“Which is all the more reason for you to give me a chance. I was born and raised in Dublin. I can show you around. This way when you go back to … where are you going backto?”

“L.A.”

“Cool, I used to live there,” he said, catching me off guard. Before I could ask what he was talking about, he barreled forward. “This way, when you go back home, you can tell everyone about the real Dublin. Not the one you see on postcards and in the movies.”

“What if I want that Dublin?”

“Fine, I'll show you that one too.” His eyes sparkled, and for a moment I wondered if this was what he looked like as the clock wound down in a match and Dublin was up by a few points. Because this was the look of victory narrowly won—smug, yet relieved. Except he hadn't won anythingyet.

I peered at him through narrowed eyes. “You're awfully persistent, aren'tyou?”

He laughed. “You haven't been around professional athletes much, haveyou?”

“Honestly, can't say that Ihave.”

“For future reference, we are some of the most hard-headed, determined assholes you'll ever meet. Once we decide on a goal, nothing—save serious bodily harm—will keep us fromit.”

“So you're saying if I took out your kneecaps, I'd have some peace and quiet in my kitchen?”

Donal pulled the knit cap featuring the team's shamrock logo off his head and ran his hand back and forth through his hair. Dropping his chin, he looked up at me with a flirtatious grin. “Admit it; you missedme.”

“I admit nothing,” I replied, fighting the tug on my lips that threatened to become a full-on smile.

“Aha! There it is. I knewit.”

I turned my head away with a laugh. “I maintain my earlier position.”

Donal took a step forward and placed his large, warm palm on my arm. “Come on Lauren, humorme.”

My smile dropping, I brought my face back around and studied him. Eyes the color of Santa Fe turquoise looked back at me with open sincerity. And just like that, I couldn't remember why I was trying to shut him out. Donal exasperated me to no end, but he also made me laugh … and it'd been awhile since I'd been able to do that. I also didn't really know anyone in Dublin and the truth was, without seeing my friends back home and spending time with my mom every couple of days, I was beginning to feel lonely. Letting him show me around the city didn't have to turn into anything else. It didn't have to mean anything. I wouldn't letit.

“Okay, fine. What do you have inmind?”

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