Page 32 of Whiskey & Witches

“I suppose I feel I owe you all.” His silvery gaze touched on Piper before settling on Roisin. “And I despise men who make war on women and children.”

Something flashed in the man’s quicksilver eyes, and Carrick got the impression Ronan wasn’t being exactly truthful. “Yeah, and what did you say your given name was?”

Eyes as hard as steel, Ronan smiled congenially. “I didn’t.”

CHAPTER12

Roisin registered the voices around her. One, in particular, teased her mind and tried to kickstart her memories. But the harder she tried to recall, the more elusive that bit of knowledge remained. Her head ached like the devil, but she would create a magical remedy when she woke.

“She’s coming ‘round,” the stranger said.

And Roisin opened her eyes to stare straight into the worried depths of Carrick’s.

“Welcome back, pet,” he said with a tender smile.

She frowned and glanced around, noting she was in her cottage. “Why am I here? I thought we brought Aeden home—Aeden!” She tried to sit up, but Carrick placed a hand on her shoulder and held her in place.

“He’s fine, Ro. He’s with Bridget.”

Piper touched a hand to Carrick’s back and smiled down at Roisin. “I’ll call Bridget and check on him. Be right back.” She left the cottage with Cian right behind her.

A tall, well-built blond man in the corner shifted and came into the light. His expression was carefully blank as if he were holding himself in check. The tickling started again in her brain. It was as if something was trying to pick off a bandage or scab to let the information bleed out. “Do I know you?”

Satisfaction flashed in his eerie eyes but just as quickly disappeared as warm concern replaced it. Unease crept through at the dark alleys of her mind, skulking ever closer.

The man would’ve made an excellent actor.

“I’m sad you don’t remember me,” he said with an easy smile. “I’ve been by a time or two to pick up a balm for my aunt.” When she would’ve opened her mouth to deny any knowledge, he waved a hand in dismissal. “No need to worry about any of that right now, Mrs. O’Malley. Sure, and I’ll pop back by another time. She has enough to tide her over for a few more days.”

She’d definitely have remembered him had he stopped by to pick up anything for his aunt. He wasn’t someone easily forgotten. Even knowing he was lying, Roisin couldn’t bring herself to call him on it in her tired state.

She nodded. “Tell your aunt I’m happy enough to make her another batch when she’s ready.”

His smile widened, and her heart fluttered at the beauty of his face. If she weren’t married, and here she couldn’t say she was happily anything anymore, she might’ve followed through on her interest.

Or perhaps not.

His larger-than-life presence dominated, and likely any woman he set his sights on would be overwhelmed by all that animal magnetism and intensity.

“See ya around, Roisin O’Malley. Take care of that boy of yours, yeah?”

Again, an elusive memory tickled her.

She turned toward Carrick, conscious of his troubled regard.

“Thank you for your help, Ronan,” he said, purposely clasping his hands together instead of offering one to shake. “Ro will be coming home to stay after she wakes more fully. If you’ve something you need, you can visit the pub and ask for her there.”

Roisin released a relieved breath. There was a comfort in knowing she’d be under her husband’s watchful eye. The Ronans of the world were like predatory birds, ready to swoop down on the less-suspecting smaller animals and snatch them up in their talons. But under Carrick’s guard, she felt safer.

If she paused to think about it—and here she didn’t want to—she would surely be embarrassed that she was doing her gender, as a whole, a disservice. Strong, brave, and independent women existed and were to be celebrated, but Roisin couldn’t help that she loved the protective feel of a man’s arms around her.

Ronan’s open smile dissolved into a small, wry twist of his lips. “Understood.”

No one spoke until he left.

“You don’t remember him, Ro?” There was suspicion in Carrick’s tone, and it annoyed her to hear it.

“No.”

---