Page 81 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

Caught off guard, Brenna pressed a hand to her heart. There, in the distance, was the grand estate her grandmother had described in her childhood. “Gran’s home!”

Eoin wrapped an arm around her upper body and drew her back to rest against him, and it was a good thing since her legs weren’t doing a great job of supporting her on their own.

“Eoin, I can’t believe it. It’s like this is a dream.”

“If it is, we’re both livin’ it, love.”

“Our own home!” She turned, staring up at his bemused expression. Rolling back her enthusiasm, she asked, “Did I jump the gun?”

A soft smile curled his lips, and his emerald eyes developed a twinkle. “No.”

“Do you think you might want to live here with me? I mean, I know it’s probably too much, too soon, but…” She felt like ten kinds of fool for assuming he might want to reside with her on a permanent basis. Yes, he’d declared his love, and wicked intent was in his hot gaze every time he looked at her, but they’d never discussed forever. For that matter, they’d never talked about next week or any of the weeks thereafter.

“I’d be chuffed to live with you, Brenna, me love.” He gripped her hand lightly in his and, in a leisurely manner, kissed her knuckles, very similar to when they’d shared a pint in the New York pub the night she escaped her life of drudgery. “Now let’s be findin’ that bed. I’ve a powerful need to hold you while wenap.”

“Bath first,” she reminded him.

“As if I’d be forgettin’.”

Eoin was as excitedas Brenna to explore their new home, but they were both knackered. The adrenaline rush was gone, leaving them battling sleep, and they climbed the remaining steps to the front door like wooden soldiers.

As he thumbed through the keys, trying to determine which would gain them access, the wooden door swung wide and they were greeted by a young, beefy butler.

“Name’s Fintan,” the man rasped out. No smile in greeting, no warm welcome. “And the key she’s wearing would’ve opened the feckin’ door.”

He bore a striking resemblance to Brenna’s family, with multi-colored hair and light sea-green eyes, a shade darker than Narissa’s. Eoin searched his memory for any mention of a male Sullivan. Surely there had to have been one once upon a time to help continue the line, but he simply couldn’t recall.

Then there was Brenna with her insta-love over Fintan.

She grinned happily from behind the man’s back as he showed them to the master suite and offered to bring them a tray of food with a spot of tea to wash it all down.

“Isn’t he great?” she whispered as Fintan headed to the door.

“No. He’s a surly fecker.” Eoin scowled. “And why is it ya become enamored with every new man you meet, love?”

She giggled and danced backward, dragging him farther into the room. “It’s you I love, Eoin O’Malley. No one else. Promise.”

“And don’t ya be forgettin’ it.” Eoin playfully dodged to the left, then back right, scooping her into a fireman’s hold. Brenna’s laughing squeal made him grin. With a slight tap to her bottom, he carried her to the adjoining bathroom. But in the opening, he paused, not expecting to see a bath already drawn and candles dotting the window sills and vanity countertops.

“Sure, and this is queer,” he muttered.

Brenna tried to peek under his arm, and when she released a small squeak, Eoin could only assume she’d gotten a load of the romantic setting.

“How did Fintan know?”

Setting her on her feet, he surveyed their surroundings. “As much as I hate the idea of it, I think you should be calling Odessa to find out who this man is. Something’s not right here, all the same.”

Closing her eyes, Brenna turned her face up and inhaled deeply. After humming a barely discernible note, she gave him a soft, luminescent smile. “The ancestors say Fintan isn’t a threat. He’s their trusted caretaker.” She caressed Eoin’s cheek, and a second later, drew her sweater over her head and dropped it on the floor.

“Trusted, huh? Okay, and let’s get to bathin’.”

After he removed his shirt, she touched the disc resting on his breastbone. “I know they said the spell was reversed, but should we keep this just in case?”

“Tomorrow’s another day, love. We’ll worry about amulets and villains and potential future threats then, yeah? For now, we’re going to enjoy a warm soak and a shag and maybe two days of sleep.”

“That’s a great action plan,” she said primly, but her sparkling eyes were chock-full of happiness.

As she shimmied out of her jeans, the gold bracelet Reggie had used on him hit the floor with a clink. Eoin’s heart thudded hard as an idea occurred to him.

---