Page 18 of Once upon a Summer Night

“Oh, Col. Think of her as a sweet old woman with a bone to pick. You just leave her to me and deal with Miss Carberry directly.”

Reilly ended his call. “That was one of the professors we met yesterday. He said he’ll be teaching a class at the University of London next year. I asked if we might get an inside look at their program tomorrow, and you can scope out the facilities, see if she’s there.”

“Who’s there?” Emma inquired.

“No one,” Colin intoned. “Reilly, just let it go.”

Emma’s gaze sharpened, a contemplative look settling over her features. “This sounds interesting.”

“It’s not,” Colin replied blandly, leading them toward the conference room.

Reilly snorted. “You’re a fool if you stop looking. It’s not as though the Fates would drop her into your lap again.”

They pushed open the doors to the conference room, and Colin stopped so fast, Reilly almost slammed into his back.

“Damn it,” he breathed, his heart leaping into his throat.

“What?” Reilly glanced at him, then over at the two women sitting at the large table. There, sitting next to an older, well-dressed woman, was a much younger one with honey-colored eyes. Reilly let out a half laugh. “Oh. Oh, no.”

A feeling of intense longing, followed by shock, sweptover him. The woman he’d been searching for sat at the table nervously, fidgeting with her fingers as she replied in a low tone to something her aunt had said to her.

Her aunt.

Colin knew instantly, and without any doubt, that the woman suddenly staring at him as though she were seeing a ghost was indeed his soul mate.

And he also knew, in that same instant, that he could never admit it aloud; he could never have her without giving up everything else.

He let out a hollow chuckle; the Fates had played their cards well, and he was left with no choice but to fold, one way or another.

“Well. My day became much more enjoyable,” Reilly declared, and straightened his tie. “Miss Carberry, I believe?”

Ellie couldn’t breathe.For one horribly long moment, she wondered if she was destined to die this way, staring into the stormy eyes of Apollo, unable to formulate words or coherent thought.

Actually, her thoughts were pretty coherent. Which made her think that perhaps she wasn’t as close to death as she first assumed, although maybe she would die of humiliation, for at least a full minute had passed and not one of them had done anything but stare at the other.Should I try to cover up the moment?she wondered, panicked.Or will I muck that up? Oh, God, please, open this ground and let it swallow me whole…

Unfortunately for her, sinkholes in Britain had been scarce of late. Luckily, the man standing directly behind Apollo (call him Colin,she admonished herself) stepped forward with his hand extended.

“Reilly O’Malley. Pleased to meet you, Miss Emsworth. Miss Carberry.”

“Oh,” Winnie exclaimed as he kissed her hand. “You’re Irish! Are you on the match list?”

“Winnie!” Ellie exclaimed, shocked out of her surprise.

“No, he isnoton the list, as I haven’t received any direction from Miss Carberry as to what she’s looking for in a life partner,” Colin cut in, stepping forward briskly. He gave Ellie his best smile and added smoothly, “Miss Carberry, I’m Colin O’Rourke, president and CEO of Celtic Connections. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand.

She managed what she hoped passed for a smile, as real words were beyond her, and shook his hand. “I’m, uh…I’m…”

“Eleanor Carberry?” Colin supplied.

“Er, yes,” she managed to reply. “That.”

His hand remained suspended, patiently waiting for her to take it. She gazed at it for another second, terrified that if she touched him, everyone in the room would see the spark that she swore had flown when he’d kissed her.

“Eleanor! Shake the man’s hand!” Winnie exclaimed. She sighed audibly. “My apologies, Mr. O’Rourke. My niece becomes a bit shy around other people.”

Colin merely lifted his brow again, waiting. Ellie gritted her teeth, and carefully placed her hand in his.

Yep. There it was.

---