Page 27 of Once upon a Summer Night

“Don’t be nervous,” Emma said, materializing next to her. “Any questions that veer into your personal background will be deflected by me or Colin. The only thing you really need to do is verify that you’re doing this of your own volition, and that you have your own skepticisms about it. If you do have any skepticisms,” she added hastily. “I’m not directing you on what to say.”

They stood in a small room just off the conference room of a posh London hotel, and Ellie knew that on the other side of the door, the vultures lurked, waiting for fresh meat. Sheloathedthe paparazzi. Memories of them camped outside her doorstep for weeks after her breakup with Andrew danced through her mind, and she grimaced.

“For what it’s worth, she’s not new to reporters. Usually, the best response is no response at all,” Gwen said wisely, her bright red hair bouncing like she was in a commercial.

“Oh, excellent mindset, love!” Winnie exclaimed.

“How do you look as fresh as a freaking daisy, but I still have sheet lines on my face?” Ellie grumbled to Gwen.

“You look stunning,” Emma assured her. “If you didn’t, I’d be fidgeting with you.” She turned and cast a critical eye over Colin, who had just entered the room.

Ellie’s mouth went dry at the sight of him, as did Gwen’s, if her sudden stillness was any indication.

His dark navy suit was tailored perfectly, and the top two buttons of his crisp white shirt were open. His hair was casually swept to the side, all blond and dark and gorgeous, and his deep brown eyes crinkled at the sides when he smiled. A red tie hung from his hand.

“Is there a reason you’re not yet wearing the tie?” Emma asked irritably, slipping it from his fingers and placing it around his neck.

“I figured, what’s the point? You’d just retie it anyway. Plus, it gives me immense satisfaction to tell MacWilliam that your hands were around my neck.” Colin winked atEllie, and her heart actually hurt with how handsome he was.

“Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for this sinner,” Gwen murmured, and Ellie burst out laughing.

“I tried to warn you!” Ellie whispered, attempting not to move her lips.

“Well, yeah, but…” Gwen’s eyes were huge. “He’s so…so…Reilly!”

Ellie frowned. “He’s so Reilly? Is that a saying you picked up in Africa?”

But Gwen wasn’t listening. She’d launched herself at the man who had just entered the room, and he caught her up easily, holding her in a tight bear hug, an enormous grin on his face.

“I thought you were at my house, you little minx. What are you doing here?” he asked, his Irish brogue making the words sound both happy and admonishing.

“I was there, but then Ellie needed me.”

His expression changed into one of surprise as his eyes left Gwen’s face to rest on Ellie’s. “Thisis your Eleanor?”

“Sothatis your Reilly?” Ellie exclaimed at the same time.

“Of course!”

Colin strode forward and held out his hand. “I’m Colin O’Rourke, CEO of Celtic Connections.”

“Gwen Allen. We met a long time ago. My cousin was a Celtic Connections client years ago. I was in her wedding.”

“The Bouchement wedding,” Reilly clarified.

“Bri’s first big success,” Colin remembered.

“I was devastated to find out that she was gone,” Gwen added quietly, placing a hand on Colin’s arm. “She was wonderful.”

He nodded his appreciation, then asked, “So how do you know Ellie?”

Gwen beamed at Colin—really, did everything about her have to be so radiant?Ellie thought crossly. Immediately, she flushedwith guilt. What was wrong with her? She’d never felt jealous of Gwen.

But then again, she’d never felt anything like…well, whateverthiswas when she was around Colin.

“Ellie and I have been friends since before grade school. Winnie has been the best at keeping us together. Wow. Such a small world, isn’t it?”

“I’d call it fate,” Reilly mused.

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