Page 33 of Once upon a Summer Night

“Best business decision I’ve ever made,” Colin agreed.

Emma rolled her eyes at the both of them as the plane touched down on the tarmac. “You two could sweet-talk the hide off a cow. Ellie, have a wonderful time in Boston. Enjoy your vacation. I’ll be in touch soon.”

Ellie and Gwen hugged, and soon it was just her, Colin, the flight attendant, and the pilot.

And seven hours in a private jet.

Colin watchedEleanor sleep across from him, her breathing deep and even. He showed her how to pull the seat out fully so that it became a bed, and then Amanda, the flight attendant, brought over a pillow and some blankets. Ellie pretended to sleep, and Colin felt her gaze acutely, until she really did drift off.

Now, as he studied her, he wondered what he was going to do.

A lock of her thick, chestnut hair fell over her forehead, and her face was relaxed. She looked innocent and trusting—and Colin’s instincts were clamoring. He wanted nothing more than to claim her as his mate, but he wasn’t a fool. If he claimed her, she would be tied to him forever.

Forever.

He could deal with loneliness. He could handle focusing on those around him so that the hollowness wouldn’t swallow him whole. Protectors before him had done so, andwhile he knew what could happen in the worst-case scenarios, he also knew what could happen in the best-case ones. But to tie an innocent woman to that same fate?

He was bound to her forever already. Being an O’Rourke, it was the blessing and curse given to all Protectors. One mate. That was it. If he didn’t claim his mate, he was destined to be lonely, but she would be free. But if he did claim her, and she didn’t love him…he condemned both of them to an eternity of sadness.

He sat back slowly and took a sip of his water, contemplating the mess of his life right now. They’d known each other a handful of hours. It was too soon for anyone, save a Protector, to know anything about another person. It didn’t make sense, and to force something would only backfire.

She didn’t give him any outward indicators that she felt anything other than friendliness for him, aside from the one spectacular kiss. He couldn’t claim her without knowing that she loved him; doing so would entwine them for all time. Neither would be complete without the other, and if love wasn’t involved, it would be an unmitigated disaster.

No. He wouldn’t do that to her.

So, as he watched her sleep, he decided that he would match her with only the best his company had to offer. He would comb all of Great Britain and Ireland and find her the man of her dreams, who would give her everything he couldn’t.

He wouldn’t be another Shea O’Rourke, who claimed his mate without her love behind him.

“Mr. O’Rourke? We’re landing shortly. Can I get you anything?”

He glanced up and smiled at Amanda. “No thanks, I’m set.”

She patted his shoulder, then headed to her own seat nearthe cockpit and buckled in as Les began the final descent into Boston.

Colin glanced back at Ellie. She deserved happiness and stability and love.

He could give her none of that—but Celtic Connections could.

Colin unlockedthe door and stood back, wondering why the hell he’d brought Ellie to his home instead of to a hotel.Because you don’t want to abandon her in a foreign city,he reminded himself.It would be rude.

Ellie stood on the front doorstep of his brownstone in the Back Bay of Boston, looking up at the four-story home. Her expression revealed nothing, but Colin hoped she liked what she saw.

Not that it would matter,he rushed to convince himself.

Her eyes met his, and her lips turned upward. “Whoa, Colin. Just…whoa.”

He shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. “Just a pile of stones. Come on in.”

She scoffed as she stepped inside and took it all in. “These are some stones.”

He dropped their bags in the front foyer, which was a lofty term for the smallish entrance to the house. Closing the door, he let out a contented sigh. He enjoyed Ireland, but this was home. And he was glad to be back, even if only for a short time.

“Come on. I’ll give you the tour.” And damn him if he wasn’t a little bit excited to show her his house.

Which was nerve-racking on so many levels, not the least of which was that he’d never brought a woman home before. Family, of course, and Emma when she was hiding out fromher ex, but otherwise…Well, he was sure it didn’t signify anything. And even if it did, he rationalized, the fact that she was here meant nothing. He was serious about keeping his distance from her.

As he followed the honey-maple floors into the living room, her scent filled his senses, and he wondered if he’d ever again be able to enter that room without thinking of it.

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