Page 57 of Once upon a Summer Night

“Woolgathering?” Reilly teased gently, appearing suddenly.

She jumped guiltily and glanced down the stairs. “Admiring the banister,” she corrected, hoping Reilly would ignore the break in her voice. She cleared her throat. “It’s, ah, very well made.”

His face gave nothing away, though he had to know she’d heard Colin’s declaration. “Thanks. Come down and eat; there’s plenty for you.”

Ellie pushed her unwelcome tears back. She could do this. She could face Colin, in this place, in that garden, even, and she would overcome her feelings. They weren’t reciprocated in kind, and though it hurt more than it should, she was made of strong stuff. She’d been through worse and survived.

She was tired of not being enough for someone. It was time, maybe, for her to be enough for herself.

Emma didn’t hesitate as Ellie entered the room. “We were reviewing your file, and I know we discussed this on the plane ride over, but are yousurethat your only hard requirement is that your match be an untitled gentleman? I really think you should go over the questionnaire a bit.”

Ellie shrugged, forcing herself to look as though her chest didn’t ache. “I’m not looking for the perfect man. I suppose I prefer intelligence over ignorance. Good hygiene. In a perfect world, he’d love to read. And it would be nice if he enjoyed traveling. But with your stellar reputation, I believe I’m to trust in your superior magic-making skills.” The last she saidwith a slightly raised, challenging eyebrow towards the couch, where Colin sat.

“We have a process,” he ground out. He loosened his jaw, then continued, “It’s not magic. It’s understanding the client and what the goals of the relationship will be.”

“If I’m understanding it right, it’s lifelong happiness,” she replied, proud of the cool, calm tone of her voice. She listened as he went over what to expect, nodding where appropriate without hearing the words.

“I want a true partner,” she said evenly. “In every sense of the word. Someone who cares enough to look past my faults, and see me. Really see me.” Winnie’s words ofgo for the perfect manrang in her ears. She looked squarely at Emma, though the words were directed to Colin. “And maybe someone who would put me above himself every once in awhile. There’s your challenge, for I’ve yet to meet such a man.”

She turned on her heel and went right back upstairs, unwilling to show even a hint of weakness to the man who watched her go through narrowed eyes.

Chapter 9

“Ihave a headache.”

Colin grit his teeth as Gwen steered Ellie towards the car. “No you don’t.”

“I do,” Ellie insisted. “I don’t want to insult the man by appearing uninterested. We should reschedule.”

Gwen dragged her friend into the vehicle. “This man did not just fly thousands of miles for you to get cold feet. It’s time to put on your big girl panties, Eleanor.”

Gwen, who was flat-sitting for Ellie while she was in the States, arrived in Ireland yesterday for moral support. After the morning he had listening to Ellie come up with every possible excuse as to why she should back out of her and Reginald’s date (which Reg had flown into Dublin for), Colin was grateful for Gwen’s backup. She must’ve known Ellie would balk.

“I forget what he does for a living,” Ellie said, her voice panicky as the driver pulled out from in front of Reilly’s cottage. “He even told me, and I can’t remember. He’s going to wish he never met me.”

“If you read the damn dossier, you would know thesethings,” Colin replied evenly, though his patience was close to snapping. “He’s in software development.”

“Is he good looking?” Gwen asked, intrigued.

“Does it matter?” Ellie groused, sandwiched between Gwen and Colin. She looked grumpily out the front window and crossed her arms.

Gwen patted her on the shoulder. “Of course it does. Colin, do you have a picture? El, surely you remember that spark of excitement you get when you’re attracted to someone.”

Colin avoided looking at Ellie, instead busying himself with his phone, then handed it over to Gwen when Reg’s picture appeared. “Here.”

Gwen peered at the photo. “Oh. Wow, okay. Wow. He looks like—”

“Superman,” Ellie muttered.

“What?” Colin choked out. “I can assure you, he’s no Superman.”

“No, but he looks like the guy who played him in the remake,” Gwen said, her voice fluttery.

“Henry Cavill?” Colin squinted at the picture. The resemblance was definitely there.

Unfortunately.

Gwen snapped her fingers. “Yes, that’s it. I wonder if they’re related?”

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