Page 62 of Once upon a Summer Night

“Hey, Gwen, nice to see you again. So, I hear you went on a date, Ellie. Has Col gone through the checklist of follow-up questions with you yet?” James asked, his face a perfect mask of interest and innocence.

“We’re just getting started,” Ellie replied, dumping the soaked towels into the sink and handing Colin a fresh cup.

James smiled encouragingly at her. “I remember some ofthem. Col, you go ahead and dig it up from your files and I’ll start.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

James winked at him. “Of course! I worked at the company for a little while, while I was waiting for my residency to start. I always loved hearing the different versions of the date from both sides. If I remember correctly, there are three main questions. The first one is: Did you enjoy yourself?”

Ellie nodded. “We went on a walking literary tour of Dublin and discussed all sorts of fun stuff, like how Wilde’s works compared to Yates’s in style and scope—”

“Please tell me you’re joking,” James cut in, his eyes wide. “That has to be the most boring date idea ever.”

Ellie smirked at him. “Bookshop owner, remember?”

James whistled through his teeth. “Ah, he’s good. That was smart of him. Dinner too?”

“Yes—private dinner at The Clarence.”

“Not the best restaurant in the city,” Colin felt compelled to point out.

Ellie raised her eyebrows at him. “At one of the pubs we stopped at, I mentioned that I enjoyed U2’s music, and he changed our reservations because Bono and the Edge own that hotel.”

“Smooth,” James murmured. “So I take it that you did in fact enjoy yourself?”

“Very much.”

“Colin, you have your list up yet?”

Colin resisted the urge to wrap his hands around his brother’s neck. Why did James decide that this morning was a good time to stir the damn pot?

“The next question is a bit personal, but it’s important to answer it honestly,” Colin intoned, burying his dread deep.You can do this, O’Rourke. Just ask the question.He drew a breath, schooled his features into the blandest expression hecould muster, and coughed out, “Was there any physical affection between you last evening?”

Ellie flushed a deep red—the same red that had crept so quickly up her neck when they were together in Reilly’s garden weeks ago. She looked lovely when she was flustered.

Stop.

“Yes.”

The single word shattered him in ways he didn’t even know he could break. James slid him a sympathetic look, but Colin tapped on his keyboard as though he were methodically completing the questionnaire, when in reality, he had no idea what was in front of him. All he could see was red.

After a too-long pause, Gwen asked, “What’s the next question?”

Colin swallowed past a dry spot in his throat. “Do you want to see him again?” He didn’t look up from his screen until he was certain that his face showed nothing but mild, professional interest.

Ellie studied him a moment, then her mask fell just the slightest bit. If he hadn’t been watching for it, he wouldn’t have seen it—but he had, and he hated himself for it.

You would have to give up everything,he reminded himself.No expansion into the UK. Smear campaign from her aunt. All that, just to make her miserable as I travel all over the time continuum. I’ll have ruined both our lives.

And I’ll have nothing to show for my own.

He remained impassive, as though the next word out of her mouth wouldn’t kill him inside.

“Yes.”

“Oh!” Gwen exclaimed suddenly. “There’s Reilly. I’ll be back in a bit.” She jumped up from the table and raced out the back door.

James watched her with bemusement. “You’d think weweren’t staying in the man’s house with the way she thought to catch him.”

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