Page 63 of Once upon a Summer Night

Ellie smiled. “She and Reilly go way back, but I understand that he’s been a bit absent this visit.”

Colin forcefully typed more gibberish on his screen, then closed the laptop. “I’ll let you know what your match says, and if he feels the same as you, I’ll have his phone number for you in just a few hours.”

He scraped his chair back from the table and gave them a quick nod before exiting as quickly as possible.

Chapter 10

“You’re leaving again? But they just got back! You promised me you would take me to see Glendalough.”

Colin halted mid-step, the pain in Gwen’s voice audible. He peeked around the corner of the house and saw Reilly sharpening his dirk. Gwen, whose back was to Colin, stood with her hands on her hips, her hair blowing like a halo of fire.

“Sorry, lass, but duty calls.”

“What kind of duty?”

“One you would rather not care to hear,” Reilly replied calmly. He held the blade up and inspected it closely.

Gwen cocked her head. “Is it a woman?”

Reilly blew something off the hilt, then resumed dragging the blade across the stone in his hand. “Would it bother you if it was?”

“Lately, every time you invite me to stay with you, you disappear for days! And here you are about to do it again! Why?”

“I’ll take you to Glendalough another time,” Reilly responded without looking up. “Or perhaps you can ask yourboyfriend to do it. He’s probably a better tour guide. I doubt he’d disappear on you.”

Her hands dropped to her side. “Reilly…”

“Fine, lass. Aye, I’m going to be with a woman. She’s important to me, and she is in need of my…services.”

The last word, delivered with such intent, made Gwen’s hands fist. “You’re such a…a…”

Reilly stopped what he was doing, lifted a disinterested brow, and waited silently.

With a strangled sound, she turned and stalked off.

Colin watched Reilly for a moment, noting the tense set of his shoulders as he dragged his dirk against the stone a bit harder than necessary.Hmm.Turns out I’m not the only one who isn’t being all the way truthful with himself.

“Your skills with the ladies never cease to impress,” Colin deadpanned, joining Reilly. “That was harsh, O’Malley.”

Instead of a chuckle, he looked up and frowned. “She fancies herself in love.”

“With you?”

Reilly went back to his task. “Nay.”

“And that bothers you?” Colin asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” he snapped. “And don’t worry about Gwendolyn. She’ll bounce back. She always does.”

“Someday she might not.”

“Are you here for any reason other than to hear yourself speak?”

Colin rolled his eyes. “So sensitive, O’Malley. Well, even if you can’t tell the lovely - if rather outspoken, Gwendolyn where you’re headed this time, I’m betting you can tell me.”

“I thought I was going to Glendalough for a bit of a holiday, but I’ve been given a different assignment,” Reilly answered in a low voice. “Back to the MacWilliams.”

“Any idea as to why?”

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