Page 36 of An Enchanted Spring

Aidan was on the floor, wrestling with Reilly.Wrestling.With another grown man.

Emma rather hoped Reilly would win their skirmish. She still wasn’t sure what to make of that kiss, and Aidan had scowled at her the entire night. It was so at odds with everything he’d done and said to her since they first met, and she wasn’t sure who she was angriest at—Aidan, for being such a jerk after such a wonderful kiss, or herself, for letting her guard down.

Either way, she made the firm decision that they were in a strictly professional relationship now.

Aside from the fact, of course, that she was staying in his cousin’s house, hiding from her crazy ex.

She had to figure out a way to free herself from Ben MacDermott.

She carefully sidestepped the two men as they crashed into the back of the lovely leather couch, shaking her head. From what she could see as she skirted past, Aidan appearedto be bleeding from his lip, and Reilly was sporting a nasty bruise under his eye. They also seemed intent on beating each other to a pulp. Emma rolled her eyes.

She didn’t understand boys when she was younger, and things hadn’t gotten any clearer now that she was grown.

Emma felt much more comfortable after last night’s games, when she soundly trumped all of them at poker, Texas Hold ’Em, and even Go Fish. She had a good time, despite the remnants of whatever that kiss was between her and Aidan. Plus, Aidan didn’t even pretend to like Reilly, which made Reilly flirt all the more outrageously with her. It was interesting to watch.

Reilly’s head popped out from the living room. “Good morning, Em—oof!” He disappeared again.

She found Colin in the kitchen. He stared intently at a laptop, muttering to himself in Gaelic. She had a sudden thought that she might have landed in a house of lunatics.

Well, she tried to rationalize,that isn’t any different than my typical clientele, really.

“Good morning,” she said, sliding into the chair beside him.

“Morning, Emma. Sleep well?”

As well as I could, knowing that the man who kissed my socks off was sleeping only a door away and that my ex is out to have me killed. “Yes, thanks.”

Another loud crash was heard from the living room, followed by what she was sure were curse words in Gaelic. Colin didn’t bat an eye as he added, “They don’t even try to get along. Haven’t for years. But they do love each other as only family can.”

“I see,” she replied, her most charming smile in place. “Last night, you mentioned your matchmaking business, and I realized I signed up for it a few years ago, when my boyfriend and I at the time were on a break.” She grimaced. “I thought I was ready to jump back into dating, and your NewYork office was right across from my work, so…Anyway, when did you take ownership?”

He cleared his throat. “About, um, eight years ago.”

“It’s done very well,” she replied. “Some of my clients used Celtic Connections. They did so with great success.”

“I’m happy to hear it,” Colin replied. Another crash. “Coffee?”

“Sure, thanks,” Emma said. Another thud, followed by grunts.

“Whenever you’re ready to hop back on the dating circuit, let me know,” he offered, sliding her a steaming cup. “We have great matching profiles when you’re ready to settle down. Serious inquiries only.”

She took a sip and frowned thoughtfully. “Thanks. But I don’t think marriage is for me.” But even as she said the words aloud, her heart hurt. Ben would never allow her peace enough to date, let alone marry.

She also wasn’t fool enough to think that she could entrust her heart to anyone ever again.

“You’d make an excellent wife, I’m certain of it,” Reilly drawled, entering the kitchen with Aidan.

“Are you offering to make her one?” Aidan growled to Reilly.

Emma choked.

Reilly laughed at Aidan, who was wiping the blood from his lip. “Down, lad. Emma, excellent job at cards last night. Beginner’s luck?”

“Perhaps,” she murmured, reaching for her coffee.

“Ah. A lass of many secrets. Well, that’s fine by me,” Reilly replied, helping himself to her coffee before she could get to it. At her protest, he flashed her a mischievous grin. “Ah, love, we’re all family here. We share everything.”

“Not everything,” Colin interjected mildly, watching Aidan attempt to rein in his temper.

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