Page 52 of An Enchanted Spring

“Aye, O’Rourke?”

“I have a bad feeling. The same one I had about eight years ago, which preceded a phone call from Reilly detailing your arrival.”

Aidan’s stomach clenched. “Damn.”

Colin—like Reilly—had instincts that were not to be ignored. Their powers in bending time to their will were ones he cared not to understand, except if it could get him home.

So far, it hadn’t, though as he watched the woman in front of him try to unobtrusively eavesdrop on his conversation, he wondered if perhaps the Fates hadn’t sent him back for a reason after all.

“Reilly’s not picking up his phone.”

“I sent him to the cockpit,” Aidan admitted.

“Nah, it’s been off longer than your flight. You must’ve been desperate to get Emma alone if you sent him to fly your plane.”

“Did you need me to pass along a message, perhaps?” Aidan asked, annoyed.

“Yes. Let him know that I know what’s up, and that I’lltake care of things on this end, but he has to get himself back to Brianagh soon.”

Aidan didn’t envy Colin and Reilly’s duties as O’Rourke Protectors, though he did envy their unique travel plans. Colin mostly traveled with Reilly, though Aidan suspected him of doing a fair bit on his own. Reilly was the leader, though—he could bend time to whenever the need arose, though he claimed he could only do so with the permission of the Fates.

Despite years of asking, Reilly had thus far refused to take Aidan with them on any journey, claiming that he hadn’t been given explicit permission to do so.

It was their biggest sore spot to date.

Aidan had been desperate to return to his brother and sister-in-law. From a very young age, Aidan’s sole purpose in life was to guard his brother’s back. And just when Nick needed him the most, Aidan ended up in a ditch somewhere, close to death…only to be rescued by Reilly O’Malley and Colin O’Rourke.

For that, he would do anything for either of them. But when it came to Reilly, he didn’t have to like it.

Aidan checked his watch. “I’ll let him know.” He glanced at Emma, who was staring defiantly out the window, her arms crossed. “Any news on our friend?”

“Posted bail from the hospital about an hour ago. He hasn’t shown up here, so I’m not sure if he’s off the scent or not. It would make life a lot easier if you could just kill the man and be done with it,” Colin added with a sigh.

“Modern times are…” Aidan searched for the word.

“Wimpy?”

Aidan snickered. “I was thinking ‘refined.’ But yours applies too.” He hung up, then leaned into Emma’s seat, trapping her with his arms. “This is not over, Emmaline. I’ll be damned if I’m just yourclient.”

“Technically, you’re my boss,” she muttered. “But you’re most definitelynotmy laird.”

He gave her a scathing look, then went to talk with Reilly. He rapped on the cockpit door.

“MacWilliam, I swear, if you don’t get him out of my copilot’s seat, I will quit before you can fire me,” Les threatened.

“O’Malley, I need you in the main cabin. Message from Colin.”

Reilly’s face changed instantly. His body seemed to grow larger, and he nodded once to the copilot, who stood in the small space between the wall and copilot’s seat.

“First time flying with us?” Aidan asked. The man nodded, trying to appear relaxed. Aidan slapped him on the shoulder. “Rule number one: you don’t see or hear anything. Right, Les?”

“Get out, MacWilliam. First Officer Davidson, lock that door behind them.”

Aidan followed Reilly to the main cabin. The cockpit door clicked closed behind them.

He relayed the message and Reilly sighed heavily. “I have to go back.”

Aidan nodded solemnly. “The renovations at my keep are loud and bothersome. I’ll keep an eye on your cottage whilst you’re away, then.”

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