Page 33 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
Kasia’s head shot back up, her eyebrows raised. “Yes, of course, if you want to know.” She stood and kicked the wheeled stool toward Tierney.
Tierney didn’twantto know. She was bored at the thought of it, but she sat down at the screen, and Kasia leaned over to take the mouse.
“This overview shows all the rooms and the names of their occupants today. You can scroll through here to view other dates, or you can search by resident, like this.”
Kasia’s breath on her ear as she talked made the experience more tolerable, and she tried her hardest to focus, in case there was a test. But she was so aware of Kasia’s warmth as she leaned over not quite touching Tierney’s shoulder, but so close. A hint of apple scent was crisp and inviting, but Tierney resisted the urge to move closer. She started to imagine the feel of Kasia’s soft breast against her, and memories of their night together came flooding back.
“Are you with me so far?”
Fuck.“Uh, just go back to that last part.”
Kasia’s intake of breath was almost a hiss as she stood straight. “Why don’t you leave the room bookings to me.”
Tierney swung around. “I can do it, I swear. I just need some practice.”
Kasia’s expression went blank, but Tierney suspected it wasn’t amusement she was hiding.
“Do you cook?”
“I do!” She jumped up. “I love making enchiladas, and my lasagna gets rave reviews.”
Kasia’s expression didn’t change. “I’d need you to make breakfast, Tierney. Can you make a full Irish for twenty people?”
That didn’t sound like Tierney’s kind of cooking at all. She enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere where her friends would tease her when she realized she’d forgotten to cook the rice, and they’d alllaugh and have another drink while they waited. “I guess I could give it a go.”
“Forget it. Katy will be back to help next week, anyway. She knows what she’s doing.”
The familiar sinking feeling in her stomach made Tierney question why she craved Kasia’s approval. She moved out from the cramped space, and Kasia’s distracting proximity, and leaned on the far side of the reception desk.
“I really can’t do anything to please you, can I?” She’d been aiming for wryly amused, but was mortified to hear the hurt in her tone.
Kasia’s mask dropped for a moment, and her brow creased. Could that be remorse?
Then her expression turned neutral once again. “Why would you need to pleaseme? You’re the boss.”
Tierney rubbed her head. It was a good question, but Kasia needed to respect her if they were going to work together. “Anyway, when you’ve got some time, I’ll show you what we’ve done upstairs. If the accommodation meets your needs, you’re welcome to use it.”
Two could play at the formality game. It didn’t sit right though. She’d done the work in anticipation of pleasing Kasia, yet they were back to their previous stilted relationship. If nothing else, she’d done something her granny would be proud of.
“Thank you. I’m free now for an hour.”
“Great, lead the way.” She gestured toward the back stairs.
Kasia closed the laptop, secured the hatch to reception, and strode to the stairs, taking them two at a time. Tierney had to hurry to keep up. She nearly ran into Kasia’s back when she stopped dead as she entered the living room. She squeezed past and stood beside Kasia as she looked around wordlessly. “D’you like it?”
Kasia walked over to the large window and stared out over the harbor. A dark front of clouds was heading their way, and Tierney was surprised when her first thought was for the bed linen she’d helped hang out on the line earlier.
Kasia didn’t speak as she looked out at the vista, then she turned and moved to the leather chair, sat, and pulled the blanket from the back. She put it to her face in an echo of Tierney earlier and gave a muffled sob.
Tierney dropped to her knees next to the chair. “Is it that bad?” She cursed herself for trying to make a joke of everything.
Kasia lifted her tear-drenched face from the blanket and sniffed. “I miss her so much.”
Tierney was taken aback by the grief in her voice. “I know. I miss her too.” She wanted to brush away the tears, but that was too intimate, so she rummaged in the pocket of her hoodie and found a crumpled tissue. Echoing their first meeting on the ferry, she held it out. “In the interest of hygiene…”
Kasia cracked a smile and took it to wipe the tears and blow her nose. “Sorry, I’ve barely been up here since she’s been gone, and this…” She indicated the chair and the blanket.
“Hey, you don’t need to keep anything you don’t want to. I didn’t want to erase Granny completely, but this is your space now.”
