Page 35 of Irish Rebel
She saw the change in his eyes and laughed delightedly. “Already thought of that one, have you? We’ll just hold that thought for another time.”
He swore, raked his hands through his hair and tried to pinpoint the moment she’d so neatly turned the tables on him, when the pursued had become the pursuer. “I don’t like forward women.”
The sound she made was something between a snort and a giggle, and was girlish and full of fun. It made him want to grin. “Now that’s a lie, and you don’t do it well. I’ve noticed you’re an honest sort of man, Brian. When you don’t want to speak your mind, you say nothing—and that’s not often. I like that about you, even if it did irritate me initially. I even like your slightly overwide streak of confidence. I admire your patience and dedication to the horses, your understanding and affection for them. I’ve never been involved with a man who’s shared that interest with me.”
“You’ve never been involved with a man at all.”
“Exactly. That’s just one reason why. And to continue, I appreciate the kindness you showed my mother when she was sad, and I appreciate the part of you that’s struggling to back away right now instead of taking what I’ve never offered anyone before.”
She laid a hand on his arm as he stared at her with baffled frustration. “If I didn’t have that respect and that liking for you, Brian, we wouldn’t be having this conversation no matter how attracted I might be to you.”
“Sex complicates things, Keeley.”
“I know.”
“How would you know? You’ve never had any.”
She gave his arm a quick squeeze. “Good point. So, you want to try the tack room?” When his mouth fell open, she laughed and threw her arms around him for a noisy kiss on his cheek. “Just kidding. Let’s go up to the main house and have some dinner instead.”
“I’ve work yet.”
She drew back. She couldn’t read his eyes now. “Brian, neither of us has eaten. We can have a simple meal in the kitchen—and if you’re worried, we won’t be alone in the house so I’ll have to keep my hands off you. Temporarily.”
“There’s that.” He couldn’t stand it. How could he be expected to? She’d thrown her arms around him with such easy affection. And his heart was balanced on a very thin wire. Trying to keep the movement casual, he set her aside. “Well, I could eat.”
“Good.”
She would have taken his hand, but his were already in his pockets. It amused and touched her how restrained he was determined to be. And if it made her naturally competitive spirit kick in, well, she couldn’t help it, now could she?
“I’m hoping to get down to Charles Town and watch some of the workouts once you take Betty and some of the other yearlings to the track.”
“She’ll be ready for it soon enough.” Relief was like a cool wave through his blood. Talking of horses would make it all easier. “I’d say she’ll surprise you, but you’ve been up on her. You know what she’s made of.”
“Yeah, good stock, good breeding, a hard head and a hunger to win.” She flashed him a smile as they approached the kitchen door. “I’ve been told that describes me. I’m half Irish, Brian, I was born stubborn.”
“No arguing with that. A person might make the world a calmer place for others by being passive, but you don’t get very far in it yourself, do you?”
“Look at that. We have a foundation of agreement. Now tell me you like spaghetti and meatballs.”
“It happens to be a favorite of mine.”
“That’s handy. Mine, too. And I heard a rumor that’s what’s for dinner.” She reached for the doorknob, then caught him off guard by brushing a light kiss over his lips. “And since we’ll be joining my parents, it would probably be best if you didn’t imagine me naked for the next couple of hours.”
She sailed in ahead of him, leaving Brian helplessly and utterly aroused.
There was nothing like an extra helping of guilt to cool a man’s blood. And it was guilt as much as the hot food and the glass of good wine that got Brian through the evening in the Grant kitchen. The size of it left little room for lust, considering.
There was Adelia Grant giving him a warm greeting as if he were welcome to swing in for dinner anytime he had the whim, and Travis getting out an extra plate himself—as if he waited on employees five days a week—and saying that there was plenty to go around as Brendon had other plans for dinner.
Before he knew it, he was sitting down, having food heaped in front of him and being asked how his day had been. And not in a way that expected a report.
He didn’t know what to do about it. He liked these people, genuinely liked them. And there he was lusting after their daughter. An alley mutt after a registered purebred.
And the hell of it was, he liked her as well. It had been so simple at first, when there’d been only heat. Or he’d been able to tell himself that’s all there was. For a time it had been possible to tolerate being in love with her—or at least talking himself out of believing it. Butcaringfor her made it all a study in frustration.
He could certainly convince himself that he was in love with theideaof her rather than the woman. The physical beauty, the class, the sheer inaccessibility of her. That was all a kind of challenge, a risk he enjoyed taking. But she’d gone and opened herself up to him, so every time he was around her, she showed him more of herself.
The kindness, the humor, the strength of purpose and sense of self he admired.
