Page 64 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
But there was no reason he couldn’t show a friend around Ireland.
Aidan pulled a pen and a small pad of paper from his breast pocket. Normally, he would use this paper for notes or ideas about a book, today he was writing a very different note. On it he scribbled his phone number along with a message comprising one simple word: Stay.
Aidan made his way to the table where her purse hung off the back of a chair and dropped the note inside.
He was a glutton. A demented glutton for punishment.
Farewell Ernie.
ChapterTwenty-Five
The drive homewas quiet except Roan thought he heard a sniffle. From the corner of his eye, he saw Beth’s tears glisten in the moonlight flooding through the window. Not wanting to make a scene she casually wiped them away as she watched the moonlit green lands pass by.
When they reached her house, he parked the car then walked around to open her door. She accepted his hand after she emptied her balled up fist of tissues into her purse.
Roan helped her stand but didn’t release her hand. “Bethany, what’s made you cry? Won’t you tell me?”
“Why didn’t I just fly away to some sunny island where I could flop onto the beach in nothing but a sarong, and drink until I can’t feel my face while a cabana boy rubs sunscreen on my skin? That would have made more sense than this! I hate it here and Ireland hates me back! I nearly killed you, I drive on the wrong side of the road, I’m always getting rained on.” She could go on but didn’t.
“Bethany love, listen. Do you know how many people talk about doing something like this but never do because they’re too afraid?”
She shook her head and tears flung from her cheeks. “You’re very brave to come here on your own. I’m sorry it hasn’t worked out the way you had hoped but there’s time to change that. You like this cottage, don’t you?”
She nodded her head.
“And you met some of your neighbors tonight, did you like them? I know they liked you.”
“They did?”
“Yes. In fact, I know the widower three doors down?—”
“Mr. Byrne.”
“That’s right. He has plans to ask you to dinner.”
“What? Be serious. He’s old enough to be my father.”
Grandfather more like. “Maybe so but he told me you were the sweetest woman he’d met since his wife died and he was going to ask you on a date.”
Her tears stopped to make way for the baffled blinking.
“And Connor and Darcie O’Brian told me they planned on inviting you over.”
“They said that? But they have twins at home. They haven’t got time for silly me.”
“Darcie was once in your shoes. I bet she sees some of herself in you and wants to help you feel more comfortable.”
“She told me she came here alone and was scared too but that now she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Darcie was really nice—and so pretty. Those green eyes of hers! She said this was their first night out since she gave birth to their twins.” Beth smiled as she pictured the way Darcie and Connor looked at each other. “They really looked in love, didn’t they?”
Roan agreed. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen another couple look at each other the way they do.” He gazed longingly into Beth’s eyes. She smiled and glanced away.
She didn’t know why she was even considering staying. Why should she? Because his eyes pleaded. She nodded her head. “You win. I’ll give Ireland another shot. I hear it’s beautiful here.”
Roan chuckled which made her giggle. She was so beautiful when she smiled. Roan couldn’t stand it, the rush of affection was too strong. He moved fast cupping her face in his hands and planted his mouth to her soft lips.
“I’m sorry.” He backed off but she looked so beautiful in the moonlight. “You know what? I’m not sorry.”
He stepped to her again and took her in his arms kissing her good and long. He kissed her the way she deserved to be kissed. At first her shoulders tensed, her eyebrows shot upward. But as his kiss deepened she opened to him, her shoulders relaxed, her eyes drifted closed, and her arms went limp at her sides.
