Page 73 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
“He looks happy. What will you do with him when you come home?” Lauren asked, stroking the cat's belly.
“I don’t know. He doesn’t like Roan.”
“Maybe one of the neighbors will take him?” Lauren suggested, watching the cat’s paw twitch as he fell asleep.
“I hope so. I would hate to think of the little guy fending for himself.” For the first time in her life, Beth knew what being alone felt like and, although she wouldn’t normally say this: it sucked pickled ass. “I still can’t believe you flew out here. What about the Alan and the boys?”
“Are you kidding?” Lauren looked at the clock on the wall. It was dinner time back in Minnesota. “Right now, those boys are all laying around in their underwear, eating pizza, and playing video games. They’re having a great time.” Lauren found some hair matted together on Mr. Jameson’s belly and gently unknotted it without disturbing him. “At least the paintbrush came out without me having to cut your hair. Like that time you got maxi glue everywhere except your nail,” Lauren reminisced, a hint of laughter in her voice as she patted Beth on the backside.
Beth shuddered at the memory. What a mess that was! Her fingers were stuck together, the fake nails dangled from her hair … “Those press-on nails were supposed to stay put on their own, but they never did.” Beth nudged Mr. Jameson awake so she could turn over and climb under the covers. The cat barely opened his eyes when he rolled off and was asleep again the moment he landed on the soft blankets.
Lauren, struggling to keep her eyes open, yawned then reached across the bedside table and turned out the lamp. “Remember when we were young and partied like brain-dead test monkeys?”
“Yeah, and paid for it with something that gave a new meaning to hangovers.” Beth snuggled into the sheets. “Besides, that was usually you, not me.”
“True. You got me home safe and sound many times.”
“One of us had to be the responsible one once in a while.”
As the conversation drifted, Beth shared details about her drive with Aidan. The more Beth spoke, the more certain Lauren became there was something more between them than just two people who became friends on a plane. After all, Lauren had taken the same flight they had, she even flew first class, but all she got out of it was free booze, a comfortable seat, and a neighbor with a sinus infection.
“Are you sure there's nothing between you two?"
Although it was dark Beth turned her face away from Lauren. “Aidan isn’t interested in me. He’s just being nice. Probably looking for fodder for his next book.” If Beth were truly honest, she would admit that it irked her. But she wasn’t there yet. “It’s fine.”
It was anything but fine. Lauren pulled the covers up a little higher, tucking them underneath her arms. Beth insisted Aidan wasn't interested in anything but friendship. Maybe that was true, maybe it wasn't.
One thing Lauren was absolutely certain of: whether she wanted to admit it or not Beth had it bad for Aidan.
Lauren flew all the way to Ireland to meet Roan and Aidan for herself, ensuring she hadn't unintentionally ruined her best friend's life with her lies. So far, Roan seemed nice, and next, she would size up Aidan. But for now, all she wanted to size up was her pillow. Matchmaking was exhausting.
ChapterThirty
Lauren wokeup to the sound of birds chirping outside the window and a white tail dusting her forehead. She reached up and ran her hand down the cat’s soft fur and moved his feather duster tail away from her face. Beside her, Beth’s side of the bed was empty and cold and according to the clock it was nearly noon. Lauren sat up and stretched with a wide yawn. The house was quiet.
“Where did your new mommy go?” Lauren asked Mr. Jameson, whose reply was to stay put, fanning his tail. Great, now she too was talking to a cat. She pushed herself from the bed and dragged her jet-lagged hind end to the kitchen in search of coffee. Lauren was halfway down the hallway when she heard voices and smelled that spicy aroma she desired.
The closer she got to the kitchen the louder the voices became. One she recognized as Beth. Since it didn’t sound like Beth was in any trouble, Lauren continued on her sluggish hunt for coffee.
When she reached the kitchen she could see Beth outside in the garden talking with a man. Lauren couldn’t understand anything they were saying, she couldn’t even see the man’s face since he had his back turned. Humph. That’s okay, Lauren could be patient, especially when coffee and bagels were provided, and they were.
Lauren poured herself a cup of coffee with cream and prepared a bagel, all the while observing Beth and the mystery man. She’d given up trying to hear what they were saying when she started to eat her cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese. But suddenly she didn’t need to strive to hear them. With their voices raised, Beth’s hands flew in the air over her head. The man stepped away, then stepped back, then away and back again. Then he left, slamming the fence gate behind him and Beth stormed into the house, slamming the sliding door.
“Okay, Hoss! Wow, that was impressive! So, that was Aidan.” That wasn’t a question. The mystery man could only be Aidan. Lauren didn’t need that coffee anymore to wake her up. This was way more exciting than caffeine.
Beth snatched a bite of Lauren’s bagel and shoved it in her mouth. “How did you know that?” she asked with her mouth still full.
Under her skin Lauren was ready to blast off with excitement but you would have never known by her steady voice. She took a sip of coffee and replied, “Because you’ve never fought with any guy like that before. The sexual tension between you two is sizzling. Not to mention the stars in your eyes.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “What? You’re crazy. We’re just friends.”
“Your eyes were actually twinkling when you were arguing.”
“They were not!”
“You think he’s hot, don’t you?”
“Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous.”No. Maybe. Kind of. Totally!
