Page 74 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
“Me thinks thou?—”
“Me thinks you’re crazy!”
Uh-huh, sure. Who was shouting right now? “Maybe, but I know what I saw. And what I saw was two people that want each other. A blind dodo could see those fireworks!” Lauren went back to eating her bagel with her elbows rested on the island, casually gazing outside. “So, what were you two fighting about anyway?”
“We weren’t fighting.”
“Then what were you two discussing passionately?”
Beth scrunched her nose and sneered. But when she thought about it, she couldn’t remember. “I don’t know. I’d left him a message saying you were here so he was inviting you out on a drive and then I don’t know we were just talking regular stuff and I mentioned that Roan caught me naked in the garden and then suddenly he flipped out. It was weird.”
“Weird? Is that what you’re calling it?”
“Why what would you call it?”
“Jealousy.”
“Be serious!”
“I am. He’s jealous that Roan saw you naked and he didn’t.”
Beth turned and marched out of the kitchen. She didn’t have time for this nonsense.
“Hey, wait! Are we still going on that drive?” Lauren hollered after her with a mouth full of bagel.
“Yes! So, get dressed!”
Lauren took the last large bite of her bagel and smiled wide as she chewed and washed her hands in the kitchen sink. She couldn’t have asked for a better way to find out exactly what Aidan Turner’s intentions were.
* * *
“Aidan what does that sign mean? The one with the jagged line on it?” Lauren asked from the back seat. The road they had been traveling had to be the narrowest, most winding, terrifying route she’d ever seen.
“I wouldn’t mention those signs if I were you, Lauren. Beth here has a bad relationship with them.”
Beth loathed those blue signs with the squiggly line. Her theory was that instead of it representing the Wild Atlantic Way their real purpose was showing what the roads were like. “They are markers for The Wild Atlantic Way.”
“What’s that?” Lauren asked.
Beth turned around in her seat. “Hell on Earth disguised as beauty.”
Aidan looked at Lauren in his rearview mirror with a smirk. He had warned her not to mention those signs.
Lauren knew how to take a hint, but it was so much more fun to poke Beth on the rare occasions when she got cranky. “It’s a miracle you haven’t dented your car.”
Beth knew when she was being goaded. “I did. On the passenger side.”
Aidan chimed in. “A rock wall?”
“Small boulder.”
“Yeah, there’s lots of those around here.” He had considered driving them through the Gap of Dunloe, but all he could picture was Beth covering her eyes in terror at the sight of the all the house-sized boulders scattered around the single most treacherous road in all of County Kerry. At least that’s how Beth would see it. Especially since the river would be running fast thanks to the excessive rain of late. He had made it a point to stay away from the rivers and lakes. One look at that rushing water, no matter how picturesque, and Beth would surely fold. Since he wasn’t looking to scare her into a cocoon, he had a better plan.
“Where are we going?” Lauren asked.
“Gleninchaquin Park. It isn’t in the book but I think you’ll like it.” There was a lake that was sure to be high but it was small and the surrounding landscape was serene. He was confident it would be a winner.
He was right.
