Page 39 of An Irish Kiss
She shivered, and he extended his blanket to her.“Want to share?It’s pre-warmed.”
She chuckled, as he hoped she would, and lo and behold she did join him.Or at least tugged a corner of the blanket and wrapped it around her.
“I’m glad you don’t hate me,” he murmured, for her ears only.
“Of course I don’t hate you.”
“So you like me?”
“Now I didn’t say that.”
His lips flicked up, her answer stirring appreciation.There might be a lot still to work through, but the fact she didn’t hate him, he’d take as a win.
He exited the boathouse, conscious of people watching, holding up their cameras and filming, like they thought him a celebrity.Conscious, too, of the way Rory shifted away, as if afraid to be seen near him.His heart fell.
“Rory, you were amazing!”someone called.“You’re a heroine!”
Okay.Clearly the celebrity was her.
“We saw it all, got it filmed.”
Great.
“How do you feel?”someone asked him.
“C-cold.”
“Yes, we really need to get these two inside, thanks.”Aisling’s words seemed to be enough for people to scatter and let them pass through on to the hotel.
He couldn’t wait to get warm.Oh.His steps slowed.
“What is it?”Rory asked.
“I’m so c-cold but I really hope the room will be warm enough.”
She slid a look at her sister.“I’m sure it’s been amended.”
“Um, I’ll just go and check.Okay?”Aisling ran ahead without a backward look.
He glanced at Rory, saw her cheeks lift then her lips press together, like she was trying to hide a smile.
“What do you know?”
“I’m sure you’ll find it warmer than before.”
But when they got to his room, it was to find that the temperature was now near tropical compared to the Antarctic levels of coldness from earlier.Like someone had turned on the heat to full bore.Or was it full boil?
“Well, I hope you feel warm enough now.”She smirked.
“Thanks.”
“You may find a bath helps.And a cup of tea.You’ll need to warm up from the inside, and I find those things usually help me.”
His eyes widened, but he kept his mouth closed, refusing to think about—
“I’m going to go,” she muttered, her cheeks pink.
“Um, thank you again.I’m pretty sure that man out there was right.”
