Page 47 of An Irish Kiss
“Much.”
Again, his smile grabbed her.So unfair.
“So what are you doing today?”he asked, as they slowly made their way along the boardwalk.
“I don’t have much planned,” she admitted.
“No work in the hotel or bookshop?”
“Nope.You?”
“Nothing planned.”
Just then she remembered he was supposed to be leaving tomorrow.The extended accommodation arrangement that Aisling had organised would run out then.
“So, how much longer have you got in Ireland?”she asked.
“I booked for two weeks’ leave.Next week I’m supposed to go to Dublin to see a friend.”
“And you didn’t have sites you wanted to see?You know, like seeing the Ring of Kerry or the Cliffs of Moher, or kissing the Blarney Stone or a tour of the Guinness factory.”
“Is that what you’d recommend?”
“They’re usually the top tourist traps.”
“So, not what you’d recommend?”
“Look, it’s fine if you want to see those places.They’re spectacular, each in their own way.And I’d certainly never tell someone to not visit a dream destination, especially when they’ve come all this way.”
“So what would you recommend?”
She shrugged.“It depends.There are a lot of lovely little villages, if you like that kind of thing.”
“Lovelier than Derryloughlin?”
She smiled.“Derryloughlinisthe peak of perfection, that is true.”
He laughed.“So if we can’t beat that, then where would you take me, if you wanted to show me a side of Ireland that not many tourists would get to appreciate?”
She studied him, bit her lip.Should she?“Are you asking me to be your tour guide?”
“Miss Aurora Fairall, if you have nothing planned today, would you consider being my tour guide today?”
She’d agreed to be friends.Had already admitted she had nothing on today.What could she say, but “Yes”?
* * *
“Okay, are you ready?”Rory asked, walking down the steps to where he’d parked his car and was waiting.
He nodded, glancing behind at where Aisling stood, arms crossed, her jumper rumpled, like she’d thrown it on.“I promise to bring her home safely.”
“You better.”Aisling eyed him a moment longer, then hurried down to her sister.“Are you sure about this?”she whispered.
“It’ll be fine.I’m just showing him some sights, that’s all.”
Aisling pointed a finger at him.“No getting into boats of any kind, okay?”
This.This was why he didn’t want to hang around the hotel today.Have people poke fun at him all day and remind him of his failures?No thanks.“Yes ma’am.”
