Page 55 of An Irish Kiss
Would she consider being his plus one?“Look, I know it’s a lot, but I’m just saying that it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker.If this,” he motioned between them just as she had done, “is something you want to pursue.”
“Are you asking if I want to pursue you?”
“No.”He offered a shamefaced grin.“But also kinda yes.Because I know that I don’t want to lose our friendship.Not when I feel like I’ve finally found someone who I want to pursue.You see, now I think about it, I realise I don’t kind of like you.”
Her brow pleated.“You don’t?”
He squeezed her hand.“I flat out already do.”
Her eyes sparkled, and she bit her lip, and his thoughts strayed to what it must be like to kiss her.To not dance around the impossibilities, but trust God that there could be a way.
“As for the other.”
“You mean the legal things about the castle?”
He nodded.“I don’t know yet what the answer is,” he admitted honestly.“But I’m going to trust God that He can make a way.”He gently pressed her hand again.“You know, we don’t always have to have all the answers.But if we’re willing to trust God, then sometimes that means, stepping out in faith.Even if the situation seems impossible.So I guess the real question is, do you trust God to make a way for this”—he gestured between them—“to happen?”
As he waited for her answer, he felt like he was teetering at the precipice of one of those cliffs they’d seen today, razor-sharp edges descending hundreds of metres to the jagged spikes of rocks below.
She studied him, and he could almost see her prayer.Then she drew in a deep breath and nodded.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He grinned, and was super tempted to rush around the table and sweep her up in a huge hug.But this place didn’t seem the sort for extravagant outbursts.
Oh, to heck with it.He rose and went to her side as she hesitantly rose.“Come here.”
He hugged her, and closed his eyes, relishing as she unstiffened, and relaxed in his arms.“I’m so glad you said yes.”
Muffled laughter met him, and he drew away, suddenly uncertain.Maybe hugging her so enthusiastically wasn’t wise when he’d been wearing this shirt for over twelve hours.“What?”
“Nothing.I just didn’t expect you to be quite so excited when it’s simply a yes to trusting God.”
His nose wrinkled.“I hope that’s not a deal-breaker.”
“No.I just don’t want to be caught up in emotions, and I guess I didn’t think you were like that too.”
“I think we’re far more similar than you realise.And that this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”
“That started on a beautiful day?”She smiled up at him, reminding him of the U2 song.
“You know, the way I’m feeling right now, I think I’d even be willing to risk singing that at karaoke.”
She laughed.“You don’t need to be that brave for me.”
He chuckled, and kissed her forehead.This woman might tease, but he couldn’t deny the fact that part of him seemed to have come alive with her.And he wanted nothing more than to find out where this could lead.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
The car’s headlights swept through the night as they made the short trip home.And what a day it had proved.Who knew that when she’d woken this morning such revelations might lie in her way?Well, God did, apparently.She shivered.
Aidan glanced at her.“Do you want me to turn up the heat?”
She blushed.“No.Thank you.”
There’d been quite enough heat in that hug before, even though he’d been nothing but respectful.The frisson of energy she’d felt when she first met him had zinged into fresh life, awareness taking on a life of its own.She couldn’t even imagine what his lips on hers might feel like.She might well self-combust.
