Page 18 of An Irish Kiss
She bent her head and yes, sure enough, her hair was released.She shoved a hand through the strands.Yes, all good.“Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.”His smile was lop-sided.“And you’ll be glad to know it’s not even too frizzy.”
“That is a weight off my mind.”
He chuckled, then shifted away, nodding to Aisling.“What time is check out tomorrow?”
He was leaving?“Check out?”Rory murmured.Then inwardly winced.She hated hearing that note of disappointment in her voice.
He glanced at her.“I only booked for two nights, remember?”
She pressed her lips together.Finally looked at her sister, whose eyebrows had arched.
Aisling seemed to be trying to communicate something with her eyes, her look as piercing as Aidan’s Superman-blue gaze could be.But for all her younger sister’s ability to read Rory’s mind, she lacked the same with her sister.
Finally Aisling sighed.“Well, may I ask if you have accommodation booked somewhere else?”
He shrugged.“I hadn’t planned anything more.I’m here for a week before I go see a friend in Dublin.So I’d be happy with the local pub.”He slid Rory a look.“I heard they have a good pie and Guinness deal there.”
Her mouth opened then closed.No, she deserved that.
“Oh, you don’t want to stay there,” Aisling scoffed.“No, in that case, you may want to consider our five-night special.That way you don’t need to swap rooms, especially if you’re staying in the area.”Aisling sent Rory a sly wink.
No.No, no.She scowled at her sister.Aisling was not going to set her up.
Aidan glanced at Rory which instantly saw her scowl fall away.“Well, maybe.If it’s not too much.I still have some things I’d like to do here.”
Her heartbeat picked up tempo.But she wouldnotask what he still wanted to do.
“Well, this is our shoulder season, so you’ll find that prices are far more reasonable now, especially with our special.In fact, we can probably work out a deal that will deduct what has already been spent.Give me a moment.”
As Aisling returned to tap-tapping on the computer, and Rory mentally calculated what the rate should be, Aidan turned to her.All mathematical calculations disappeared at his small smile.
“What is it?”she murmured.
“I appreciate this.You two certainly go out of your way to look after your guests.”
Aisling peeked at Rory, her smirk saying exactly what kinds of guests would receive such special treatment.The ones who displayed their own kindness were far more likely to receive such attention than the arrogant, dismissive or complainers.And not just the handsome ones, either.
Aisling finally told him a price which he agreed to, and he seemed surprised when she then told him breakfast was included in that price.
“Well, thanks.Book me in.”He glanced at Rory.
She was again tempted to ask what things he still wanted to do here, but she wouldn’t.Shewouldn’t.She—
“So that’s all fixed up now,” Aisling said, drawing Aidan’s attention back to herself.“Now that leaves you plenty of time to do all those things you still wanted to do.”Her raised eyebrows were an obvious invitation for him to share.
He shifted.“I am trying to trace some family stuff.”
Of course he was.Regret at her earlier comments bubbled up again.
“Shoot, that reminds me.”He slapped his jeans’ back pockets, pulled out his phone.Winced.“I should go.I promised Mary I’d meet her for this Story Circle thing.She’d said she could help me.”
“Oh, if you want someone to help, Rory could probably take you there.”
Rory widened her eyes at Aisling and subtly shook her head.
Right at the time he shifted to glance at her.His face fell.“That’s okay.You’re probably busy.”
