Page 24 of An Irish Kiss
Mary sighed.“I’m sorry this has upset you, Rory.”
“I’m not upset,” Rory insisted, the pink splotching her cheeks proving otherwise.“I just think this is a waste of time.”
Good to know she wasn’t upset.
Rory rose, her clenched fingers and narrowed eyes revealing her frustration.“Look, if this had a drop of truth to it, then of course my family would know about it.But the fact nobody has ever said anything about it in all this time until now suggests it’s merely smoke in the wind.”
“But there’s no smoke without a fire,” David said.
“There might’ve been a fire but it had nothing to do with my family,” she snapped.
Yep.Clearly not upset.
“I’m afraid I have to go now.”She collected her bag from the back of her chair.“I have a big day tomorrow.”She nodded to the room at large.“Good night.”
“Will I be seeing you at the shop tomorrow?”Mary asked.
He noticed the subtle stiffening in Rory’s face, then she dipped her chin.“If I’m rostered on then of course you will.Why wouldn’t I be there?”
He could take a stab at why Mary might have questions.
Rory didn’t look at him except to raise her eyebrows, which he took to mean “are you coming or not?”Then she exited.
“I guess that’s my cue,” he murmured.
“Truly, Aidan, I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you,” Mary said.“It’s just that I thought it important to share all the information, even if that’s not going to be popular with some.”
Like Rory and her family.
“I appreciate your help.And thank you so much for this.I’d better go catch her seeing as she’s my lift back to the hotel.”
“If you find you need somewhere else to stay I’m sure we can fix you up with a bed in the pub.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, thanks.”
“Oh, and don’t forget to take the books,” Mary said, gesturing to them.“You can always return them to the bookshop, or ask Rory to pass them on.”
Was she serious?He didn’t think Rory would appreciate being asked to do that.Although if it gave her the opportunity to see the other side of things, maybe she would be more open.
“Thanks.”He scooped them up, made a final farewell, then hurried through the halls, back into the main pub room, then out the front door.
A quick glance down the street saw Rory’s stiff figure striding to her car.And a figure following behind her.
Aidan frowned, and was about to call out when the man put on a burst of speed and grabbed Rory’s arm.
“Hey!”
Aidan rushed forward, just in time to see Rory twist her arm away, bending her knee then jamming it upwards between her attacker’s legs.
The man’s cry of pain ricocheted off the brick and lime-washed buildings, and Aidan hurried to her side, startling both her and the man who was now whimpering, his hands over his groin.
“Are you okay?”Aidan asked.
“Of course I am.”She glared at her wannabe attacker.“I’ve got a brown belt in jiu-jitsu—”
She had?That was unexpected.And impressive.
“—so it’s not like I need a man to save the day.”
