Page 18 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“You really shouldn’t encourage her, you know.” Jenna said angrily.
“There’s nothing wrong in flirting with a pretty lass,” Cormac answered.
“You’ll be sorry when she starts stalking you,” Jenna testily offered.
“I’d have to agree with Jenna on that one,” Dylan confirmed.
The restaurant was crowded, but Sophia managed to get them their food in record time. She poured everyone coffee, again ignoring Dylan and Jenna.
“Grrr. She is really getting on my nerves,” Jenna confessed as Sophia walked away.
“Why would she be annoying you?” Dylan questioned.
“She’s just so obviously ignoring you and me. It’s like we aren’t even here, and if we say anything to her, she acts like we’re disturbing her.”
“The lass is working verra hard, Jenna. You shouldnae judge her.” Cormac hid his grin.
“Never mind. We need to finish breakfast and get back to the house. I’d like to be across the bridge by noon.”
They ate their breakfast in silence, interrupted only on those occasions when Sophia was fawning all over Cormac.
Of course, Cormac was no fool. He knew exactly what he was doing by encouraging the waitress.
“Jenna, ye have no reason to be jealous of Sophia,” Cormac said.
She gave him a look of sheer disbelief. “I’m not jealous. Don’t flatter yourself, MacBayne,” Jenna snarled.
He laughed, “Aye, ye are jealous. I’m not a daft idjit. I know what I see.”
“You are out of your mind, if you think I’m even remotely interested in you!”
“Ye and I both know the truth, Jenna, lass.” He gave her the smile he knew made the lasses weak in the knees. He wasn’t sure it was working on her. Now, she just seemed angry.
“Can we get out of here, please?” Jenna snapped.
Dylan was watching the interplay between Jenna and Cormac with an amused expression on his face. “Sure, let’s go,” he said.
Cormac stopped to thank Sophia and lifted her hand to his lips. She looked like she might faint and out of the corner of his eye he watched Jenna’s reaction.
“MacBayne, we don’t have all day here,” she spat angrily. “Do your flirting on your own time.”
With that, she stormed out through the door, with Dylan close on her heels.
Sophia was smiling triumphantly and Cormac felt a bit bad about using her to get to Jenna, but he’d probably never see Sophia again, so he didn’t think he’d done anything terribly wrong.
Chapter 6
Back at the house, they loaded up Dylan’s truck with everything they needed. Chester sat in the back with Jenna. She let Cormac sit up front with Dylan, for the simple reason that he wouldn’t have fit in the smaller rear seat. Chester rested his head in her lap and sighed contentedly as they drove off.
Cormac appeared to be fascinated with the truck and was asking all sorts of weird questions. If he was trying to make her believe his crazy story about being from another time, he was doing an admirable job. The two men were preoccupied with each other, so she used the opportunity to examine Cormac without him knowing. He really was gorgeous and she sighed contentedly as she continued to give him a thorough once over. She couldn’t believe she had propositioned him last night. Well, maybe she could. Any woman in her right mind would find him irresistible. That obnoxious waitress, Sophia, certainly had. Jenna couldn’t understand why it had bothered her so much, to see Cormac flirting with the other woman. She didn’t need another deadbeat man in her life. Jonathan had been enough and she was not going to repeat that mistake, ever again. Jonathan had only wanted her for her money. That was another reason to steer clear of Cormac. He didn’t seem to have any money or even a place to live. He had somehow weaseled his way into their home and was taking advantage of their good graces. They’d been paying for all his food and drinks. If Dylan really didn’t know him, just what was he up to? She’d better be careful. Letting him hang around might be a huge mistake.
“Cormac?” Jenna said, using her sweetest voice.
“Aye, lass.”
“Where you come from, what do you do for work?” She needed to get a clearer picture of exactly who Cormac MacBayne really was.
“I be me brother-in-law’s captain,” Cormac answered.
