Page 28 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“Nae. We visit with each other, or write letters and send messengers with them. They can take days or weeks to reach their destination.”
“Wow. Sounds like a lot of work, if you ask me.”
“Are ye usingsarcasm? I believe Dylan said it was your weapon of choice.”
At that, Jenna burst out laughing and couldn’t seem to stop. Tears formed in her eyes and Cormac wasn’t sure how to respond. He hadn’t seen her enjoying herself this much since he’d met her. She came to a hiccoughing stop and Cormac reached out to brush a happy tear from her cheek and then continued caressing her skin with the back of his hand.
“Ye are a beauty, Jenna, and even more so when yer happy.” He hoped he hadn’t said the wrong thing, because she stopped smiling, stood up abruptly and began removing their dishes from the table. She rinsed them off in the sink and put them in what Dylan had called the dishwasher.
“Dylan says we’re going to head to the beach today. Let’s go find you a pair of board shorts to wear and then I’m going to pack some lunch to take along.”
Cormac stood and followed Jenna into the next room. It was lined with shelves and there were stacks of neatly folded clothing everywhere.
“One of these days, Dylan is going to put his clothes away, but I guess we should be happy he hasn’t yet, because now we can find you something to wear.” Jenna went through the stacks and pulled out an armful of clothing which she handed to Cormac. “Hopefully they’ll fit, because even though you’re looking pretty good in that towel, we don’t want to have the women around here fainting at the sight of you.”
He stood there, staring at the pile in his arms, and when it occurred to him that Jenna had just said she liked the way he looked, a satisfied grin lit his face.
“Is something wrong?” Jenna asked.
“Nae. Will I wear them all?” he asked with a puzzled expression.
“You’re pretty funny,” Jenna laughed. “I’ll play along. Here, put these on, and this.” She handed him the board shorts and a t-shirt. “I guess you need shoes, too. Dylan will have to get those for you. A pair of flip-flops should do. Go get dressed and then come back. By then Dylan and hisladyfriend should be here.
* * *
Jenna was proud of herself. She had managed to apologize to Cormac without kissing him again. The sight of him in that towel this morning had put thoughts into her head that shouldn’t be there. Thankfully, she hadn’t embarrassed herself byaccidentallycausing the towel to drop to the floor. A surge of warmth covered her from head to toe and she didn’t need a mirror to know she was quite red from blushing. She hurried down the hallway to her room where she found her sexiest bathing suit. She put it on and looked at herself in the full-length mirror that created her closet doors.Not bad, Jenna. This one will work nicely.She checked herself out from all angles and when she was satisfied, opened the closet to remove a pretty flowered sundress. She finished her look with a pair of sandals, a floppy hat and sunglasses.
She wasn’t sure whom she was trying to impress, but the one thing she knew for sure was – it was not Cormac MacBayne.
Arriving back in the kitchen, as predicted, Dylan was sitting there with a pretty brunette woman.
“This is Samantha. Samantha, my cousin Jenna.” Dylan made the introductions and Samantha looked a bit embarrassed.
“Nice to meet you, Samantha,” Jenna offered.
“You, too.” Samantha said. “Dylan, I really need to go. Would you mind walking me to my car?”
“Sure,” he said as he put an arm around her shoulders.
As they got up to leave, Cormac returned. He looked amazing in Dylan’s shorts and t-shirt. Jenna gulped and quickly turned to open the refrigerator and stick her head inside. She needed to cool off. Spontaneous combustion seemed like a distinct possibility.
“Good morn to ye, Dylan,” Cormac said, as he smiled at Samantha.
Jenna pulled some things out of the fridge and watched as Samantha gawked at Cormac.Put your eyes back in your head,was what she wanted to say, but instead she just stood there and watched the show.
Dylan reluctantly introduced Samantha to Cormac, who bowed in her direction.
Who does that?Jenna thought, as she slammed her refrigerator finds down onto the counter. Everyone turned and looked her way. “Sorry. They slipped out of my hands,” she lied. Jenna stood there like a zombie as Dylan and Samantha left the room.What am I getting so worked up over? I already decided I wasn’t interested in Cormac, right?Wrong.She was more than interested.
“What are ye thinking in that pretty wee head of yers?” Cormac was right beside her, touching her forehead with his fingerand burning a hole in it.
“Nothing. I… just…” she stammered. “I was going over the list of things we need to take with us.” She pressed an unopened package of cold cuts to her face. “Whew! It’s warm today. I guess it’s a good thing we’re going to the beach.”
“’Tis nae so warm,” Cormac said. “Are ye well?” He reached out to lay a hand on her forehead.
“I’m fine.” Jenna dodged his hand, before he managed to make contact. “Would you mind coming with me into the garage, to get the cooler?”
“Aye. I’d be happy to help ye.”
