Page 29 of After Indigo Irish Nights
“He’s in the shower, getting ready for work.” Liam’s eyes narrowed. “The scent of oranges is all around you. Did you see Sorcha?”
Her head snapped back. “You knew too?”
His shoulder lifted. “I’ve always been able to smell her, but I haven’t seen her yet. You look pale, Kathleen. I assume she told you about you and Declan.”
This was unbelievable. “She did. Does everyone know—”
“Not everyone,” he said, giving a chagrined smile. “Only me, Brady, Jamie, and a few others. Now you. Sorcha’s never appeared to any of the women so early to my knowledge.”
She put a hand on her hip, tapping her foot on the ground. “I must be special.”
“You seem pretty upset,” Liam said, studying her face with that open gaze of his. Although they hadn’t spent much one-on-one time together, she’d come to respect and trust his wisdom from their interactions at Summercrest and the pub.
“I am, dammit! Don’t you think I have a right to be? A ghost just told me I should be with Declan.”
That stillness he carried around him didn’t waver in the face of her ire. “Is it that you believe her? Or do you think she’s mistaken?”
Her heart rapped hard against her ribs as she ground out, “I think this whole thing is nuts. That’s what I think. She balls out told me I can’t be as happy with anyone else as I’d be with Declan. Who the hell is she to say that?”
“She’s only trying to help,” Liam said softly. “It’s always your choice.”
“She said that too.” She took an aggrieved breath, knowing she was worked up. “I don’t like being pushed around by a ghost.”
“The pull is already there with Declan, though, isn’t it?” He held up his hands like a white flag. “Hang on. I understand being upset by someone pushing you. But I think she’s only intervening because she has a knowledge of things, from the other side. She’s here to help us with our soulmates. Why does that make you so angry?”
“Because I don’t like someone telling me Declan is my soulmate, that’s what.” She sucked in another breath. “That pisses me off.”
“It pissed Declan off too.” Liam inclined his head toward the house. “You should go talk to him. I’m off to do some painting for the May Day celebration coming up next week. Good luck.”
Good luck? She’d show them good luck. Stalking inside, she took the stairs two at a time and turned right at the top. She knew where his bedroom was since Ellie had given her a tour. His bedroom door was closed. She knocked on it briskly.
It swung open quickly to show him in nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist. “What the— Is something wrong?”
She was struck mute by the sight of his glistening chest, all hard muscle, and a patchwork of bruises in yellows and purples. She raised her eyes back to his face. “I spoke to Sorcha.”
He cursed. “That interfering— It doesn’t matter.”
“Doesn’t matter?” She shoved into his room, closing the door behind her, and squared off with him. “You knew she was fixated on us being each other’s soulmates, and you didn’t see fit to tell me? I don’t like surprises, Declan.”
He ran a hand through his damp hair. “Why would I tell you? We’ve decided what we’ve decided. She’s wrong about this.”
“Damn right she’s wrong.” She put her hands on her hips. “How the hell is she supposed to know such things?”
“She’s a busybody ghost, and I told her I don’t agree with her opinions. I asked her to leave me the hell alone.”
She stalked over to him. “I don’t like this, Ace—”
“You think I do?” He stepped so close she could smell the strong pine soap he’d used. “Do you think I like all my friends thinking we’re meant for each other? Or that I want a busybody ghost telling me how happy and fulfilled I’ll be with you? I’m doing my darndest every minute of the day to resist how much I want you.”
Everything in her trembled. “I won’t have a ghost tell me what’s best for me.”
“Neither will I.” He lifted his hand and traced her cheek. “But know this, Kathleen—resisting you is worse than my bruises and sore muscles combined.”
His touch was like a trail of fire across her skin. She let her fingers dance over the battered muscles of his upper chest. Their breathing was harsh to her ears. “That’s pretty bad, Ace. If you must know, I didn’t sleep well last night, and then I got pissed when Sorcha appeared to me this morning. I saw red as soon as my knees stopped knocking.”
“Understandable.” He gave a lopsided smile, his dimples flashing in the strong planes of his face. Even with the bruises, he was unbearably handsome. “You were pissed at me as well. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come over and barged into my room.”
“You should have told me. But I guess I get why you didn’t.”
