Page 181 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Me, too. I find it interesting our contact is a musician.” Rod tossed his shirt into the corner, then tugged his t-shirt off over his head. “My reason for being on this mission becomes clearer every day.”
“Apparently, MacGowan is a musician.” Wyl unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his jeans.
“He’s an opera buff, which isn’t the same as being a musician,” Rod said. “Still…it will be interesting to see how deep his appreciation of opera goes.”
“You’re right. I can see why your involvement in this mission was so critical.” Wyl eyed Rod. “Your background is as important as mine.”
“I’m glad my background was important enough to put me here with you.” Rod tugged Wyl into a hug. “I would be frantic if I were on the ranch and you were here.”
Wyl wrapped his arms around his husband. “Not half as lost as me. You have no idea how much support you give me.” He pulled Rod into a kiss.
The kiss broke. “Let’s get into bed. We need to save the world in the next few weeks.” Rod said.
Wyl chuckled. “I’ll save the world. You worry about protecting me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Saturday, Ailbe and Declan had a quiet morning at their breakfast nook table. Declan worked on the newspaper crossword while Ailbe perused the GMIT campus newspaper he had picked up the previous afternoon.
“An article here reminded me about a cybersecurity symposium next week at GMIT,” Ailbe said. “One of the featured speakers is a security ace from the States, Wyl Sterling. The article portrays him as a top security expert before his retirement last year. I need to hear what he has to say.”
“Sounds like a learning opportunity for you,” Declan mumbled while he tried to figure out 15-down. “You fekked with this project for months. Maybe you need to pull him into your little scheme.”
“Thislittle scheme,as you put it, could put millions in your pocket.” Ailbe glared at Declan over the top of the newspaper. “I don’t notice you contributing anything.”
“Hey…I clean up your garbage, Ailbe.” Declan sneered. “Who else would take care of your mistakes. I contribute plenty.” Declan glanced back at his puzzle, a smug grin on his face.
Ailbe tensed. Declan was right. “You have a point.” Ailbe laid the newspaper down and feigned a look of concern at Declan. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. The call from Dr. Riordan’s office threw me for a loop.”
“Hey,” Declan put down the crossword and laid his pencil on the folded newspaper. “I have your back. So can the criticism. I want you to succeed. I have my eye on a little chateau in Staufen, Germany. A place nobody would think of looking.”
Ailbe chuckled. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”
“Aye. I’ll be away from youandaway from Ireland.”
“So, back to reality, want to go with me to the symposium event on Wednesday? We still need to play the happy couple.”
“Can’t,” Declan said. “I’m giving a test that day. I’ll be tied up all morning.”
“Your loss.”
“That reminds me, next week, the evening lecture series at the university features another American, Dr. Rod Bonner. He is speaking on Mozart’s opera,Don Giovanni,” Declan said. “I know that is one of your favorites.”
“I don’t know anything about Dr. Bonner, but I would enjoy hearing what he says about Mozart’s opera. Let’s plan to go. I want to meet him.”
“I’ll call for seats on Monday.” Declan focused his attention back on his crossword puzzle.
“Wait a minute.” Ailbe rifled through the stack of periodicals on the window seat near the breakfast table. “That name rings a bell.” He pulled out the copy ofThe Advocateand eyed the cover. “Damn…the Texas Sterlings are here in Ireland.”
“The handsome cowboys we almost went to San Francisco to see?” Declan waggled his fingers for Ailbe to hand him the magazine.
“Yes.” Ailbe handed the magazine to Declan. “I wonder what brings them to Ireland?”
“I bet we can find out. Let’s plan to attend Dr. Bonner’s lecture on Mozart. We can invite them out for a drink afterward and get to know them.”
“Declan, you hit upon a good plan.”
“Every once in a while, I think of something besides killing.” Declan laughed.
