Page 24 of Over Verdant Irish Hills

“Let’s not end the night on this note. It’s depressing as hell. Eoghan, is there a song you Irish like to end your evening on?”

Donal looked at his father, who gave a hefty sigh. “I’d end it with ‘The Cliffs of Dooneen’ meself.”

“Sing it, Dad.”

Eoghan’s voice lifted a cappella with the words about a man’s homesickness and sights he’d never seen better than those cliffs of Dooneen. As the two men wandered over to Donal’s truck, Linc stood next to his car with the knot of something in his gut. He knew loneliness, and that song brought it forth like none other.

When the music faded as they drove off, he tipped his head back to view the stars above. Ireland had a powerful blanket of stars to feast on. He took a moment to miss his ranch, his daughter, and yes, his woman. The latter was something he could do something about on this very warm night blessed with no rain.

Sorcha appeared out of nowhere, making him jump out of his skin.

“You should definitely go over to Bets’,” she informed him with an arch of her celestial brow.

“I’m going!”

He slammed into his car without waiting to watch her up and disappear. Then he took the road to Bets’ house. The haunting song Eoghan had sung filled his head as the dark blacks and browns of the countryside flew by. There was a funny feeling in his chest, and he sat with it for a moment. Then he smiled. It was that powerful feeling of home. He hummed the tune as he drove.

When he arrived, he noted that nearly every light in the house was on. Bets’ car was the only one in the driveway, though, so he imagined her girlfriends had left. Exiting the car, he was coming up her front steps when she opened the front door. She was in powder blue cotton pajamas with white lace edging. No makeup adorned her face. Not that she wore much anyway. She didn’t need to. Her beauty stole over him in the quiet of the night.

“Fancy some company?” he finally asked, the pull of vulnerability and longing beating strong in his chest.

“I might,” she replied, leaning against the door. “I’m sorry for earlier. I was in a wretched mood.”

He hadn’t needed the apology, but he was glad for it all the same. “You were entitled.”

“It’s not an easy thing—to be left with dead roses and a desire for revenge.” She looked down at her bare feet. “I don’t like being that kind of person, but I also don’t want to shame myself for feeling that way. I deserve to be upset. What happened was an outrage.”

“It surely was.” He took the last step until he was standing before her. “I figure we all struggle with some dark thoughts in these moments. I’ve had some of my own.”

She made room for him to come inside. “What were yours about?”

He sighed as the clouds shifted overhead, and a sliver of moonlight stole over her face. God, she really was beautiful. “Probably much the same as yours. Mary has us all upset and unsettled.”

She worried her mouth before saying, “I’m going to tell you what someone at the Garda had Donal pass along to me.”

He shelved his surprise that his friend hadn’t mentioned the encounter—he understood the line Donal was walking. When she finished, acid was bubbling in his gullet. They’d known Mary was vindictive. Now they knew she was dangerous. Only a fool would imagine she was done. He needed to find a way to stop her before someone got hurt.

He tucked her hair behind her ear, wanting to assure her. “We’ll be watchful, and we’ll handle things.” He couldn’t say how, and he was relieved when she only tipped her head up and gazed at the stars above them.

“We’re a pair.” Then she looked him straight in the eye, searching his face. “Only last night we were in Paris with nothing on our minds but… You know.”

His mouth tipped up at her inability to characterize it. “It’s been so long I might need a reminder.”

“What if I’m not feeling up to that tonight?” she said, her voice a whisper.

There was a test in those words, one he knew to heed. “That’s all right, so long as you extend the same courtesy to me when I need it. Bets, I’m not with you only for sex. Despite what you might think about this so-called run of yours. I’m here because I love you. You make me laugh and you call me on my shit. Hell, you even inspire an old coot like me. That’s a whole lot of something to this cowboy.”

Tears filled her eyes, which she immediately scrubbed away. “Come inside, Linc.”

He touched her cheek at last, her skin cool to the touch. “Sugar, Iaminside.”

She gave a tender smile before closing the door and taking his hand and leading him to the only place he wanted to be.

In her arms.

CHAPTERNINE

Someone was pounding something.

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