Wild Irish Soul (9 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

"That man is
hooked
." Cait's words echoed in Aislinn's mind the next morning as she took her tea into the courtyard and stopped short. A jar of honey with a ribbon on it sat on her table. Cocking her head at it, Aislinn crossed the courtyard to lift the small note attached.

I think about you.

There was no name and Aislinn didn't need a detective to figure out that the honey was from Baird. Smiling, she held it to her heart for a second before putting it back down on the table and looking around. The street next to her shop was empty.

Honey, Aislinn thought. An unusual gift. Which appealed to her even more.

She passed the jar back and forth between her hands. So, Baird had made a move. Was the ball now in her court? Aislinn hated the confusion that surrounded Baird in her mind. Typically she just trusted her gut and followed her instincts. Yet, when it came to the delicious doctor she was totally undecided.

Which meant she would take some time to think about this gift, Aislinn decided.

She went into her shop to get ready for the day. Thinking about Cait's surprise party later that night, Aislinn detoured upstairs to look through her closet. On the chance that Baird would be there, she wanted to look good.

Aislinn pushed between her clothes until she found the dress she was looking for. Short. A deep slate gray with burgundy trim and piping at the collar, it showcased all of her best assets. She had just the right jewelry for it, too. Pulling out a string of interlocking gunmetal links, Aislinn draped it over the hanger so it hung against the gray dress. Perfect, she thought and smiled wickedly at herself in the mirror.

******

Hours later, Aislinn swung breathlessly into Gallagher's Pub. She'd almost run out of time before Cait was supposed to arrive. She'd had a customer that had lingered far past closing time. Unable to shove her out the door, Aislinn had waited patiently. And, boy, had the wait paid off, as Aislinn had made a four-figure sale. As soon as the customer had left, Aislinn had run upstairs, shimmied into her tight dress and left her curls tumbling down her back. She darkened her eyes quickly with a smoky shadow and threw her necklace on. And that had been that, Aislinn thought as she raced through the empty pub and into the back courtyard where everyone had been told to hide.

"Aislinn!" Keelin waved frantically from the corner where she sat nestled up to her husband, Flynn. Flynn flashed a smile at her and moved for Aislinn to sit next to them.

"You didn't tell me about this!" Keelin scolded Aislinn.

"Aye, and rightly so. You know how Cait will pluck a thought right from your mind. You've no practice with keeping secrets from her," Aislinn whispered to Keelin.

Keelin glowered at her.

"Oh stop with the sourpuss look, no need for secrets shortly," Aislinn whispered. Helpless not to, she scanned the courtyard packed with locals, looking for Baird. Like a knife sliding into her gut, her eyes locked with his. He leaned against the fence, arms crossed over a plaid button-down shirt. With the sleeves rolled up and glasses in place, he was hot enough to warm her up in all the right places. Aislinn nodded coolly at him and turned to watch the back door.

"They're here!" Patrick whispered from the door and everyone quieted. A long table of food lined one side of the fence and fairy lights had been strung up to emit a warm glow across the courtyard. It was a charming and festive turnout and Aislinn couldn't wait for Cait to come through the door.

Everyone watched avidly and as the voices approached, Aislinn clenched her hands.

Cait came through the door and stopped dead in her tracks.

"Surprise!" they all shouted and laughed at Cait's face. Aislinn could see the ring sparkling on her finger from across the courtyard and tears pricked her eyes. Oh, she was so happy for her.

The courtyard quieted as Cait said something that Aislinn couldn't hear and then she put her hands on her stomach and turned to Shane.

"Yes!" Aislinn shouted as the rest of the crowd laughed at Shane's surprised face.

"You were right," Keelin gushed to Aislinn.

"I knew it, I just knew it," Aislinn said.

Flynn raised his eyebrow at Aislinn. "What about us? Are we?"

Keelin turned and smiled at Flynn.

"We just started trying," she whispered to Aislinn.

Aislinn leaned back and focused in on Keelin's aura. It was harder to tell because she was so intertwined with Flynn. Aislinn watched their colors mix and merge for a bit and then – just for a brief moment – she saw a flicker of a third color. Her mouth dropped open and Keelin grabbed her arm.

"Am I?"

"I…I don't know. I swear for a second there, I saw something."

"Oh. My. God," Keelin whispered and wrapped her arms around Flynn.

"You can always ask Fiona, she'll know."

Keelin narrowed her eyes at her grandmother across the room. "If she knows, she hasn't said anything."

"Aye, well, in time," Flynn said gently and Keelin smiled again.

"You're right. Let's let Cait have her day," Keelin said. Aislinn noticed that Flynn moved Keelin's glass of cider away from her for good measure.

"Here she is!" Aislinn cried as Cait came running to them. Aislinn jumped up and wrapped her arms around Cait, so happy for her. Looking past Cait's shoulder, she patted Shane's arm.

"Well done, Shane."

"Well, it looks like we've both managed a surprise," Shane said, looking a little shell-shocked.

"Congratulations," a deep voice said and Aislinn felt the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Baird had come to stand right beside her, his shoulder lightly brushing hers. She swore that she could feel his heat and her throat went dry. Swallowing quickly, she leaned down to grab her glass of Bulmer's. She let the cool liquid slide down her throat and watched Baird as he spoke to the happy couple.

He looked so at ease, confident in himself, she thought. Baird turned and seared her with a look.

"Aislinn."

"Baird," she said.

"Oh, jeez. Would you two just go have a shag and stop all this," Cait said. Shane turned to her, his mouth hanging open.

"Cait!"

"Sorry, must be hormones," Cait mumbled and was then pulled away by someone in the crowd.

"Sorry about that," Shane said, shaking his head, and followed his pregnant fiancée across the courtyard.

Flynn eyed Baird with new interest in his eyes and Aislinn could see the beginning of an interrogation forming. With a quick glance at Keelin, she silently pleaded for help from her half-sister.

"Honey, I'm famished. Can we eat?" Keelin said to distract Flynn. He looked down at her with love glowing in his eyes and nodded. They both stood and made their way to the line at the buffet. Baird quickly sat on the bench and pulled her arm to sit next to him. Aislinn was acutely aware that Baird had straddled the bench and that she sat between his legs.

"Thank you for the honey," Aislinn said softly.

"You're welcome. You look beautiful. If you wore that dress to torture me, mission accomplished," Baird said, looking at her as if he could see straight through her dress to the emerald green underwear she wore beneath it. Aislinn gulped.

"Thanks, you look nice as well," Aislinn said stiffly.

Baird watched her for a moment.

"I suppose that I should apologize for my behavior at the cove that day," Baird said.

"Which part? The part where you accused me of manipulating the cove with my magickal powers or the part where you walked away from me and didn't talk to me for weeks?" Aislinn said sweetly, a bitchy look on her face.

Baird sighed and ran his hands through his hair, making him look even more tousled and sexy.

"I researched that. Still can't find anything on how it lights up. It has to be rigged somehow," Baird insisted.

Aislinn's mouth dropped open.

He still didn't believe her.

"You've got to be kidding me. You still don't believe, do you?"

Baird shook his head and lifted his hands helplessly.

"You're more of a fool than I," Aislinn whispered furiously and made a move to get up.

"Wait, please, don't go," Baird said quickly.

"Why should I stay? So I can listen to you bounce your ridiculous scientific excuses and explanations off of me? Blind is what you are," Aislinn said.

"Well, what the hell, Aislinn? This is new for me," Baird whispered back, just as furious.

"If you wanted to be with me, you'd accept what I am," Aislinn whispered back.

"I barely know you!" Baird all but shouted and Aislinn reeled back as the conversation picked up in tempo around them and curious locals looked their way.

"Well, now you've gone and done it," Aislinn said.

"I don't care about them," Baird said.

"Well, I do. I live here and have known these people my whole life. And, since you barely know me and refuse to get to know me, I'm going to take my leave," Aislinn said huffily and rose, turning her backside to him. She heard his soft curse, but kept moving through the crowd, bypassing the food until she found Cait.

"I'm out," Aislinn said and bent down to kiss Cait's cheek. Cait peered around her to look for Baird.

"Alone?"

"Aye, alone," Aislinn said.

"I'm sorry. Want me to kick his arse?"

"No, mama, I'm fine," Aislinn laughed down at her and hugged Shane quickly. Slipping through the crowd, she made her way into the night.

Home, alone, to her studio. Her sanctuary.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Aislinn shoved through
the back door of her shop, afraid that she was dangerously close to tears.

"I will not cry over that man," she said to the empty room and threw her bag on the counter. A pounding at the front door made her almost jump out of her skin.

Aislinn peered towards the front window, where a dark shadow was outlined in the lights of the street lamps. The banging grew more insistent.

She hadn't turned on a light yet and wondered if she could pretend that she wasn't home.

"I know you're in there," Baird shouted through the door.

"Is the man insane?" Aislinn muttered and ran to the front door before the entire village came to her doorstep to watch the show.

"Are you crazy?" Aislinn hissed as she unlocked the door and opened it a few inches. Baird stood before her, his chest heaving, having clearly just run straight from the pub.

"Aye, crazy for you," Baird said and pushed the door open. Aislinn stumbled back and before she could respond – or even think – Baird scooped her up to wrap her legs around his waist. Aislinn gasped as his hands squeezed her backside and pulled her tight against him. She had barely a moment to catch her breath before his lips closed in on her.

God, she'd wanted this. She'd dreamed about this for weeks now.  Though in the bright light of day she could convince herself of all the reasons why they would never work, her dreams at night told her a different story.

Aislinn wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her hands through his thick hair. Baird kicked the door closed behind him with a bang and walked backwards, deftly maneuvering between her stacks of art. His lips never left hers and Aislinn felt like she was drowning in lust for him. She moaned against his mouth and opened for him, desperate for more.

Aislinn felt the edge of the desk hit her butt and Baird released her to stand between her legs. Cupping her face in his hands, he looked down into her eyes. Aislinn was mesmerized by his gaze, highlighted in the slash of moonlight that came through the window above her desk.

"I can't get you out of my head," Baird whispered against her lips.

Aislinn nodded, watching him silently.

"Please tell me that it is the same for you…that I'm not crazy," Baird said.

Aislinn nodded again, not trusting herself to speak.

"I don't know what to do about you," Baird said.

Aislinn felt herself getting angry and tried to dial it back down.

"Oh? I didn't realize that I was a problem to be solved," Aislinn said haughtily and stuck her nose in the air.

"Knock it off, you know what I mean," Baird said in frustration.

"Do I?" Aislinn reached behind her and switched on the small lamp that sat at her desk. A cozy glow enveloped them and Aislinn wanted to invite Baird upstairs to cuddle and watch an old movie. In bed. Naked.

Baird sighed and put his forehead down onto hers and just held her for a moment. Aislinn didn’t know why she suddenly felt like crying, but she had to work to keep tears from her eyes.

"Listen, this isn't like me," Baird began.

"Oh? Really? I could have pegged you for a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants guy from a mile away," Aislinn said sarcastically.

Baird moved his hands to her throat and mock choked her in frustration.

"See? You drive me crazy. I've never had a one-night stand before," Baird admitted.

"It's not like I make a habit of them myself," Aislinn said.

"Aye, well, I meant what I said earlier…I don't know you," Baird said.

Aislinn felt her heart clench a bit.

"But I want to know you. All of you," Baird said.

Aislinn tilted her head up at him and ran her hand down his cheek. His skin seemed to heat under her hand and she felt a shiver run through her at his words.

"I'm right here," Aislinn said and leaned in for a kiss.

Baird leaned back, leaving Aislinn hanging. She gaped at him in confusion.

"Aye, and that's the easy part for us. The rest…" Baird swung an arm out in frustration. "The rest is…muddled."

"I'd say so," Aislinn muttered.

"Listen, I'm not trying to discredit you or anything when I talk about the woo-woo stuff," Baird said and made quotation marks with his hands when he said "woo-woo."

Aislinn raised her eyebrows at him in disbelief.

"Did you just refer to my ability as woo-woo?" she asked icily.

"Ahhh, yes, and no. Your ability. The cove…all of it is a little much for me." Baird held his hand up to stop Aislinn from jumping down his throat. "But! I appreciate that you were upfront with me and for that I'm willing to give you a chance."

Aislinn slid her leg up between Baird's until it touched his package. With an evil glint in her eye, she pressed hard against him. Baird let out a little gasp.

"Want to rephrase that so as not to sound so insulting, Dr. Delaney?"

"Uh, I, mean that I think we should give us a chance. But in the real way. I want to take you on a date. Get to know you. Meet your family. All that stuff…" Baird said and watched Aislinn carefully.

Aislinn pressed her leg a little harder against him just to see him sweat for a moment and then eased off.

"Aye, so it's a courtship you're wanting then?"

"I suppose so, yes," Baird said.

Aislinn thought about it for a moment. In some respects, Baird was right. They knew very little of each other. Maybe she'd find some common ground with him that wouldn't make her so reluctant to date him. Or…maybe they'd scratch their itch and call it a day. One way or the other, Aislinn knew she couldn't go on with Baird constantly haunting her thoughts.

"Okay, I'll let you court me. On one condition," Aislinn said, meeting Baird's eyes.

"Name it."

"You have to keep an open mind. No hurtful comments about magick or people trying to pull one over on you. I'll do my best to explain it and I'll try to be understanding of the fact that you need some time to wrap your head around this stuff," Aislinn said in a rush of breath.

"Deal. But, then I have my own condition," Baird said, his voice husky.

"What's that?" Aislinn whispered, lost in his eyes.

"No sex."

Aislinn jerked back and glared at him.

"What?"

Baird cracked a smile at her. "That's the easy part for us."

"Until when?" Aislinn demanded.

"Until we decide we are ready," Baird said.

He leaned in gently and brushed his lips over hers, sending a warm tingle down through Aislinn's core. She sighed against his mouth and reached up to tug his arms.

"Want to come upstairs?"

Baird stepped away and smiled at her.

"With every ounce of my being," he said.

Aislinn jumped off the desk and stopped as she knocked a folder of her pictures onto the floor. "Shoot."

They bent at the same time to gather the pictures.

"But, I won't. I want to take you to dinner tomorrow. A real first date," Baird said as he knelt next to her to help her slide the pictures into the folder.

Aislinn looked at him in amusement.

"Don't you feel like we've already moved past some of that?"

"This matters. We matter. I want to do it right," Baird said stubbornly and then his hand stilled on a picture.

Aislinn felt her cheeks heat and she could have sworn that sweat broke out across her back as she realized what picture he was holding. Grabbing for it, she toppled onto the floor as Baird held it just out of her way.

"Well, now, that's a nice shot," Baird said in glee as he held the picture of his biceps in his hands. Aislinn groaned and covered her face with her hands.

Baird leaned over and kissed her head. "I'll be keeping this. I'll call you in the morning," he said cheerfully.

"I swear you just ran into my view," Aislinn called after him.

"Sure, I understand." Baird laughed all the way out of the door.

Aislinn groaned and shook her head. Of course, the man would find the pictures she took. She knew that she should have burned them.