Flynn found her there,propped up against the cottage, a small smile on her face as she slept. He watched her breasts rise gently under the t-shirt she wore and the way the sun shone in the hair that curled over her shoulder. Ronan squirmed in his arms. Flynn had an irresistible urge to pick her up and carry her home with him. He wanted her in his bed. He wanted her in his home. He wanted to protect her and challenge her at the same time. He had never met someone who had so infuriated him yet enticed him at the same time. He put Ronan on the ground and let the puppy run to her, and watched as he climbed in her lap and licked her awake with kisses.
Keelin awoke with a laugh as Ronan covered her face with happy kisses.
"Hi, buddy, I was going to come get you." She shaded her eyes as a shadow fell over her and she looked up at Flynn.
"Hey, thanks for bringing him back."
"No problem. I was somewhat concerned when I saw him racing over the hills with Teagan. Thanks for tying a note to his collar. How is the little boy?"
Flynn stretched out next to her, leaned against the cottage, and bumped shoulders with her. It was comfortable, sitting here in the sun with him. She wondered how comfortable he would be if he knew just what she was. She let out a half laugh. She didn't even know what she was. But, she was learning.
"Rough morning?" Flynn asked.
"Yes, I met my brother." Keelin decided to skip over the healing stuff. She was too raw from seeing the disease zip out of Finnegan and snap a branch off the tree. Her mind couldn't wrap itself around the how and why of it and that made her nervous. She liked things that added up neatly and made sense. A secret part of her thrilled to the knowledge that she held this power. Not that it went to her head, but it was tremendously rewarding to know she could really make a difference.
"How'd that go? Um, I've heard, well. Things." Flynn cleared his throat.
"Let me guess, you've heard that he hates me? Yeah, he told me."
"He did? Wow, he's grown even surlier than he used to be."
"It's okay. I get it. Kind of. We muddled our way through it. I'm going to dinner at his house this week and maybe we can get to know each other a little. I need to go meet my sister. I feel like she’s avoiding me.”
"Ah, Aislinn. She's an artistic soul. Quiet. Her head is in the clouds most days but her art is beautiful. I think you'll find a better reception there."
Keelin nodded. She didn't know what to say. Here she was sitting in the sun with a man that made her want to do things that were probably illegal in this country and she spoke of family that she had never known she had. Not to mention the absurdity of her morning in flexing her healing powers. She needed to go inside and take a nap before she did something stupid. Like curl up in Flynn's lap and nuzzle into his neck.
Opting for safety, Keelin stretched and stood.
"Thank you for bringing Ronan back. I really need to go lie down for a small nap and check on Fiona."
Flynn smiled up at her disarmingly. His dimples flashed and he looked almost boyish.
"Don't forget about Saturday. I'm holding you to it." Flynn stood up and stepped close, invading her space. Keelin took an involuntary step backward. Flynn brushed her cheek with his hand and whistled to Teagan. Together, they strode across the hill, looking like an Irish painting. The way he moved was very "Lord of the Manor."
Keelin watched him go with a small sigh. She'd think about Saturday another time. For now, she needed to rest and then wanted to head into the village and talk to Cait. She hoped Colin would bring her car back soon.
CHAPTER 15
The sound of pans clattering in the sink woke her and Keelin stretched. The light shone warm through the windows and she checked her phone. It was mid-afternoon, yet the early morning seemed like days ago. Keelin rose and followed the noises into the kitchen.
Fiona stood at the sink, carefully washing the healing dishes that she had used earlier that day. A cup of tea steamed at her side and color had returned to her cheeks. She turned and smiled at Keelin.
"I'm so proud of you. You did good by Finnegan." Fiona walked over to embrace Keelin. Keelin smiled down into the old woman's hair and let her hold her for a moment longer.
"Thank you. I truly had no idea what I was doing." Keelin grabbed a second cup and poured herself some black tea. She blew on the cup as she settled at the table.
"Oh, I think you know more than you realize. You did a wonderful job of redirecting the illness."
"What was it? All I could see was this black twisty shape. It seemed to be invading his system."
"They think that he got into some of the poison they use to kill the rodents in the stables. It is quick acting and the chemist in town had nothing to reverse it. He had already vomited profusely but I believe that it had moved past that and was attacking his nervous system." Fiona shook her head at how close Finn had been to death.
"How do you know? How do you know what is the right thing to do? I was so scared," Keelin admitted.
"It is scary. Terrifying. You never know if you can do it or not. You have to tell people that too. All you can say is that you will try to help. There is never a guarantee. On anything, really." Fiona lifted her shoulders and let them fall. "I wish that I could give you a more definitive answer."
"What happened when I directed it out of the house? How could it have hit the tree? How could it, um, I don't know, become physical like that? What if I had hit someone outside?"
