CHAPTER 22
Later that night, Flynn parked in her drive. He leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before getting out and rounding the hood of the car. Flynn opened the door and helped her down. He held her hand lightly as he led her to the door.
"I'd ask to spend the night with you but I don’t want to shock Fiona," Flynn said as he rested his forehead on hers. Keelin felt warmth pool through her as her heart clenched a bit and trembled.
"Someday, maybe."
"I'd like to take you out again." Flynn laid a whisper of a kiss on her lips.
"Yes, I had fun." Flynn laughed at her as she blushed at the thought of the fun they'd had.
"I'll stop by to see you the day after tomorrow. We can go for a walk in the hills?"
Keelin nodded. She had to see him again. She didn’t want him to go. Heat pulsed through her at every point his body came into contact with hers.
"Yes, Monday. I'll plan for it." She turned and slipped in the door only to hear his quiet words.
"Goodnight, my love."
CHAPTER 23
The next day, Keelin kept reviewing the date in her mind. She was unaccountably nervous. All morning, she had replayed his words to herself. Was "my love" the same as "loving" someone? Was it just a term of endearment? Her heart clenched at the thought of loving him. The view of the cove's glowing water haunted her.
Fiona bustled in from the outside, bringing in sunshine and a rambunctious puppy. Keelin smiled as Ronan raced to her and wiggled at her feet, begging for a scratch.
"Keelin! How was your date last night?" Fiona asked breathlessly. She hung up her coat on the hook by the door and moved to the table with the bag of herbs that she had collected that morning. Keelin blushed as she thought about how to answer the question. "Ah, so he's a fine lover then," Fiona said as she caught the blush on Keelin's face.
Keelin sighed. "He's wonderful. Everything about him. He's a good employer, concerned about the economy, loves dogs, honest, and hardworking. Not to mention gorgeous." Keelin kicked at the table leg.
"So, why aren't you happy?" Fiona stopped sorting her herbs and gave her full attention to Keelin.
"I just…I don't know. I couldn't tell him about our power." She looked at Fiona nervously. "How did you tell Grandpa?"
"Well, honey, I was honest with him. If you can't show the person you love all the corners of your soul, do they really love you or just an image of you? Why would you want to live like that? Forever hiding a secret?"
"I don't know. I really don't. I guess I'm not used to discussing this and I have seen how it has led to destruction in my past relationships. I'm scared. I really think that I have a thing here with Flynn. The cove glowed last night."
"Ahhh." Fiona rushed around the table and gave Keelin a small hug. "So, it is love. On both parts. You have to tell him, Keelin."
"I know. I know. I will. We are going hiking tomorrow. Maybe I will tell him then."
CHAPTER 24
Restless, Keelin decided to take a drive into the village to tell Cait about Flynn's boat. And, well, just to talk to someone with similar issues to hers. Keelin pulled up to the pub and stretched, feeling twinges in muscles that she hadn't felt in a long time. Even though she was nervous, it was almost impossible to keep the smile off of her face. An evening of being lapped up like she was the best dessert on the table would do that, Keelin thought, and swung through the door of the pub.
"Well, I'm not one of those fancy women that you take up with, am I now?" Cait shouted at Shane. Her heated tone had Keelin stopping in her tracks.
Cait and Shane faced each other across the room, mere inches apart, both of their chests heaving.
"Whoo, boy," Keelin whispered under her breath, and didn't move.
"Who said that I want one of those fancy women?" Shane countered.
"It's plain as all can see, isn't it? Nothing but the richest for Shane," Cait said.
"I don't know where this is coming from, Cait. You're being crazy," Shane said, and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"Oh, crazy is it? Well, then you can just take yourself right out of my pub. Wouldn't want you associating with a mad woman, now," Cait sputtered at Shane.
