It was a bizarre moment for Hailey, who’d all but given herself whiplash from spinning around every time the pub door opened in hopes of finding Holly standing there. But this time she did not immediately turn to look, because she already instinctively knew who it was, which was indeed strange, since she’d never actually methimin real life. She’d only ever seen him in her dreams, but she could feel him enter the room like the heaviness before a storm. She recognized this feeling.
So, when she did turn in his direction, it wasn’t to see who was there, but to acknowledge his presence.
In her dreams, he was always shrouded in a tranquil, shimmering light, a gladiator’s silhouette under a cloak of moonlight. She had no idea what he looked like in real life.
But she did know he was an Envoy.
She also knew how crazy it was to think these things about a stranger who’d just wandered into Hullachan’s, so as he moved through the pub, she moved to get a closer look. His face was smooth and clean shaven, and his tousled brown hair showed flecks of gold. Wearing loose blue jeans and a thin black sweater, which really showed off his physique, he strolled to a booth near the window, and like a prince who didn’t give a damn, he sat with his back to her.
She needed to see his eyes. For the moment, though, she was perfectly content to stare at the back of his head.
Fin whipped her in the back with a rolled up a bar towel.
“Ouch!”
“Snap out of it,” he said, and Hailey might’ve detected a note of jealousy in his voice.
The table the Envoy chose was still dirty from the previous patron, and Hailey rushed across the room to clear it. In all her nervousness, she knocked over a glass, which was still half-full of beer and backwash. It spilled across the table and poured over the edge, right into the lap of the most handsome man she’d ever seen.
“I’m so sorry!” She opened her eyes wide and blinked furiously to keep from crying. Quickly, she wiped at the table and to her horror, ended up pushing another wave of beer over the edge and onto his legs. Mortified, Hailey froze, not sure what to say or do and bracing for an epic cuss-out.
But he never flinched.
Instead, he lifted his head slowly, very slowly, and looked up at her. With eyes so black they took on a blue sheen, he smiled his forgiveness. Then very briefly, a vertical line of bright violet bolted across his right eye then his left. It happened so fast, Hailey wasn’t sure it was real.
He stared at Hailey, his expression soft, and his eyes…his eyes after the flash, so gentle.
For several seconds, Hailey stared into those eyes. Strange, how comfortable she felt, locked in his gaze, as if she were seeing a good friend after far too long apart. She wanted to hug this man, but she also wanted to smack him for staying away for so long. It was a complicated emotion, compounded by uncertainty.
Hailey blinked. The stress must be getting to her. This man was probably nothing more than another college student. It was nuts to think he visited her in her dreams…and maybe rescued her from a burning house.
Remembering the spilled beer, she blinked again.
“I’m so sorry,” she repeated. “I’ll get you a towel.”
Still he said nothing.
Hailey dashed to the bar but felt her lip trembling and decided mid-stride to go blow her nose instead. Somewhere between her exhaustion and anxiety was an ugly cry waiting to erupt, but she wasn’t about to let it happen over something as meaningless as a spilled beer. She just needed a moment to breathe.
Bowing her head, she diverted to the ladies’ room.
“I’m sorry, Fin, I’ll be right back,” she called over her shoulder as she zipped past.
Fin grabbed a towel and strode to the booth. He didn’t offer the towel to the gentleman, who didn’t so much as look at Fin when he reached the table.
“You’re a long way from Alaska,” said Fin to the stranger, as he bent to collect a shard from the floor.
The stranger looked down at Fin.
In a smooth, slow, slightly British accent, he said, “As are you, Pádraig.” He bowed slightly then forced a quick cynical smile. “Taking the semester off?” he asked scornfully.
“Research project actually. For Dr. Woodfork.” Fin answered in a brash voice, standing as he spoke and taking care to avoid eye contact. He glanced toward the toilets then back at the table and lowered his voice. “And you’reinterfering.”
Asher tilted his head and squinted.
Fin scanned the bar, hoping Asher would get the hint and leave, but the Envoy remained. Fin sighed heavily. “What are you doing here, Asher? Come to check up on me?”
“Are you really so arrogant? Your life is meaningless, and my business here has nothing to do with you.”
