Her smile tilted higher. “Your demand is fearsome and difficult. But I’ll agree to it, Kiernan Shanahan.”
“Good.” He was grinning now too.
“You never miss the water till the well has run dry.”
“Are you admitting to missing me?”
“Maybe.”
“Alannah?” Cook’s angry shout through the back door echoed down the hallway. “Where are you?”
“Coming!” Still smiling, she scurried past Kiernan.
He couldn’t keep from watching the gracefulness of her stride, the way her hips swayed, and the wispy blond strands that had come loose from her coil and now caressed her neck. When she reached the end of the hallway, she paused and glanced back at him, flashing her smile one more time before exiting and disappearing outside.
He expelled a tight breath, not ready to let her go, needing to talk to her longer, needing to be near her, needing to see her smile again.
Kiernan wanted to go on talking with Alannah all night. But she’d yawned at least three times, and he had to bring their time together to a close.
“So that’s how my mam got into editing.” She stifled another yawn from where she sat on the blanket beside him. “And I learned to love doing it too.”
He stared up at the sky, his arms behind his head. “I’m sure your love of reading has lent you a keen eye for mistakes.”
“It has. I never can seem to read a book anymore without keeping a mental list of the things that are wrong.”
He hadn’t known she liked to edit and had aspirations to edit for a newspaper or magazines or journals one day. But for some reason, she’d shared that with him tonight, maybe because it was their last night, and she had nothing to lose by revealing this part of herself.
He was surprised to find himself hoping that someday she would be able to fulfill her dream. It was odd because he had always agreed with his da that women—particularly married women—needed to focus on their household and families without the distraction of employment.
Of course, women in Alannah’s poor working class often had no choice but to work even after they were married by taking in mending or laundry or ironing. Some even labored in factories or fields.
But editing? That was different. It was something she wanted to do regardless of whether she had to. It was a passion and a purpose. He’d never thought about women having passions and purposes outside the home. But maybe they deserved to have such aspirations just like men. Why shouldn’t they?
“I hope you’ll be able to pursue your editing.” He pushed up from his reclining position to his elbows.
“Thank you, Kiernan.” A cooler night breeze teased at a tendril of her hair that had come loose from her braid. “You’re kind to listen and understand.”
He wanted to tuck the wayward strand behind her ear, but he hadn’t so much as brushed a finger against her, and he had to keep things that way.
The buzz of fireflies melded with the trill of the crickets. The sounds of the night had become like music and from now on would remind him of his time with Alannah.
She yawned again, covering her mouth. Slowly she pushed up until she was standing. She was still wearing her maid’s uniform but had discarded her cap. As she picked up the lantern, the glow highlighted the beauty in each line of her face.
“I should go,” she said softly.
He wanted to protest, but he nodded. “I’ll leave in a minute.” It was best if they didn’t go together.
She hesitated for a moment before starting forward. “Good night, Kiernan.”
He watched her go, his whole body keening for her. He wanted to chase after her and draw her into his arms. But he forced himself to stay where he was, even as his heart beat hard in protest and a strange discontentment sifted through him.
Why the discontent? Was it because his time with Alannah was over? As much as he wanted to suggest another meeting, deep inside he knew he couldn’t keep fooling himself into believing they were only friends. His attraction went far beyond friendship, probably always had. Continuing their late nights together was only stirring up temptation.
Besides, he still needed to arrange a new place for her to stay and move her there within the next day or two.
He didn’t want to think about the day when she’d no longer be at Oakland. But after his encounter with Shaw earlier, Kiernan knew that day was coming sooner rather than later.
15
