Even in the shadows of the alley, Zaira’s beauty was as bright as a flaming sunset. She wasn’t wearing a hat, and the red of her hair was darker tonight, almost auburn in the evening. Her delicate features were creased with earnestness, making her more striking. And her eyes were wider than usual, highlighting her long lashes.
Kiernan growled and started to raise his fist again—probably because Bellamy was ogling Zaira.
“No!” Zaira’s sharp plea cut through the air, and she grabbed on to her brother and clung to him so he couldn’t do any more harm.
Not that Bellamy cared if Kiernan battered him a wee bit more. Maybe if he showed up in the pub battered and bruised, he’d deter some of the fathers from wanting him for a son-in-law.
Kiernan glared at Bellamy for several long heartbeats before he lowered his arm. Even then, Zaira didn’t let go of him.
Alannah hesitated in the door of the carriage, probably wondering if she should hold Kiernan back too. Of course Alannah was there. But why was Zaira? She shouldn’t be in the city. She should have stayed at Oakland. Where she would be safe. And where he wouldn’t have to worry about running into her.
“Let me talk to Bellamy.” She pushed her brother toward the carriage door, and he didn’t resist her. Or maybe he wasno longer resisting because Alannah was reaching for him, her hands on his shoulders and then on his chest.
As Alannah guided him up into the carriage, Kiernan went along eagerly, didn’t even seem to see Bellamy any longer. He had eyes only for his wife—eyes filled with a desire that told Bellamy that Kiernan was very happy with Alannah, just as Bellamy had expected he would be.
Bellamy couldn’t keep from releasing a taut breath. He’d had to do some fine conniving in order to bring about Kiernan and Alannah’s match, much more than he’d needed to do for Enya and Sullivan. But Bellamy was good at it. In fact, he’d been good at bringing together Zach and Deirdre too, even if he’d had a little help from Zaira and even if the match wasn’t finalized yet. How many more people could he help find true love if he was given the chance?
He knew Oscar was right in trying to find him a bride, that doing so would increase his standing and trustworthiness in the community. People would start seeking him out for his advice and wise counsel the same way they did Oscar. It would show him to be responsible in the matter of love. After all, if he couldn’t move things along in the matter of love for himself, why would people come to him to move things forward for them?
But how could he tie any woman to himself and the McKenna matchmaker bad luck?
Zaira gripped his arm and began to lead him away from the carriage. Like Kiernan, Bellamy was being dragged along and helpless to resist. Because he couldn’t resist Zaira. He let her guide him, following after her, his hunger for her increasing with every step he took.
When she stopped beside the shed, he had the urge to pullher flush and wrap his arms around her. It was almost as if he’d been waiting the past two days since last holding her for the next chance to do so. But that was ridiculous, because he was never going to embrace or touch or kiss her ever again.
As she pushed him against the shed wall, she already had a handkerchief in hand and was lifting it to his nose to ward off the bleeding. He needed to stop her. He could take the handkerchief for himself.
But as with before, he was helpless to resist. He let her touch the delicate cloth to his nose and gently press it there. Her thumb brushed against his lips, and she quickly moved it away. Even so, the touch seared into him, just as all her other touches had done.
“I’m sorry, Bellamy.” Through the shadows, she was examining his face as boldly as she’d always done, which, if he was honest with himself, he’d always liked. He liked that she wasn’t pretentious or shy or even coy. She was merely herself and didn’t care about impressing him.
She dabbed again just as gently. “Kiernan is being a beast.”
“If you were my sister and a fellow kissed you, I would be doing the same thing, so I would.”
She just gave a shake of her head. “We both know I started the kiss and that you’re not at fault.”
“I could have stopped it.”
“You did.”
“I should have stopped sooner.” He couldn’t keep himself from glancing at her mouth, all too near, all too pretty, and all too kissable.
As if seeing the direction of his thoughts—or perhaps his gaze—she dropped her attention to the top button ofhis vest. Were her cheeks turning rosy? Was she thinking of their kiss again too?
A burst of heat fanned to life in his gut. And suddenly the air between them seemed charged and full of sparks.
Ach. This was no good. He didn’t need or want to have chemistry with any woman, least of all a stunning woman like Zaira.
“We need to make a deal, Bellamy.” She glanced around as if ensuring they were alone. The back door of the pub was opened a crack, and Jenny was peeking through, obviously worried about him. But they were far enough away, he hoped, that she wouldn’t be able to hear his conversation with Zaira.
He took the handkerchief from Zaira. He had the feeling Kiernan was behind this deal, whatever it might be.
“We already had a bargain once,” he started, “and look how that ended up.”
“We both need each other.”
“We do?”
