“That’s all I ask, but this isn’t the best place to talk,” Darius said, glancing up and down the hallway. “We can discuss it better over dinner.”
“I don’t want a chaperone.”
“Then let’s order dinner into my suite. Joe doesn’t have to be there for that.” Darius watched her expectantly.
Eve considered him for a second and finally nodded. “But I really am tired. I want to take a hot bath and try to pull my thoughts together.”
“All right.” He dropped his hands. “I’ll be waiting for you to be completely honest. Is half an hour enough time for you?”
“Give me an hour. I have a lot of thinking to do.”
“You’re scaring me.”
Darius was scaring her too.
“Order something Scottish and authentic,” she said.
“An hour then.” Darius leaned forward and kissed her cheek before striding down the hallway to his room.
Eve slowly made her way to hers and took her time filling the jetted tub and pouring some bubble bath into it. She slid in, grateful for the warmth that helped her muscles to relax. Her cell rang, and she picked it up from the floor where she’d set it.
“Hey, Dad. I had Haggis, and I get what you mean about the American version.”
They chatted for a few minutes, and Eve kept expecting him to bring up whatever he’d called about. She’d spoken with her mother a couple of times on the trip already. All she’d said was that he was agitated about something but wouldn’t talk about it. When he got that way, they both knew to give him space. When he was ready, he’d tell them what was bothering him.
“Will you bring me back a new kilt?” he asked. “You know our tartan.”
“I’d already planned on it.” She sensed that he wanted to say something more, but he didn’t.
“I’ll talk to you in a day or two.”
“Okay. Talk to you then.”
“I love you, Evie,” he said.
“I love you too, Dad.”
He ended the call, and she put down her phone. What was that all about? Didn’t she have enough male confusion in her life at the moment?
That brought her thoughts to Darius. What did she really know about him, the man, not the boy? She reminded herself they’d been out of contact for more than a third of their lives. Did she really understand what kind of a man he’d grown up to be, how much he’d changed? She’d avoided digging too deeply into his past since high school. Could she assume the sweet boy she’d cared so much about back then had grown into a man she could transfer that old love to?
Eve dressed casually, choosing jeans and a baggy sweater. He hadn’t committed to continuing the charity. If he didn’t, they might only have one more day here and then the flight home.
She glanced at her phone and thought about the emailed job offer she’d received. It’d come from Kayn’s Irish in-laws. Eve had met Dr. Kelly in Ireland last summer, and he’d contacted her about providing home care nursing to an old acquaintance in Cong. It seemed that the nurses Dr. Kelly knew in Galway weren’t interested in the commute. Eve had loved her time in Ireland and wouldn’t mind visiting again. She could go directly there instead of flying back home. Whatever came of their little chat tonight, she had options.
Her phone buzzed with a text message from Darius.
Dinner’s here.
Eve’s stomach tightened with an odd combination of queasiness and butterflies. She grabbed her key card and headed for his suite. When she gave his door a soft tap, it opened immediately. Darius stood dressed in a brown kilt and sweater with a matching sporran. Her gaze went to his shapely calves. He was outfitted with matching hiking socks and suede brogues. He’d never looked so hot and warmth flooded through her.
“Do you like it?” he asked uncertainly.
“Oh, my,” she whispered, her hand pressed to her pounding heart. “I thought you said you’d never wear a kilt.”
“Come in.” Darius stepped back and let her enter the suite. “I know how important your Scottish heritage is to you, and I get that I’ve done something to upset you. I couldn’t think of any better way to say I’m sorry.”
The backs of her eyes stung at his thoughtfulness. Eve stopped in front of him and looked up into his dark brown eyes. She reached up to cup his cheek. His short beard was soft under her fingers. Rising on her toes, she pressed her lips to his. Darius let go of the door and wrapped his arms around her, the caress of his warm mouth sweeter than she remembered. All the fears she’d had just moments before vanished.
