Aislinn wanted to hug her and tell her it was going to be okay. That everyone had awkward teenage years and that more than one of them had scars that would last.
A smile flitted across Morgan's beautiful face and Aislinn raised her eyebrow in question.
"Well, I did…uh, get my revenge," Morgan snickered.
"Uh oh," Aislinn said and took a hurried sip of her wine.
"The day that I left? Well, his mum had prepared a huge spaghetti lunch for him and then left to go to the market. I'd packed my bags and had my bus ticket. Everything was outside and I'd left a short note so they knew that I'd gone off on my own. But, I stopped in the kitchen on the way out. God, I still remember his face. He just looked at me like I was dirt. I smiled at him…very sweetly…and then raised the plate with my power and dumped it on his head."
Aislinn's mouth dropped open.
Morgan let out a laugh and happiness lit across her face for a moment, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
"God, I've never seen anyone's face change so quickly. He jumped up to run and then slipped in spaghetti and fell." Morgan laughed even harder. "I know it's wrong. Trust me, I know. But…just that once, it was worth it."
Aislinn knew that she should probably school her on proper use of her power, as Fiona would advise, but Aislinn had to give Morgan this one. The little jerk had deserved it.
"Though I wouldn't advise doing that again as you don't need a modern-day witch hunt on your hands, I agree, he deserved it."
Morgan smiled at her and Aislinn could feel gratitude radiating from her. She wiggled against the cushions, burrowing further into the pillows.
"So, Patrick?" Aislinn asked.
"Patrick," Morgan said and her body tensed.
"You like him," Aislinn stated. She could read it.
"I do. I just…freaked when he tried to kiss me. It was like déjà vu. A cute guy, behind the house, in the courtyard." Morgan sighed and sipped her wine. "I need to learn to control my emotions better."
"It's okay to be emotional. But, yes, you probably have some stuff to work through. Maybe you could talk to Dr. Delaney?"
Morgan raised her eyebrow at Aislinn and laughed.
"Like I have money for that."
"I might be able to work something out," Aislinn said.
"What's up with you and him anyway?"
Aislinn thought about it for a moment.
"Let's just say that I don't scream when he tries to kiss me."
chapter twenty-nine
"I swear that I didn't do anything," Patrick said as he paced along beside Baird, his feet stomping the pavement.
"What happened?" Baird asked stiffly, reserving judgment.
"Nothing at all. We've been talking more. I'll see her here and there and…man, she's just a knockout. I'm drawn to her, you know? I've stopped dating and am kind of, like, trying to get her to go on a date with me."
Baird nodded and held the door open to Gallagher's Pub. Patrick waved a hello to the bartender and ducked under the pass-through to snag two Guinness bottles from the bin.
"Put it on my tab," he instructed the bartender and then moved back around, motioning for Baird to follow him back into the courtyard.
They sat at an empty picnic table. The courtyard was empty as the night was still young.
"So, how did you end up in the courtyard?"
"I saw Morgan hefting a couple huge pieces of driftwood up the street. For what? I don't know…but I offered to help her take them into the courtyard. I just figured it was for one of Aislinn's art projects. Then, I don't know, it was like, the right moment, you know? Sun just setting, she looked so pretty, and I wanted to kiss her. I didn't expect her to scream at me. I thought she was feeling the same way." Patrick shrugged his shoulders to dismiss it. Baird could see that his shoulders were tense and he read frustration and hurt across the young man's face.
"I'm sure that there is more to the story. From what Aislinn has said, Morgan's had a rough upbringing. Be patient with her," Baird said.
"Oh yeah, like what?"
"I'm not at liberty to say," Baird said smoothly.
Patrick smiled at him. "Doctor confidentiality?"
"Something like that," Baird agreed.
The men drank their beers in silence for a moment. Realizing that this might be the perfect moment to raise a question, Baird studied Patrick.
"Did you grow up here?"
"Aye, I did."
"Is the cove enchanted?
Patrick didn't even blink an eye. "Yes."
Baird banged his Guinness bottle down on the table in surprise. "Yes? Just yes? You believe it?"
"Aye, why wouldn't I?" Patrick looked at him in confusion.
"I don't know…maybe because it's crazy to think that there is magick there?"
"There's magick everywhere," Patrick said simply.
Baird looked around him in disbelief and worked on finding the right words.
"I just…I feel like everyone in this town is a little nuts," Baird confessed.
Patrick grinned at him, unoffended.
"Aye, well, when a town has some magick in it, what do you expect? I like it though, it makes us unique."
"What's the story…the Grace's Cove thing?"
"Story goes that she died there. Protected the cove with magick and gave her descendents a little extra something special." Patrick shrugged it away and took another sip of his Guinness.
Baird's mouth hung open. "You're telling me you believe this then?"
"Sure, ask Cait. She's a descendent. She can read minds," Patrick said easily and gestured to Cait walking through the door.
Baird immediately stood as she moved to join them.
"Congratulations again, Cait. How are you feeling?" His mind wheeled frantically as he tried to digest what Patrick had just told him. There was no way that she could read minds.
"Oh, jeez, Patrick. You told him?" Cait narrowed her eyes at Patrick and he hunched his shoulders in guilt.
"Sorry, Cait. He was asking about the cove and it just kind of went from there. I figured he already knew since he's been spending so much time with Aislinn."
Cait turned to look Baird up and down.
"Hmpf," she murmured, and motioned for Baird to sit again. "You, go. There's a shipment that needs to be unpacked." Cait jerked her thumb at Patrick and then back towards the pub.
"Yes, ma'am. Thanks for listening, Baird," Patrick said as he scurried from the courtyard.
Cait met Baird's eyes and he was struck again by the intelligence and presence he saw there. This was a woman that knew her own worth.
"Thank you," Cait said simply.
Baird's eyebrows rose as he realized that Cait had scanned his thoughts.
"I...I'm sorry. But, can you really do that?"
"I don't know, can I?" Cait said snarkily.
Baird tilted his head in annoyance at her and she sighed, rubbing her hands over her small stomach.
"Sorry, hormones make me a little bitchy. Yes, I can read minds. Yes, I'm a descendent of the great Grace O'Malley, the one and same who both cursed and enchanted the cove."
"This is all so fantastical to me. It's the stuff of fairytales," Baird blurted out.
Cait shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose that it is. I can't change it though. Not sure that I'd want to anymore…" She trailed off and looked down at her belly and smiled. "This kid of mine isn't going to be able to pull anything on me." A wicked grin lit across her pretty face and Baird found himself smiling in response.
"I suppose that will come in handy as a mother," Baird conceded.
"What are your intentions towards Aislinn?" Cait asked directly.
Baird blew out a breath and took a long pull from his bottle of beer. What were his intentions?
"I don't know," he said finally.
"Then leave her alone," Cait said, fury darkening her face.
Baird held his hands up to stop Cait from going further. "I don't know, but I want to find out. There is som
ething about her that fascinates me, hooks me in, that I want to learn more of. She is pushing me outside of my comfort zone and I'd like to think that I am doing the same for her. For what it's worth, my intentions are honorable. I've turned her down, more than once," Baird said, not feeling the need to explain more.
Cait hooted in laughter at that.
"Aye, I'm right sure that must have made her mad."
"Spitting mad. She's even more beautiful when she's mad," Baird said with a smile.
"Take your time with her," Cait cautioned.
"Tell me about the cove," Baird said.
"What about it?"
"Why does it glow blue?"
Cait coughed and crossed her arms over her chest. Leaning back, she glared at Baird.
"Who were you with when that happened?"
"How do you know that I wasn't alone?" Baird countered.
Cait's face pokered up even more. She didn't say a word.
"Fine, I was with Aislinn," Baird sighed and finished his beer, getting sick of trying to figure out all of the mysteries and riddles in this town.
A quick smile flitted across Cait's face. She stood and patted Baird's hand across the table.
"Stick with her. You'll have your answers when you need them most," Cait said enigmatically and walked to the door.
"Right big help you are then," Baird shouted after her and she waved cheerfully back at him.
Baird finished his drink and stood, his thoughts in turmoil.
How did she know that he wasn't alone at the cove when it had lit up?
And what did that mean for him and Aislinn?
Chapter Thirty
"You sure that you're okay?" Aislinn asked Morgan at the bottom of the stairs to her apartment.
Morgan nodded adamantly.
"I am, thank you." Impulsively she wrapped her arms around Aislinn and squeezed her quickly before buzzing out of the door with a quick, "See you Tuesday." Morgan worked Flynn's boat on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Pleased that Morgan had felt comfortable enough to hug her, Aislinn stepped out into her courtyard. Scanning the sky and seeing no hint of rain, she ran back upstairs and snagged the rest of the open bottle of wine and her glass. With a sketchpad tucked under her arm, she moved to her chair and small drafting table in a corner of the yard and set her pad up. She'd already considered doing a series of Ross Castle and the lake. The black swan stood out to her so adamantly that her fingers all but itched to draw it.
Aislinn tacked her paper to her board and began to lay in the outline of the water with the black swam. She'd probably replicate this sketch in oils at some point but she always liked to draw up her idea first.
Humming softly to herself, Aislinn lost herself in the mood of the evening, and the motion of her hand against the paper.
"Damn swan," Baird uttered from behind her and Aislinn shrieked and dropped her charcoal on the ground.
Putting her hand to her chest, she took a moment to turn, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.
"Sure and you're trying to give me a heart attack?" Aislinn turned and smiled at Baird, realizing how happy she was to see him again.
That he had come back for her.
Baird moved closer and studied her work. "This is beautiful. You've true talent."
"Thank you," Aislinn murmured, smiling up at him.
"How's Morgan?"
"She's okay." Aislinn stood and crossed the courtyard to her table. "Wine?"
"Beer?" Baird asked.
"Sure," Aislinn said, suddenly feeling nervous, like a schoolgirl on her first date. She stepped inside and quickly ducked into the small bathroom on the first floor, groaning at her reflection in the mirror. She'd never bothered to put more makeup on after their spill in the lake and her hair was a riot of curls around her head. Her makeup was a lost cause but the hair could be fixed. She quickly twisted her curls into an intricate knot at the base of her neck.
Snagging two bottles of Harp from the fridge, Aislinn stepped back outside and saw Baird sitting comfortably on the picnic bench, back to the table, legs outstretched, staring up at the stars in the night sky.
"Nice night," he said as she approached and handed him a bottle.
"It is." Aislinn sat next to him and leaned back to look up at the stars. They winked down, icy diamonds against midnight blue, so sure of their place in the universe. Aislinn wondered where her place was and why she'd so recently felt like she'd lost her footing.
"Patrick?" Aislinn asked.
"Frustrated. He didn't do anything."
"I know," Aislinn said.
"What's Morgan's background?" Baird asked as he took a long pull from his bottle of beer.
"She's an orphan," Aislinn said. Baird nodded as if everything suddenly made perfect sense. And to him, perhaps it did.
"Patrick likes her," Baird said.
"Aye, she likes him too."
"What should we do about it?" Baird asked.
"Not a damn thing," Aislinn laughed over at him and then the smile dropped from her face. "Um, do you ever, like, do charity cases?"
Baird turned and looked at Aislinn, wrapping his arm around her back and pulling her closer to snuggle in the crook of his arm. Aislinn's insides warmed at his touch and she was surprised that for just a moment, she felt a little weepy. Just a little sentimental, Aislinn thought, and focused back on the conversation.
"You want me to talk to Morgan for free is what I'm getting here?"
Aislinn shrugged and looked back up at the sky.
"It wouldn't hurt. She doesn't trust many people. I'm not sure how much she would open up to you but I can certainly see that she has some scars to work on. But, maybe I'll take her off to Fiona instead."
"Ah, the great Fiona. I've yet to meet this mystery woman," Baird remarked. Aislinn drew back at the sting in his words. Was she misinterpreting him? Reaching out with her mind, she scanned him and realized that he was just a little bit angry.
"I'm sorry, but is there a problem here? Why are you mad at Fiona?"
"I'm not mad at Fiona," Baird said stiffly.
"At me, then," Aislinn said and drew fully away to turn on the bench and look at him. Baird's body was tense and his hand played a tap-tap-tap rhythm on his leg.
"I'm not angry at you," Baird said.
"You're lying," Aislinn said, not feeling the need to point out that she could read him a mile away. If the man didn't understand her gift by now, then she was done trying to explain it.
"Sure, and you'd know that. Just like Cait can pluck thoughts from my mind, and who knows what else everyone in this town can do. I'm starting to feel like I'm the target of some big game."
Aislinn's mouth dropped open and she felt her Irish kick up a notch. Or ten.
"Excuse me?" Aislinn said icily.
"You heard me. They're my feelings and I'm entitled to them. And right now? I feel like this whole town is in on some ruse."
Aislinn shoved herself off the bench and paced in front of him, trying to bring her temper down.
"Oh and what would this ruse be for? For sport? Let's all have a laugh at the new guy in town?" Aislinn said archly.
"Maybe it's just a ruse to the rest of the world. For tourism purposes. If the whole town is in on the act then people can come here and get a magickal experience. Good for the town. Actually, the more that I think about it, it makes perfect sense," Baird said heatedly and came to stand in front of her.
Aislinn's chest heaved as her brain whirled in frustration and anger.
Oh, so much anger.
She raised her chin and met Baird's gaze dead on.
"I have never been so insulted in my life. You think that I would start a personal relationship with someone and yet…lie about this?" She swept her hand out to encompass her back yard and then the town.
"Well, I don’t know that, do I? Seems like everyone else is in the know on stuff and I'm not. I'd be the butt of the joke, wouldn't I?" Baird shouted at her and Aislinn stared at him in
disbelief.
She felt like he'd punched her in the gut, her stomach suddenly queasy with anger.
"Get out," Aislinn whispered and pointed to the gate in her fence.
"Excuse me?" Baird asked, stepping closer so he towered over her.
"You don't scare me, Baird Delaney. I said…get out," Aislinn ordered, never breaking eye contact with him. He watched her and then cursed softly beneath his breath.
"I should have known you wouldn't stick this through," Baird hissed and stormed past her.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Aislinn shouted at him, sincerely shocked at his statement.
"It means that girls that take guys home on the first night never stick in it when the relationship gets tough," Baird said and Aislinn's temper went through the roof.
"I know that you didn't just imply that I was the town hussy you arrogant, overbearing, hardheaded stump of a man," Aislinn shrieked after him.
"I don't know, Aislinn, why don't you just read how I'm feeling about you?" Baird shouted over the fence and slammed the gate door for good measure. He disappeared from her sight and Aislinn turned and huffed out a breath as she stormed her courtyard.
That bastard, she thought. Aislinn wasn't sure when she'd ever been more insulted.
The man had just called her a hussy. A lying one at that. He thought the whole town was out to get him? Like anyone had that much time on their hands! Aislinn muttered to herself as she paced her courtyard. Spying her glass of wine, she stormed back over and snagged the bottle, filling her glass to the rim.
She hurt.
Aislinn blinked back tears and swore that she would not cry over Baird. If she cried, then he had meant something more to her. And, it was clear that they weren't ever going to be a couple. Kicking a rock away with her foot, she crossed to where the candlelight flickered across the drawing of her swan.
The one place she could lose herself, no matter her emotions. With a sigh, she picked her charcoal up from the ground and sat, bringing her hand to the paper.
And began the process of removing Baird from her mind.
Chapter Thirty-One
"Oh my god," Morgan gasped as she stepped into the studio and found Aislinn at her desk, staring blearily into her cup of coffee.
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