by Sheila Kell
Seeing no way out of copying Laura, she moved to the mirror and raised the lipstick again. Come on. Who thought of that color for their lips?
She closed her eyes for moment to kickstart her into doing this little thing. She knew she’d look ridiculous and maybe that was her hang-up. Their goal was to have fun. With that, she applied the lipstick, popped her lips together to blend it, and stared at her green lips in the mirror. It was worse than she’d thought. She had to get the hideous color off her mouth.
Reaching into her purse to grab a tissue and wipe her lips clean, someone bumped her from behind, knocking her a bit off balance. Reflexively, she jerked her head up and saw an older man weaving down the aisle. She shook her head and thought of how she’d not been staying aware of her surroundings like Danny had taught her. It’d been easier in her booth, but moving around, well, she couldn’t let her guard down. Granted, Danny didn’t expect that trouble had followed her, but she had promised to listen to him on all-things security.
Such as, he’d said that he wanted someone with her all the times. He hadn’t specified who, so she’d thought Laura and Luke would do. Realizing it could be easier for someone to sneak up on her than she expected, she wished it was Danny though. Not only did she trust him, but they had a friendship that made her want them to be more.
With a sense of unease in her stomach, she scanned the room while asking, “Are we ready for pictures?” With Laura’s and Luke’s grins, Moira moaned. Something told her she wouldn’t be wiping off the lipstick anytime soon.
After Luke took what felt like a hundred pictures of her and Laura, while they posed in all kinds of silly positions, the two of them began switching items and grabbing more from the table. Moira’s laugh had been so belly deep that she’d felt freer than she’d expected to again before she’d left Ireland. No, she’d felt that free with Danny. She wanted to show him she could survive without constant watching. She understood if danger touched American soil, her security would change. Until then, she’d remain vigilant while enjoying herself.
The big plastic clover clamp earrings caught her eye. She had to wear them, just had to.
The woman running the booth laughed and walked to her.
“Let me.” One of the women came over to her with a sticker and she stiffened.
When she reached toward her face, Moira quickly stepped back, unsure of what to expect.
“Moira, it’s okay. Look, I’m getting one right now.” Laura laughed.
In the groove of it, she nodded. “Go ahead—wait, is it permanent?” A slap to her forehead was warranted, but she held it back. Of course it wasn’t permanent.
With a chuckle, the woman put it to her cheek before she answered, even though Moira had already figured it out. “No, it’s not permanent.”
After a few minutes of a wet rag on her cheek, Moira hurried to the mirror. This time, excitement lit her curiosity. Deciding she needed more green lipstick, she pulled it from her jeans pocket and reapplied, then laughed.
Luke and Laura went quiet and she wondered what they planned next. Even with her fear of this and that, she’d truly had fun. If only she could take them back to Ireland. Back to where though? She’d surely lost her small flat.
Blinking her eyes back into focus, she saw a head appear in the mirror behind her. She squeaked and jumped back, but not before she witnessed her face in the mirror pale. How did he find her?
“Am I interrupting?”
At the familiar voice, she whirled around and lost her balance. She’d never heard this level of anger coming from the man with the heavy scowl. Her chest tightened with fear and relief at seeing him. “Hi,” she said breathlessly and wished her voice had sounded stronger and less ‘damsel in distress.’
Danny’s brooding look and raised eyebrow didn’t stop Moira from wanting to throw her arms around him, but she refrained. Considering he’d tracked her down, he might not be in a welcoming mood. Concern for that mood set her system on alert.
Glancing to the side of Danny, she noticed another man and smiled. “Hi, I’m Moira.” That smile and twinkle in his eyes told her he was trouble. “Wait, don’t tell me. You’re Cowboy.” She didn’t expect too many of Danny’s friends to wear cowboy hats in Maryland.
“Yes, ma’am. I certainly am. And it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, little darlin’.”
“Oh, Christ,” Danny said in a low sigh.
When Danny’s gaze swung back to her, rapidly coiling tension in her stomach loosened, wreaking havoc on her nervous system. She’d done nothing wrong. She’d followed his instructions, even though she’d questioned her decision, but he hadn’t complained before when she spent time with her friends. Come to think of it, why was he here? Had something happened to her brother since she’d spoken with him? Why hadn’t someone called her? Then again, they could’ve, and she hadn’t heard the ringer. The bands had drowned out smaller sounds.
“Why are you here? Have you heard something from my brother? Is he okay?” She reached in her pocket to check the phone she should’ve looked at sooner.
In answer to her questions, he grunted, “Come on, we’re leaving.”
Realizing Cowboy spoke to Luke and he looked sick to his stomach, she turned back to Danny. “What’s going on here? Why is Cowboy harassing Luke? Now that you’re here, why do I have to go home?”
Laura approached. “I can see you’ve got a ride, but are you still watching Dublin 5 with Luke and me?”
She did still want to listen to the band, but she also wanted to be with Danny. Maybe she could have both. “Can we stay and listen?”
His jaw working but not grinding told her he was considering it.
Looking at his watch and the growing crowd around the stage nearest them, he asked, “What time do they play?”
“Half twelve.” She remembered she’d used an Irish phrase and corrected herself. “Twelve-thirty.”
“No,” he said without hesitation. Actually, he’d barely said no when he clipped, “Grab your purse and let’s go. Oh, you might want to give back some of that green.”
She witnessed a quick quirk of his lips.
Cowboy returned from speaking with Luke, and he and Danny looked at each other and must’ve had some mental telepathy going because when Danny turned back and after Cowboy walked off, he demanded, “Take me to your booth. We’re leaving.”
Chapter Fifteen
At the sight of her booth and the few paintings, the thought of taking her over his knee became more of a probability. He couldn’t decide if she’d been defiant or didn’t understand what would happen if she was found by the wrong people.
He wanted to kick something. “Dammit, Moira. They have your signature on them. I thought we discussed you’d have to use something else.”
“Those are paintings I brought with me. I couldn’t change my signature.”
His head dropped while his thumb and forefinger held the bridge of his nose, reminding himself she might not understand. Dropping his hand and looking up, he willed himself to be patient. “Not everyone that attends are locals. Those who bought your paintings might show friends, display them prominently in their home or office, or even send them to a friend in Ireland.” To prevent the rebuttal he saw building in her, he raised his hands to cut her off. “Don’t try to interrupt me and say those things don’t matter, because any of them might post their new acquisition on social media, along with the painter’s name.”
Hell. He’d made her eyes water, which was one step away from crying. “My intent wasn’t to upset you, Moira. I just need you to be more careful.” Wanting to give her comfort, he stepped close, then at the last moment, he slid his hands up and down her arms. They stood so close that her green-colored lips called to him. Transfixed, it took a moment for Cowboy to break their searching gazes. Searching for what, he wasn’t sure.
“Let’s get this together and go,�
�� Cowboy insisted, trying to collect all of her paintings under one arm. “We didn’t get to eat.”
That snapped her attention back to her work. “Nay. Nay. Don’t carry those like that.”
As he watched Moira and Cowboy argue about everything, he pulled Luke aside.
“Look,” Luke said, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t know she shouldn’t leave the area where we live.”
It appeared Cowboy had had a nice chat with Luke. “She’s not on a lockdown, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’m asking if you saw anyone paying her special attention or always coming to her with crowds, or anything like that? Think good before you answer.”
After what appeared to be deep thought, he shook his head. “I didn’t see anyone like that.”
That relieved him greatly. “How many days have you been here?” Based on the date of his car accident, Mark had given him that answer, but he wondered if he’d get the truth.
“This is our second day.”
“Why didn’t you come home to sleep instead of camping out here?”
His face brightened. “It’s so much fun to camp out with everyone. The fun almost never ends.”
Danny wanted to tell him this was the Ritz compared to some of the camping he’d done with HIS. He didn’t want to get into a long conversation, so he opted instead to say, “Thank you for watching out for Moira.”
Luke blushed a little. Actually blushed. Danny chose to ignore it so as not to embarrass the man any further.
“I was just doing what any friend would do.”
Danny slapped him on the shoulder blade to express his gratitude. “I appreciate it, all the same.” He turned and walked to Moira. Now they just had to make it home where he could breathe easy.
His two travel companions had somehow agreed on packing. They even smiled at each other after the fighting they’d done. Damn Cowboy and his ability to charm any woman. He didn’t see it, but women did.
“Let’s go.” Danny hurried them along.
Cowboy led them to the parking lot, straight to Danny’s vehicle.
After loading the truck and tying down the easels in the bed, he had to suffer through another argument between his travel companions about who would sit in the back seat. Most arguments like that were for front seat, but he’d yet to see either of them do things normally.
Growling, Danny interrupted, “Moira, front seat. Cowboy, back seat. No arguments. Now let’s move.” More than likely he came across curt, but he wanted to get on the road.
Settled in, Cowboy leaned forward until he was between the two of them in the front.
“You sure are pretty. Now I see why Ball Park won’t let anyone near you.”
Danny reminded himself that the next physical training session in the ring, he’d call upon Cowboy, so he could take his frustration out on him.
“Ball Park?” she asked, giving her full attention to Cowboy.
In the rearview mirror, he saw Cowboy sit back and grin at him before he leaned toward Moira again. “Yeah. ‘Ball Park’ like Ball Park Franks.”
Cowboy’s happy bubble was about to take a hit and that pleased Danny.
“I don’t know who this is? Is he related to Danny?”
Danny couldn’t help but laugh and realized his mistake too late. “No, Moira. I wasn’t laughing at you. It was at Cowboy because his joke took a nosedive.”
“Nah,” he drawled. “As long as I’m talking to the pretty lady, laughing at me won’t matter.”
Danny rolled his eyes. How could women buy into this drivel? Come to think of it, Cowboy didn’t have a woman right now or he wouldn’t have come with him. As long as the man only joked with Moira, they’d be okay.
“Why Cowboy?” she asked, studying him and then pointing to his head. “Is it the cowboy hat?”
“It’s just what people call me.”
“What’s your name?” she asked.
Danny checked in the rearview mirror again because Cowboy had leaned back as if to battle some demons. His name wasn’t unusual, so Danny couldn’t understand why he didn’t share. He’d yet to understand why his friend was too chicken to say one four letter word.
“Mike. It’s Mike.”
“I like it for you. I will call you Mike.”
Danny saw Cowboy about to argue, so to keep him from saying something that might upset her, he asked, “Did you enjoy yourself?”
He liked her excited, like she was about her time at the festival. Her cheeks lightly blushing, her eyes brimming with happiness, and even her hands moving at a fast rate to get her point across.
“Yes. Luke and Laura are fun and included me in everything.”
Cowboy leaned forward again. “Tell me about this artist that was unhappy with you.”
Jerking his head to look at her, Danny heard the thunk, thunk, thunk telling him he’d driven off the edge of the roadway. Luke hadn’t mentioned there being a problem to Danny. Maybe Luke figured since he’d told Cowboy, he didn’t need to repeat the information. But then again, maybe this artist didn’t match what Danny had asked. Cowboy’s question to Moira explained where Cowboy had ended up after he’d done a search of the area.
Before she spoke, she sighed. “I think he’s been the only artist at the local festival for years. Since I sold more paintings than him, he got upset.”
“Upset how?” Cowboy and Danny asked simultaneously.
The look from her should’ve been expected. “No, we’re not crazy,” Danny said. “So answer us.”
He felt more than saw her shrug. “Mostly when I had a crowd, he’d walk over and tell them there were more at his table. Some people went over and back to my table, unhappy because they thought it was more of my work.”
“That asshole,” Cowboy said first. “Was he hostile?”
“Naw. But he was sleeveen.” When neither said a word, she added, “A sly person.”
Filing that information away until he and Cowboy could talk, he asked, “Did you meet others from Ireland?”
“Oh, aye. I found out they get together every now and then. Can I go?” she pleaded with him. Sure, now she asked.
“Would it be a problem if I went as a friend or as a date?” Why did he ask that last part? They’d been doing things together as friends since she arrived.
She hesitated and her answer was so low, he almost had to ask Cowboy to translate. “A date is fine.”
Shock zinged its way through his insides, and a smile widened until his cheeks hurt.
Cowboy slapped him on the front of his shoulder before sitting back. “I’m the master,” he said.
Leaning closer to Moira, Danny asked, “Are you sure?” Heart pounding, he hoped for an affirmative answer. He didn’t want to screw it up. It was a shitty thing to do to his brother, but his heart was telling him he and Moira were right for each other.
When she quickly turned to him, she nodded with a sweet smile.
Cowboy’s movement caught his eye. His friend leaned back in his seat, taking a finger to lift his cowboy hat. “Yep, the master.”
Chapter Sixteen
Although he’d rather be with Moira, Danny met with Cowboy and Doc for after-hours drinks. After Cowboy asked the server for another round for the three of them, he turned to Danny. “Why the hell aren’t you with that pretty little thing? Last night she said she’d date you.”
Danny remembered that also. However, it’d kept him awake most of the night worrying about his brother. He wanted Moira, but he didn’t want to go behind his brother’s back, who couldn’t be here, especially because he’d left to make her safer. “I need to talk to my brother first,” he admitted.
“Screw your brother,” Cowboy asserted. “He’s not here. He left her with you.”
“Exactly. He left her in my care. Not to steal her away.” And that’d be what he was doing since they had no idea
when Justin might return. Or, if he’d make it home. Justin was playing a dangerous game that Danny wished he wasn’t. Bringing their father’s killer to justice wasn’t worth his brother’s life. But to steal his girl during the process, that would make him a massive asshole.
“Ask him,” Doc suggested, “next time you chat with him. Heck, ask her. Things may not be as serious as you think.”
What would Moira say? He’d hate for her to say she’d date both him and his brother. He’d also hate to hear she broke up with Justin to date him. The man who was present. That would be like a kick to the gut. “No, it needs to be my brother.” That was the only right way to settle the matter. Exactly how he’d code that in a secure message, he didn’t know.
“What do you think of the newbies?” Under his breath, Cowboy said, “Damn Russian spies.”
Danny chuckled but worried at the animosity Cowboy had for John and Jane. What ridiculous names, John and Jane Smith. So phony. Yet, he guessed using their real names with the government wouldn’t have worked. Too many doors would’ve been shut on them before they had the chance to step inside.
“And a munitions expert,” Cowboy grumbled, after taking a hefty swig of his beer. “I’m the munitions expert on our team.” He took another swig.
“He’s not here to take your spot. He’s primarily a sharpshooter. Heck, they’re only temporary anyhow.”
Cowboy brightened at that. “They are, aren’t they? Pity. That Jane is one fine woman.”
Danny decided to ignore that comment. “You need to be prepared. The brothers plan to put two munitions experts on each team. Two of everything if they can do it.” Here he sat with Doc whose specialty was evident by his name and Cowboy who was their explosive ordinance expert. Again, he brought nothing to the group. Maybe he should learn explosives and be another expert on the team. No, he had no desire to blow himself up with his own stupidity. He was an interrogator. Yet, everyone had some interrogation skills, so he wasn’t all that special. Maybe if he could convince himself to fly again….
