by Sophie Love
“Can you let me in?” Shane pressed. “I’d like to talk to you.”
“NO!” she shouted. “Go away!”
Shane clearly wasn’t about to respect her wishes. Keira heard his muffled voice come through the door again.
“Pretty please?” he said.
“I said NO!”
There was silence for a moment. Keira hoped that meant Shane had gone away. But then she heard his pitiful, pleading voice once more.
“If you’re jealous about that woman or whatever then don’t be. That was Caroline. My ex.”
She turned angrily and thundered to the door. She unlocked it and yanked it open.
There was Shane, looking sheepish, his eyebrows raised halfway up his forehead. Even while infuriated with him Keira couldn’t stop the sensations that took hold of her at the sight of his gorgeous face.
“I’m not jealous!” she yelled. “Why should I be jealous?”
“I didn’t mean you should be,” Shane said, backtracking. His features twisted with consideration. “I just figured you might be because you ran off when she sat down.”
He scratched his neck nervously and looked at her like a lost lamb. Keira let out a grunt of annoyance at his utter cluelessness.
“Well, I’m not,” Keira snapped. “Contrary to popular belief, women aren’t constantly measuring themselves against each other while competing for the attention of stupid hairy … men.”
Shane looked tickled by her comment. He pressed his lips together, clearly in an attempt to not laugh.
“Stupid hairy men like me, you mean?” he said, his usual cheekiness beginning to eke back into his tone.
“Yes. Like you.”
“I see,” he said, diplomatically. “So you weren’t jealous of Caroline because you’re not competing for my attention because I’m stupid. And hairy.”
Keira pouted. “Don’t mock me.”
Shane pressed his lips tightly together. “I’m sorry. You’re just cute when you’re mad. Makes me want to make it up to you.” He reached out and touched the collar of her dressing gown.
Keira jerked away and batted his hand off. “Oh, I bet it does. I bet everything makes you want to… you know. I know men like you. I know how you operate.”
Shane looked mock offended. “I’m not a robot!” he said. “I don’t come with an operating manual.”
“You’re a player!” Keira shouted. “A user. A serial one-night-stander!”
Shane burst out laughing. “What on earth are you talking about?” he said as his shoulders shook with amusement.
The sight infuriated Keira further. First he’d lured her into this trap whereby she thought she wanted him, and now he was laughing at her for figuring out the truth!
“Caroline tonight. Tessa! How many others are there, Shane?”
“Other whats? Women? Last time I checked just shy of three billion.”
“Other women you’ve slept with!” Keira bellowed.
Shane looked bemused. Or was it amused? Keira couldn’t quite tell which.
“Well,” Shane began, tapping his finger. “There’s Deidre, my dead wife—”
“Shane,” Keira interrupted. Laying on a guilt trip about his dead wife was the last thing she wanted.
“What?” he exclaimed, still laughing but also evidently becoming exasperated. “You’re talking crazy. I don’t even know who this Tessa you keep going on about is!”
Keira looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Really? You really don’t remember? Way to prove my point.” She folded her arms. “Tessa. As in that woman you slept with on the first night of the festival”
Shane’s face practically cracked from the power of his shock and amusement. He took Keira by the shoulders.
“I didn’t sleep with her!” he exclaimed. “We had a drink and a flirt and a dance. That’s all. If you’re going to accuse me of anything then it should be my charm. Because a player is the last thing I am. Jeez, I even told you I was married once. Isn’t that enough to make you realize I’m not a player? Because you know they don’t usually tend to be the settling down types.”
“That was years ago,” she refuted. “You can change.”
The fact that Shane seemed more amused than angry at her accusations made Keira feel even more stubborn. She stood there staring at him, fuming, not wanting to back down. But even while angry with him, Shane was irresistible to her. How much nicer it could be to believe him, to back down, give in. She wanted it more than anything.
“But I haven’t,” Shane implored her. “I’ve had three sexual partners in my entire life.”
Keira wasn’t sure whether he was down playing his sexual history to strengthen his argument. Three seemed impressively few. It was far less than she had, she realized a little guiltily. She felt herself start to back down.
As if realizing she was weakening, Shane slid his hands from her shoulders down her arms, then stopped at her hands. He took hold of them both and gave her a reassuring look.
The physical contact awakened all of Keira’s senses. She felt her resolve starting to weaken.
“I really thought you’d slept with Tessa,” she said.
Shane shook his head. “Nope. I’m actually very careful with my sexual partners. I don’t just jump into bed with anyone. And I never have two girls on the go at once. When I like a girl, I’m all in. One hundred percent. And I’d already met you before I met Tessa so I was never going to do anything with her.”
Keira felt the warmth radiating from his hands. She paused, letting his words sink in.
“Wait. What do you mean?”
Shane’s smile twitched on his lips. “I mean I was already falling head over heels for you, dummy.”
Keira frowned at him, unable to contemplate what he was telling her. “You hated me when we first met,” she said. “You thought I was a snob. A princess. You called me Little Miss NYC.”
Shane smirked. “Nah, I’m pretty sure it was you who hated me. I thought you were a babe from day one. I just wasn’t going to act on it because you had a boyfriend. I was pretty bummed out about that. I thought it was just my luck to have found a sexy, smart lass like you and to find out she was already taken.”
“But you went to the graveyard because you felt guilty over Tessa.”
“I felt guilty over you.”
“Oh,” Keira said, dumbstruck by his words. She didn’t even know how to respond to Shane now. If this was just him sweet talking her, then boy, was he good at it! She was falling for it completely and utterly.
Their hands still clasped, Keira backed away from the doorway, taking a step back into the room, tugging Shane in with her. She noticed her laptop still open on the desk, the angry tirade up on the screen. She let go of Shane’s hands and rushed over to shut it before he got a chance to see what she’d written.
By the time she turned around he was there, right in the middle of the room, just a foot away from her. It was the first time he’d been inside her bedroom and Keira felt a thrill as she saw him standing there. She felt her insides gnawing, yearning for him.
He gazed at her adoringly, his tight-fitting gray shirt showing off his physique. As if possessed, Keira found herself suddenly unable to hold back. She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling his body in close to hers, pressing her mouth against his. Shane responded with equal passion, his hands sliding beneath the cotton fabric of her dressing gown, finding her bare back and tracing his fingertips against her hips. She thrust her hands deeply into his hair, entwining her fingers in it.
They pulled apart, both panting, the gaze between them burning like fire. Then Keira’s hands were on his shoulders, pushing him gently backward toward the bed, wanting him more than she’d ever wanted anyone in her life. Mouths feasting greedily upon each other, they tumbled down onto the mattress.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Keira awoke the next morning in a tangle of limbs. Shane was holding her close to him, cocooning her. It was cozy and comfortable.<
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Keira smiled to herself as she replayed their passionate lovemaking last night in her mind. It had been the most mind-blowing encounter of her life. Sex with Zach had been nice at first, then routine. She hadn’t even realized how much the fire between them had fizzled until she’d been ignited by the power of Shane!
As she looked at his gorgeous sleeping form, she couldn’t help but wonder about the future. Her trip wasn’t going to last forever. Did that mean this amazing thing she’d found with Shane would end as well? It was unrealistic to think they’d continue dating once she returned to New York City. The flights would cost more than either of their salaries permitted, and could a relationship really exist without even occasional physical contact? The thought that there was a time limit to their lovemaking filled her with dread.
She moved then, and Shane stirred, opening one eye a sliver.
“Morning,” he said, sleepily, smiling radiantly at the sight of her. He tightened his arms around her waist. “And where do you think you’re going?”
Keira smiled in response. “I was going to make a pot of coffee.”
Shane nodded and released her. “That’s allowed.”
Keira laughed and got out of bed, finding her legs wobbly somewhat beneath her. She went over to the counter where there was a kettle and a jar of instant coffee granules. It was hardly luxurious, but Keira couldn’t care less. Today she was floating.
Keira made the coffee and returned to bed.
“So,” Shane began, taking his mug from her hands. “Now that you know I’m not a player, does that mean we’re a couple?”
Keira’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected Shane to cut so quickly to the chase. But the idea didn’t scare her. If anything, it thrilled her. And even though she could already imagine Bryn’s reaction—telling her this was nothing more than a rebound from Zach—she didn’t care. If this was how great rebounds felt then she ought to have them more often!
She tilted her head to the side and peered at Shane. “Sure.”
Shane laughed. “Sure? Is that all I get?”
Keira batted her eyelids. “What would you prefer? ‘Oh yes, yes, please say I can be your beloved!’”
“That’s much better,” Shane joked. “And yes, you may.”
Keira smirked with amusement. “So what’s the plan today? Where are you guiding me to?”
Shane pulled a face. “I kinda feel like it would be weird for me to act like your tour guide now. Don’t you?”
“Well, my company is paying you…” Keira quipped.
“I’m pretty sure they’re paying you too,” Shane replied with a wry smile. “And that doesn’t seem to make you do any work.”
“Touché!” Keira replied.
They laughed together. Keira felt buoyant. Even the daylight filtering in through the thin curtains seemed brighter today. Not even the ever-present layer of gray clouds in the sky could bring down Keira’s mood.
“Why don’t we decide where we should go together, in that case,” she said to Shane.
“You mean like a date? An actual date? With an activity?”
Keira nodded her head. “How about a gallery?”
“Sure. There’s a ton of artists in Ireland, you know. The Limerick City Gallery of Art is closest to us. It’s about an hour drive. You up for it?”
“Sounds great,” Keira said.
“We’ll be passing through a couple of towns with odd names that you can send pictures of to your sister.”
“You’ve noticed me do that?” Keira asked, surprised by his attentiveness.
“I notice a lot of what you do,” Shane replied.
They finished their coffee and dressed for the day. Downstairs they found that Orin had laid out a breakfast buffet for them. But Orin himself was nowhere to be seen. He must be giving them some privacy, Keira thought. Either that or he was embarrassed and avoiding them!
After a quick breakfast they headed out of the B&B, hand in hand. Shane went to walk left, Keira right. They pinged back together like an elastic band.
“The car’s this way,” Keira said.
Shane shook his head. “No. My car is that way. Your car is over there.” He pointed the direction he’d tried to go.
“I’m not driving!” Keira stammered. “You always drive!”
“I did,” Shane smirked, “when I was the tour guide. But I’m the boyfriend now. Which means we share stuff. I’ve never seen you drive before. Don’t you think that’s the sort of thing a boyfriend should experience?”
“But I’m terrible on these roads!” Keira protested. “They’re too small. I’ll kill us both.”
“I have faith in you,” Shane said.
He tugged her hand and Keira relented. The thought of driving more than she needed to in this place filled her with dread.
The rental car was parked round the side of the B&B. Keira got into the driver’s seat, feeling immediately out of place.
“If I’m driving, you’ll have to be official photographer,” Keira said. She handed him her phone.
“No problem. I’ll get pictures of Bunratty, Cratloe, and Dooradoyle’s signs.”
Keira laughed. “Thanks. That sounds perfect.”
She turned the car on and swallowed her nerves, then reversed out of the lot.
Luckily the traffic was light.
They reached the first sign on Shane’s list and he snapped a picture as they passed.
“Who am I sending this to?” he asked.
“Nina,” Keira said. “It’s her turn.”
“No problem,” Shane said.
She watched as he scrolled down to find Nina’s name and sent the picture off to her.
A moment later he turned to Keira. “She replied saying Joshua is on her case about you. Can you send her some words?”
Keira sighed. But then she remembered the tirade she’d written yesterday. Was it mean to use it? She was certain Joshua would like it, and it would definitely get him off her back for a day or two. But she didn’t feel that way anymore. In fact, she felt pretty much the opposite! If she sent Joshua the rant and he wanted it in the final piece then Shane would be mad if he read it. Then again, that was a lot of ifs.
“I’d better pull over and send her an update,” Keira said.
“I can do it,” Shane said.
Keira shook her head as she pulled up at the side of the road. “No way.” She reached for her bag in the back seat and pulled out her laptop. She quickly composed an email to Nina and sent off the document. At least now she could relax.
They continued on. Keira’s phone buzzed with another incoming message.
“Nina says thanks, that’s brilliant,” Shane told her. Then he took a photo of Cratloe’s sign.
“That one’s for Bryn,” Keira told him.
He sent the picture off for her.
“She’s replied with some emojis. The laughing cat. The laughing ghost. The smiling frog. I think we can safely assume she’s amused.”
They reached Limerick and pulled up into the parking lot of the gallery. Keira let out her tense breath as she parked up and turned off the engine.
“How did I do?” Keira asked. “We’re both alive, which is the main thing.”
Shane peered out the passenger side window as if checking to see whether she’d parked straight. “Your driving is pretty good considering,” he said.
“Considering what?” Keira replied, raising an eyebrow. “That I’m a woman? Or that I’m American?”
“Your words, not mine,” Shane quipped.
They got out of the car and went inside the gallery. It felt very romantic strolling around together looking at art. Keira had to keep forcing herself to focus on the paintings because her gaze kept wandering to Shane. He was the real work of art here, as far as she was concerned.
They went to the gallery’s cafe and ordered some lunch. It was a cool space, open plan and modern, filled with tall plants. A glass roof let in as much light as the overcast day was giving them.
Just then, the server arrived with their plates of couscous, pita bread, spicy hummus, and olives, a multicultural feast that Keira had not expected to find in the deepest depths of Ireland.
“Art is really valued over here,” Shane explained. “In all its forms. Pottery. Paintings. Music.”
“Yes, I had noticed the fact that everyone can play an instrument,” Keira said, remembering the first time she’d clapped eyes on Shane as he stood on the stage with his fiddle. “Although I’ve yet to see a harpist, which I’m a little disappointed about.”
“Really?” Shane asked, surprised. “I know at least ten. Remind me to take you to the Hope and Anchor on a Wednesday night. My friend Claire has a weekly spot there.”
Keira smiled to herself, feeling like Shane was wanting to fully immerse her in his actual life. Not just the tourist bit but the bit with his friends.
But the more she thought about it, the heavier she felt. It wasn’t like there were endless amounts of Wednesdays for them to choose from. In fact, there was just one more before she left Ireland. The likelihood of her meeting Claire the harpist was nonexistent. Because the truth of the situation was that Keira was a tourist. No matter what her intentions, or Shane’s intentions, she would be leaving soon. The thought filled her with dread.
“You look sad,” Shane said, suddenly.
Keira tensed. She hadn’t meant to show her emotions on her face. She didn’t see the point of them talking about the fact this was all temporary because it would just spoil things. But at the same time, her leaving soon was a fact, and they couldn’t bury their heads in the sand forever.
“I’m just thinking about how we don’t have much time left,” she said. “You know, for me to see Claire or meet any of your friends. That sort of stuff.”
“Oh, yeah,” Shane said glumly. He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I’ve been thinking about that too.”
She looked across the table at him. “You have? What have you been thinking specifically?”
She wanted to hear Shane’s side of the situation since she’d been replaying hers in her mind over and over for days.
