Merchants with Evil Intent (28 page)

      
Declan released a sigh of relief. She’d
be back, but not soon eno’ for ‘im.

      
“I thought you were lookin’ for a
Camryn?” confused, Mrs. Gordon asked.

      
“Aye, we are, but I’m looking for Lois,”
Declan’s mouth twitched. “Please tell ‘er I stopped by and would like a chance
to speak with ‘er.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Who the hell is Lois Lane?”

      
Declan looked over his shoulder at his
brother. “Have ya never watched Superman?”

      
Ian lifted his eyebrow. “What does that
have to do with Camryn O’Mara?”

      
“Ya wouldna believe me if I told ya. Lois
is
Camryn. Come on.”

      
“I’m confused,” screeched Ian.

      
“No doubt ya are,” Declan laughed.

      
“If Lois Lane is Camryn O’Mara then why
are we leavin’?”

      
“We aren’t leavin’, ya horse’s arse. The
B&B is across the street from the Wild Knight. We can have a few pints and
watch from the winda,” Declan snipped.

      
Ian cocked his head and a smile crept
across his face. “Now you’re talkin’!”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Once they were settled into a snug Camryn
glanced around the pub. It wasn’t as nice as the Wild Knight, but it’d do.
Mickey ordered meat pies and pints for them when the waitress came around for
their order.

      
“So are you bored and ready to head back
to the B&B?” Camryn questioned.

      
“No. I’m seein’ Ireland through your eyes
and it’s interesting. I guess I take my homeland for granted,” shrugged Mickey.

      
She grinned, “Ya know, we don’t have to
do everything in one day. I plan on being here for a while.”

      
“Aboot that…do ya have an approximate
date on when you’re leavin’? No’ that I’m in a hurry, just wondering what I
should tell me mum when I call her.”

      
“My return flight is in late November.”
She watched his facial expression with enthusiasm.

      
“Mickey, you don’t have to haul my sorry
ass for two months. I’ve told you can go anytime and I meant it.”

      
The waitress brought their pies and
Camryn’s lip curled as she watched Mickey dig into his.

      
Mickey waved the waitress over for another
pint as Camryn cradled her first one.

      
“I’ll be back,” Mickey mumbled as he
stood.

      
Cam frowned, “Where ya goin’?”

      
He leaned down and whispered, “To the
little lad’s room.”

      
She spotted a good looking guy at the bar
watching her and smiled politely at him.

      
Big mistake, she surmised, when he walked
towards her table.

      
He bowed slightly, “Howya?” he said,
settling himself into Mickey’s seat.

      
She cocked her head. “Fine, thank you.”

      
He broke out into a huge grin.
“American, aye?
I love American accents! Me name is Tristan
Mulgrew,” he murmured, extending his hand.

      
Cam noticed his hand was soft and his
handshake, limp.

      
“Your name, gel?”

      
“Lois,” she said with a grin.

      
“Ah Lois, ‘tis a
pleasure to meet your acquaintance.
Are you in Ireland for holiday?”

      
“You could say that.”

      
“Let me buy ya a drink, lass.”

      
“Thanks, but no. One’s my limit during
the day,” she hedged, raising her pint to her lips.

      
Mickey returned and looked back and forth
at them. “Is this the…?”

      
Camryn shook her head. “Tristan, it was
nice to meet you and thank you for the drink offer, but as you can see my
friend and I are leaving.”

      
Tristan took her hand gently and kissed
it.
“Mayhap another time, Lois.”
He stood and eyed
Mickey for a few moments before returning to the bar stool.

      
“Who was that plonker?” Mickey
questioned.

      
“Some guy trying to pick me up. Let’s pay
the bill and get out of here,” she said over her shoulder.

      
She turned and noticed Tristan watching
her.

      
Jeesh, Irish guys are cocky, especially
good looking ones.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Joe made sure Camille and Snoops were
comfortable in their room before retiring.

      
He removed his clothing, ready to climb
into bed when he remembered he hadn’t brushed his teeth. Padding to the door he
glanced at his attire and shrugged. When he stepped into the hallway he heard a
slight gasp and turned.

      
“Shit! I’m sorry! I figured you’d be
asleep already!” He didn’t know if he should try to cover himself or not.

      
Camille held up her toothbrush and
smiled, with a mouthful of toothpaste. “It’s okay,” she slurred, waving him
off.

      
He hesitantly walked into the washroom,
grabbed his toothbrush and paste and returned to his room to brush his teeth.

      
Camille
stood in the hallway. How embarrassing! She with a mouthful of toothpaste, babbling
and Joe in his dark blue boxer shorts

and
rippling six-pack abs! Gawd! She almost
choked on the toothpaste!

      
She quickly rinsed her mouth and hurried
back to her room.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Dumb
ass! Should’ve waited or skipped the brushing altogether.
Joe stomped around his room, brushing
his teeth, berating himself.

      
The girl had been through a lot and he
was walking around in friggin’ boxers!

      
He thought about her reaction and what
she must be thinking of him and brushed harder. But damn, she looked good in her
little gray t-shirt that barely covered her stomach and those tiny blue shorts.

      
He poked his head from the bedroom and
peered around the door and made a b-line to the washroom to rinse his mouth,
returning to his room the same way as to not run in to her again.

      
There was no telling what he might do if
he did.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Joe tossed and turned for two hours
according to the digital clock on the dresser.

      
He picked up his phone and dialed the
station, leaving word he was taking a sick day. He didn’t want Camille to be
alone on her first full day from the hospital.

      
He lay back on the bed and closed his
eyes, remembering how she looked in the hallway and fell asleep thinking about
her.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Ian checked his messages while Declan
stared out the window, towards the Gordon B&B. He’d never been a patient
man. He sighed disgustedly when Ian interrupted his thoughts.

      
“Dec?
I need to
use your computer. They’re sending images of Orlov and Miss O’Mara.”

      
Declan waved a hand towards his office.
“I’ll keep watch.”

      
A few cars slowed in front of the
B&B, but didna stop. Declan let out a hard breath. “Kelly? I need another
pint!”

      
She hurriedly ran to the snug with two
pints. “Your arse is goin’ to be sore if ya sit much longer! Get aboot and
mingle with the guests.”

      
The smell of peat wafted into the pub as
the door opened. Well, peat and manure as Declan noticed Tristan Mulgrew
walking towards the table.

      
“Well, if it isn’t me ol’ buddy, Declan
Corrigan!” Tristan grinned, extending his hand.

      
Declan stared at the offered hand and
picked up his pint.

      
“I’m busy Mulgrew,” Declan said coolly.

      
Tristan glanced at Kelly with raised
eyebrows and shrugged.
“Let bygones be bygones, Declan. ‘Tis
in the past, aye?”
Tristan mumbled.

      
Declan growled, “I said I’m busy!”

      
Declan thought he heard ‘im call ‘im an
arsehole as he walked towards the bar.

      
Kelly
sat opposite of Declan and took his hand into hers.
“Dec?

Is everything
okay?”

      
Declan ran a hand through his hair.
“Aye.
Things are grand. The guy gets under me skin, is all.”

      
“Why don’t ya like ‘im?”

      
He leaned in. “He blamed me for Teaghan’s
death.
At
the bloody funeral! I didna
realize he was dating her when we met. Anyway, t’was a long time ago, I
suppose.”

      
Ian approached the table, angry. “I
canno’ get the bloody pictures to print.”

      
Declan shook his head. “Christ!” He
peered once more out the window and walked quickly to his office.

      
His breath caught when he saw Camryn’s
image on the monitor. Her auburn hair spilled past her shoulders and glistened
in the sunlight. You didna have to look at her mouth to know she was smilin’
because her eyes conveyed it quite well.

      
His lips thinned as he snapped his head
back towards Ian.
“Ya gobshite!
It helps if ya turn
the feckin’ printer on!”

      
Ian raised his eyebrows, “I’m not a feckin’
computer nerd!” His gaze rested on the image of Camryn and he let out a low
whistle. “No wonder you’re addled. She’s a beauty.”

      
Declan scowled when Ian brought up the
next photo.
It
wasViktor
Orlov.

      
“Can you finish up here on your own, or
do ya need me to babysit your arse?” Declan growled, walking from the office.

      
“I can take it from here, Mr. Grouchy
Pants,” Ian teased.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camryn and Mickey arrived at the B&B
and successfully carried the packages up to Camryn’s room in one haul.

      
“Are ya sure you don’t want to go to the
Wild Knight?” Camryn whined.

      
“Gel, I’ve been on me feet all day!
Aren’t ya a wee bit tired?” Mickey whined in return.

      
“Not a bit. Cripes, all we did was
visit
the crystal place, Lismore castle and St. Patrick’s
cathedral.
Ya big sissy!”

      
“Ya forgot aboot the standing stones,
Reginald’s tower and the main square, gel. Me feet are throbbin’!”

      
She waved a dismissive hand.
“Fine!
I’ll go myself and have a few pints and dinner.” She
thought she saw Mickey salivate.

      
“Sounds grand to me!” he grinned.

      
She clapped her hands together and
grinned. “So you’ll join me?”

      
“Nay, gel.
I’m
going to shower and sleep. Until tomorrow,” Mickey bowed before he walked away.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Eoghan appeared next to Declan, causing
him to jump. “Has the lass arrived?” Eoghan questioned.

      
Declan put his hand over his mouth. “Does
it look like it?”

      
“Narky, aye?”

      
“I feel useless, just sittin’ ‘ere! Maybe
she’s not coming back tonight,” Declan glowered.

      
“Mayhap if I knew what the gel looked
like, I could help,” Eoghan offered.