Merchants with Evil Intent (29 page)

      
Declan nodded. “Her photo is on me desk.
Look at it and go to Gordon’s and see if she’s there.”

      
Eoghan nodded and quickly disappeared.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Ian returned from the office, holding both
photo’s in his hand. “Tis too bad we no longer post ‘wanted’ pictures anymore.
We could paper all of Dublin with ‘is ugly mug, aye?”

      
Declan took another cursory glance at
Orlov’s picture. He wasna bad lookin’ and it startled him how much he looked like
Colleen’s husband, Andre.

      
The thought of Orlov kissing Camryn set
his teeth on edge. He shook his head.

      
“Place fills up fast, aye?” Ian said
loudly.

      
 
Declan nodded as his eyes followed Tristan
from the bar stool to the door.

      
Good, the arse was leavin’.

*
     
*
     
*

      
After showering, Camryn turned her cell
phone on and was ecstatic that the battery was fully charged. She received
several messages from her parents and John, but the most intriguing ones came
from Declan.

      
She pulled his number out and pressed the
numbers on the phone.

      
After several rings her call went to
voicemail.

      
“Um, hi
Declan
.
It’s Camryn. I’m not ignoring you. My cell battery died and I didn’t get your
messages until now. Anyway, I’m in Ireland and I’m not sure where you live but
I’d love to see you again, if you’re still interested. I look forward to
hearing from you.”

      
She rang off and smacked her hand against
her head.
“Lame!
I sounded like an idiot!”

      
She tore the towel from around her and
browsed through her suitcase. As she reached for a pair of jeans she thought
she heard a gasp and quickly grabbed the towel from the floor.

      
Goose bumps covered her flesh.

      
“Nerves.
Just
nerves,” she told herself half-heartedly.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Eoghan couldna believe his eyes. He
wanted to take another look, but vowed he wouldna until the gel was dressed. He
was, if nothing else, chivalrous.

      
Then it hit him smack dab between the
eyes.

      
The gel Declan was mooning over was
his
Failend!

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camryn opted to wear jeans and a brown
tank top along with a cream colored cardigan.

      
She threw on a little make-up and
perfume, stuffed her phone into her pants pocket and grabbed money from her
purse.

      
As an afterthought she took her digital
camera and laptop bag.

      
While she ate she’d e-mail pictures to
her family of the sites she visited. And with any luck, Declan would call.

      
She all but skipped out the front door of
the B&B, her camera at the ready though it was dark outside. The
old-fashioned street lamps lit up the area so she took a few pictures of the
front of the B&B.

      
“Lois?” a male voice yelled from across
the street.

      
She turned and walked towards the Wild
Knight. She had to take a picture of the knight statue! She’d e-mail it to
Tamara.

      
A man stood outside the pub, smoking. He smiled
at her as she approached.

      
“’tis you!” he beamed.

      
She blushed, lifting a shoulder. “Um,
yeah, it’s me.”

      
He took a drag from his cigarette and
eyed her. “I’m crushed, Lois. You don’t remember me.”

      
Good
looking Irish man, short black hair, blue eyes, nice build. Damn, how could I
forget him?

      
He laughed. “We met at a pub earlier
today in Waterford?
Tristan?”

      
“Oh!
Of course, nice to
see again.
Do you live around here?” she asked.

      
“Aye, just down the road a piece.”

      
She watched him take another drag from
the cigarette and licked her lips. She hadn’t had one since she left Chicago.

      
“Would you like one?” he asked as he
produced a pack.

      
She nodded enthusiastically. He lit the
smoke for her. She inhaled and slowly exhaled.

      
“I see you’re staying at the Gordon’s.
Nice people. Are you in town for a while?”

      
“Maybe.
I mean,
ya never know where the road will lead you, right?”

      
His eyebrows gathered. She was a strange,
but beautiful woman. “Is your husband joining you tonight?”

      
She laughed. “Mickey? He’s not my husband
or boyfriend and no, he won’t be joining me tonight. I wore him out today.”

      
He laughed, “Excuse me?”

      
“I mean by making him walk all over
Waterford,” she stammered.

      
“Ah, I see. So, Lois, what is he to you?”

      
“He’s my driver, a tour-guide of sorts.”

      
“He hardly looks old eno’ to be out of
nappies,” Tristan laughed.

      
“He’s a nice kid, okay?”

      
“I meant no disrespect, Lois,” he
apologized. “Can I buy you a pint?”

      
“Sure!” she smiled.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Declan! You’re needed in the storage
room,” Kelly shouted from the bar.

      
Declan sighed and stood. “Watch the winda
for the gel,” he mumbled to Ian.

      
“Hey, who’s bloody runnin’ this show?”
Ian glowered as Declan walked away.

      
“What’s the problem, boyo?” he asked
Peter.

      
“I’ll need a hand gettin’ this box down.”

      
“Well ya wouldna if ya lifted a few
weights now and then. Build up those arms of yours,” Declan teased.

      
Peter silently mimicked him, causing
Declan to laugh.

      
Together they removed the box and as
Declan was following Peter out of the storage room he heard his name being
called.

      
He turned, spotting Eoghan. “Er, Peter,
I’m going to check on a few things in here.”

      
Declan turned. “Did you see her?” He
noticed Eoghan was paler than usual and snorted. “You look like you’ve seen a
ghost.”

      
“She’s Failend,” he muttered, toying with
the hilt of his sword.

      
“Who’s Failend?
Ya
silly gobshite.”

      
“I vow your gel
is
Failend and don’t call me a gobshite,” he grunted.

      
Declan sighed warily. “I know how you
feel, Eoghan.” He walked towards Eoghan and rested his hand where Eoghan’s
shoulder was, passing through his form. “I see Camryn everywhere I look, too.
It’s hard, aye?”

      
“No, you horse’s arse! Your gel looks
like Failend!” he roared.

      
Declan twisted his head and met Eoghan’s
eyes.

      
“I vow, ‘tis true,” Eoghan said softly.

      
“Dec!
The gel is
here!” Ian yelled from the doorway.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan made a start for the doorway and
muttered so only Eoghan could hear him. “We’ll discuss this later.”

      
He found Ian standing at the bar peering
at the dance floor. He grabbed Declan’s arm. “There! She’s dancing with
Mulgrew.”

      
His teeth clenched and the muscles in his
jaws flexed. He yelled at Peter for a shot of whiskey. Within moments Declan
felt the amber liquor sliding down the back of his throat.
 

      
His gaze drifted back to them. She was
laughing at something Mulgrew whispered in her ear. Declan slammed the glass on
the bar.

      
Sweat pooled into his hands. Damn, the
gel made him feel like an inexperienced school boy. He pushed his way through the
crowded dance floor and tapped Mulgrew on shoulder.
 
When he didn’t turn immediately, Declan
jabbed his forefinger into his shoulder.

      
“I’d like a dance with the gel,” he said
through gritted teeth.

      
“Aye, perhaps I’ll share her later, but
for now, she’s mine,” Mulgrew taunted.

      
“Maybe you didn’t hear me the first time.
Piss off!” Declan roared.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camryn blinked in surprise. Her pulse
quickened as she watched the expression on Declan’s face. She patted Tristan on
the chest. “Tristan, it’s okay. I’d like to dance with him. We can chat
afterwards, okay?”

      
Tristan smiled tightly. “I look forward
to it, Lois.” He gently kissed the back of her hand.

      
Declan wanted to choke the bloody
bastard, but maintained his composure. Twouldn’t
be
right
to throttle a patron.

      
He threw Mulgrew a warning glare as he
sulked away.

      
“That was rude of you.”

      
“T’was rude of you to not return me
calls,” he countered, taking her hand into his.

      
Her eyes narrowed. “I did call.”

      
He removed his hand from her back and
pulled his mobile from his pocket.

      
She watched him press a few buttons and
observed his expression as he listened to his messages. Afterwards he tucked
his mobile back into his pocket and placed his hand firmly on her lower back
and brought his lips to her ear.

      
“Aye, gel, I’m still interested.”

      
The way he spoke, along with the
smoldering look in his eyes would’ve undone her, if she was made of lesser
stuff.

      
Her eyes moved upward to his broad chest.
He had dimples on either side of his grin and eyes that reminded her of the
aquamarine ring she wore. Her hand slid from his shoulder onto his upper arm.
His muscles bunched in reaction. She tried to be inconspicuous as she felt the
firmness, but failed.

      
He released a low chuckle as his eyes
clung to hers, “
Is
it big eno’ for you, gel?”

      
Her cheeks turned crimson then as she
thought about his question further she drew away, stunned.
Mortified
even.

      
“How
dare
you!” she gasped.

      
He pulled her back, trying to avoid the
other dancer’s curious stares. “Easy gel, I meant me arm muscle!”

      
Camryn’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of
red and her body grew instantly hot. It was a side effect that occurred when
she embarrassed herself. And this was a doozy!

      
“I need air,” she managed to choke out.

      
“Me, too,” he agreed. He took her hand
and led her through the maze of people on the dance floor.

      
She stopped at the snug. Tristan quickly
measured the change in her.

      
“Lois? Are you okay?”

      
She blushed, again.
“Um,
yeah.
I need to get some air. It’s hot in here.”

      
Declan shot her an irresistibly
devastating grin. “Aye, you’ve that aright.”

      
“Tristan, can you look after my laptop
for a few minutes?” she asked, ignoring Declan’s comment.

      
“No need to bother Mulgrew. You can put
your things in me office,” Declan offered as he picked up her laptop bag and
slung the strap over his shoulder.