The Mighty Quinns: Riley (16 page)

 

R
ILEY CURSED AGAIN
, this time out loud. She was absolutely right. He was acting like a horse's arse, but he couldn't seem to help himself. Just the thought of her getting on a plane and going back to the States was enough to make him crazy with frustration.

No doubt, she'd go back to the cottage and pout for a bit, then he'd come crawling back with an apology for
being a stupid prick. And they'd tumble into bed and everything would be set right again. But he didn't want to waste even that much time staying angry.

He ran after her and caught up in a matter of seconds. “All right. I'm sorry. I can't help that I want to spend every waking minute with you as well as all the minutes that we're asleep. And I know you were just being nice to Danny and I shouldn't fault you for that.”

“He happens to be a very nice guy. Unlike you.”

“I am a nice guy under ordinary circumstances,” he said. “But this isn't really something I'm accustomed to, so you'll have to give me a break.”

“Was there an apology in there?” Nan asked. “Because I didn't hear it.”

“I'm sorry,” he said, taking her hand and drawing it to his lips. “Very sorry. Will you forgive me?”

She sent him a sideways glance, then rolled her eyes. “There was nothing to be jealous of,” she said. “You were so nasty to your brother. You should treat him better. And appreciate that you even have a brother. I don't have any siblings, but if I did, I would love them every day.”

“You're right,” Riley said. “And I promise to apologize to Danny when I see him the next time. Now, would you like me to beg for your forgiveness or can I just kiss you now and forget any of this happened.”

“You can kiss me later,” she said. “I want to make myself some lunch and then start packing.”

They walked together out of town, both of them silent, Riley waiting for her to smile at him. “So, what did you and Danny talk about?”

Nan shrugged. “Mostly his work,” she said. “He was walking his dogs and passed by the cemetery. I was there, looking at the gravestones. I found my father's. Danny translated the inscription for me. It said, ‘until we meet again.'” She met his gaze. “Isn't that a nice sentiment. It sounds so hopeful.”

“It's sad,” he said. “And it doesn't always happen. Meeting again. Sometimes people part and that's the end of it. Look at your mother and Tiernan.”

“I'd like to think they have met again. And maybe, their spirits are now able to continue on with what they began all those years ago.”

“Or maybe we're the ones who are doing that for them. Did you ever think of that? Maybe it's us who shouldn't be saying those words.”

“I'm hungry,” she said, deftly changing the subject.

He'd been pushing her at every opportunity, trying to force her to see how difficult it would be to leave. But Nan was stubbornly sticking to her plans, unable to commit to a life in Ireland with him.

Riley pointed to the small bakery just down the street. “They make the best sausage rolls. I'll buy you lunch.”

They walked inside the bakery and, in addition to the sausage rolls, Riley purchased a small apple tart to share and two Cokes. They walked back outside and sat down at one of the tables in front of the bakery.

“You look very pretty this morning,” he said, handing her the Coke.

“Oh, and flattery won't get you anywhere,” she said.

“What will get me somewhere?” he inquired.

She took a bite of the sausage roll and considered his question. “Are you passionate about your job?”

“I don't really have a job,” he said.

“No, I mean your music. You're a singer. That's how you make money, right?”

“Not a lot of money, but, yes, I suppose that's right.”

“Could you ever imagine yourself doing something else. Other than singing?”

“Sure. I expect I won't be flogging my guts out in the pubs until I'm eighty. I'll have to quit sooner or later.”

“No, I don't think you understand what I'm saying.” Nan frowned as she searched for a way to ask her question. He gave her hand a squeeze, wondering what had so consumed her thoughts. “Are you passionate about your singing? Would you be less of a person if you didn't do it?”

He thought about it for a long moment. In truth, he'd been thinking about that very question ever since Nan arrived. Could he walk away from performing and not miss it at all? Could he be happy working at something else merely to provide a decent living for a wife and family? Or were Riley the singer and Riley the man inseparable?

“I think I'm always going to have to perform,” he said, the truth of his feelings bubbling to the surface. “I like how it makes me feel. It might not always bring financial rewards, but who knows. With the new CD, something might change. What about you?”

“I'm good at what I do, and I like that. People think I do a good job and I'm a valuable employee. But I'm beginning to think that maybe I've just been so
comfortable at the library I never considered doing anything else.”

Riley was stunned by her confession. It was the first indication she'd given that she might be open to a change in her life. If she wasn't that invested in her career, then maybe she'd consider leaving it behind.

Riley fought the urge to push the issue. He wasn't going to spend her last day in Ireland trying to convince her to stay. He was going to enjoy her company and make love to her one last time and then he was going to let her go.

He knew exactly how he felt, but Riley was still unsure about Nan's feelings. Every instinct told him there was a deep affection between them, but did she consider it the beginning of love or the end of an infatuation? He wanted to ask her, but at the same time, he was afraid of her answer.

“So, what's the plan for your last day in Ireland?”

“I don't know,” Nan said. “There are so many things left on my list. But I think I've had enough of sightseeing. I think I want to find a pretty spot and just sit.”

“Would you mind if I sat with you?” Riley asked.

“I think that would be nice. Why don't you take me to the prettiest spot around Ballykirk.”

“I know the exact spot,” Riley said. “But we have to stop at the cottage first and get a few things. A blanket. Something to eat and drink. And sturdy shoes for you.”

“Where are we going?” she asked.

Riley wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “To one of my secret places. No one else knows about it.”

“Really?”

“No,” he said. “My brothers know about it, and probably a lot of other people. But I like to pretend that it is all mine.”

They hiked back up to the cottage and Riley gathered up the makings of a picnic, then threw a blanket over his shoulder. Nan put on a pair of trainers and then waited for him at the front door.

“I'm excited,” she said.

“Don't get too excited. I may have oversold this place.” He picked up her straw hat from the table and set it on top of her head. “Put on some jeans and you might need a heavier cardie.”

She returned from the bedroom with her jacket and tied the arms around her waist. “Am I ready now?”

He grinned, the dropped a kiss on her lips. “Before we leave, I need to swear you to an oath of secrecy. You are venturing into a place that is known to only the Quinns—me, my brother Kellan and my brother Danny. And if they knew I was showing you this, they'd probably be forced to do something rash.”

She seemed amused by his teasing. Nan raised her hand. “I swear, I will reveal nothing of what I see today.”

“Good. Then we're ready to go.”

 

T
HE HIKE DOWN
the rocky cliff to the sea was frightening at times, but Riley moved slowly, pointing out the places that she needed to navigate through the boulders. Nan had wondered at the possibility of reaching the water when they first stood on the top edge, but now,
just ten feet from the coastline, she glanced back up to see how far they'd come.

Riley jumped down onto the sand, then held his hand out to her. “We're here,” he said.

He clasped her waist and set her on her feet. They were inside a small cove on the bay, somewhere beyond Ballykirk harbor. It was a perfectly private spot, invisible from the top of the cliff and from the surrounding area. The only way to be seen was from a boat in the bay.

Nan smiled. The water from the bay lapped against the narrow strip of sand. “It's a beach,” she said. “Can we swim?”

“The water is a bit chilly this time of year, but yes, my brothers and I used to swim here all the time.” He laid the blanket out on the sand, then kicked off his shoes. “We used to call it Smuggler's Cove. There's a cave over there in the cliff side and we thought it was the perfect place for smugglers to hide.”

“It's beautiful,” she said.

“We have to make sure we leave by three,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because the tide will come into the bay and this beach will be gone.” He patted the blanket beside him. “Come here. I have an overwhelming need to kiss you.”

Nan sat down next to him and he dragged her on top of him, his fingers furrowing through her hair. “Ten days isn't long enough,” he murmured. “I'm just getting used to having you here and now you have to go away.”

Nan looked down into his eyes. She didn't want to
think about tomorrow. Pressing her finger over his lips, she shook her head. “We're here now. And I'm not going anywhere, at least not until the tide comes in.”

She straddled his hips, then slipped out of her sweater. Her shirt followed, leaving her only in her bra. Riley's gaze raked her body as he cupped her breast in his palm. Nan closed her eyes and tipped her face up to the sun. “This is exactly how I wanted to spend my last day here.”

She looked so beautiful, Riley mused. A memory flickered in his mind and searched for it. “Have you ever had a sexual fantasy?” Riley asked.

Nan glanced down at him, a tiny frown furrowing her brow. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I'm in the early stage of one right now,” he replied. Riley chuckled softly. “When I was a teenager, I'd come down here and I'd think about what I'd do if I found a selkie on the beach. I'd try to picture what she'd look like and you're what I used to picture.”

“No,” she murmured.

“Yes,” he said. “I used to always like women with long hair, but my selkie always had short dark hair. Just like yours.”

“Maybe you knew I'd come someday. Maybe we've lived a past life together. You were a fisherman and I was a selkie.”

“Take off your clothes,” he said. “I want to remember more.”

Nan slowly stood beside him, a smile playing at her lips. She skimmed her jeans down over her hips and
kicked off her shoes, then waited for a long moment in just her underwear.

“What did you do when you thought about your selkie?” she asked.

“What most teenage boys do when they think about naked women,” he said.

“Is this why you brought me here?”

Riley shook his head. “I didn't remember until just now. I brought you here because it's one of my favorite places.”

“I can see why,” she murmured, reaching for the hook on her bra. She tossed it aside, then shimmied out of her panties. “Better now?”

He groaned softly. “It's not a fantasy anymore. It's real.”

She rubbed her arms and shivered. “And was it warmer in your fantasy?” Her heart beat a little quicker at the look in his eyes, the barely controlled need sending a shiver through her. “What did you imagine?”

Riley sat up, bracing his hands behind him. “You were standing at the water's edge. That's where I found you, staring out at the sea.”

Nan turned and walked across the narrow strip of sand to the water. She dipped a toe in, then winced. It wasn't warm enough to swim, so she waited. A moment later, she heard Riley behind her. He wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and his hand smoothed down her belly. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the touch, moaning as he found the spot between her legs.

Though it was his fantasy, Nan couldn't help but get caught up in it. She tried to imagine what he was think
ing, what he might have done to the wild creature he caught.

Nan slowly turned to face him. He stared down into her eyes, then kissed her, his tongue delving deep. Riley continued to explore her body with his hands as if he'd never touched her before. His touch was slow and sometimes hesitant, and then suddenly sure and determined.

When he'd had enough of kissing, he took her hand and pulled her down into the sand. She thought he might strip off his own clothes, but this fantasy must not have gone that far. Instead he gently pushed her back onto the blanket and began to trail kisses from her collarbone to her breasts.

Nan's breath caught in her throat as his lips closed over her nipple. Riley sucked gently, teasing until her nipple grew hard. Then he moved to the other and did the same, her fingers tangling in his hair as his lips teased.

When he reached down between her legs, her breath caught in her throat. When he stopped, she opened her eyes and found him staring at her, a wry smile on his lips.

“What?” she whispered.

“This was always where it ended,” he said.

“You just stopped?”

He shook his head. “No, I finished. I never got any further than this before I finished.”

Nan giggled. “Well, you've gotten much better at things over the years, haven't you?”

“I have. But I'm not sure I want to ruin the old fantasy.”

“Then let me help you,” Nan said. She reached down to unbutton his jeans and then slipped her hand inside his boxers. He was hard and ready and she freed him to her touch. “Close your eyes,” she whispered.