The Summer Garden (9 page)

“You know Ma is going to do whatever she wants to do,” Jeff said quietly.

“I know,” Mick said grimly. “But I don’t have to like it.”

“Maybe not, but you do have to respect it.”

Mick sighed. “I know that, too.”

Jeff studied him, then asked, “Feeling better?”

Mick put aside his worries for now and forced a grin. “Busting your chops always improves my mood,” he told his brother.

Jeff laughed. “Glad to be of service.”

“I suppose I’ll wander around and check on the progress at Luke’s now,” he said, already heading for the door.

“No meddling,” Jeff called after him.

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you,” Mick responded, chuckling. Next to building great little communities, meddling was what he lived for. Thank goodness for a large family that gave him so many opportunities. If he was careful, it usually meant there was only one person at a time annoyed with him.

Jet lag had caught up with Moira. She’d left Luke’s to get out from underfoot and crossed the street to sit by the bay, but the warmth of the sun had her seriously close to nodding off right out there in public. Rather than giving in, she went back to the pub to let Luke know she intended to walk back to Nell’s cottage.

He frowned when she told him. “Of course you’re exhausted,” he said. “What was I thinking to keep you down here all day? I should have sent you home with Dillon and Gram.”

“I wasn’t ready then,” she said. “But just now across the street, I could barely keep my eyes open.”

“And by the time you’ve walked to Gram’s, you’ll be wide-awake, when what you really need is a nap.” He took her arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”

“You don’t have time to walk me there and then come back,” she protested.

“No, but I do have time to walk you around the corner to my place and see you settled in my bed.”

Despite her exhaustion, she felt a little frisson of excitement at his words. “Really?” she said suggestively. “Now?”

He laughed. “There’ll be none of that this afternoon, Moira. You need to rest. I need to work. This is a perfectly innocent offer.”

“More’s the pity,” she teased.

“You told me I was going to have to work to get you back into my bed again,” he reminded her. “Have you changed your mind already? If so, I suppose I could spare some time this afternoon if the right offer came along.”

There was an undeniable gleam in his eyes that told her he was more than eager to do just that. She decided that as attractive as the broad hint was, it was wise to pass on it for now.

“I think I’ll hold out for the time when there’s more opportunity for real romance,” she said. “But I won’t say no to a nap at your place if it’s close by.”

“Just around the corner,” he told her. “It’s above the real estate office. It was Susie’s apartment before she and Mack married. I took it over from her. It’s tiny and not very fancy, but you’ll be comfortable, I think.”

He led her into an alley behind the shops, then up the stairs to an apartment that overlooked the town green. It had an open living room, dining room and kitchen, and a single bedroom and bath, but it was just right for a bachelor, she thought. Some of the touches were feminine, a dried-flower arrangement here, a collection of photos there, along with some plump, fluffy pillows and a soft throw tossed on the sofa.

“Were these left behind by Susie? Or has someone helped you decorate?”

Luke held her gaze, clearly aware of what she was really asking. “Kristen was never here,” he told her. “She has her own place. We spent our time together there.”

“Your choice or hers?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“Mine, if you must know. I knew we were never meant to last, and I didn’t want this apartment crowded with memories of her wherever I looked. You’re the only woman I’ve had up here, Moira, and that’s the truth.”

She wanted desperately to believe him, to revel in being the first to share this space with him, even briefly. She walked to the window and looked out. There were mums strolling on the green with their children. A few kids were kicking around a soccer ball. It reminded her so much of home that she couldn’t help smiling. Luke, standing behind her, obviously noticed her reflection in the glass.

“What?” he asked. “Are you pleased by what I said or is it something else?”

“I was just thinking how our worlds aren’t all that different. Somehow I thought they would be, but looking out there at the green, I could just as easily be looking at the neighborhood park in my hometown outside of Dublin.”

“Then you already feel at home here?” he asked.

She turned to face him, so close she could almost feel his breath on her cheek, the heat from his body pulling her. “At this moment, I do,” she said. “But that’s because of you, Luke, not the scenery.”

It was the most daring admission she’d ever made to anyone, letting someone see into her heart.

He smiled at her words. “I’m glad about that.”

Filled with reluctance, she said, “You should probably go back to work. You’ve still got a lot to accomplish this afternoon.”

“Or I could stay here with you,” he offered yet again. “That appeals to me more.”

“And the work? I don’t want to be a distraction, Luke.”

“You were a distraction before you ever arrived,” he admitted.

She regarded him with delight. “How so?”

“I couldn’t get you out of my head,” he admitted with a shrug. “Maybe it will be easier now that you’re here. I won’t be wondering all the time where you are and who you’re with.”

“Surely you weren’t jealous?” she said, genuinely shocked.

“Not jealous exactly,” he corrected. “Just missing you and arguing with myself about it.”

She laughed. “I was doing the same thing. I’d vowed not to, but I couldn’t help it. It was pitiful, actually. Even my grandfather felt sorry for me. I think that’s why he invited me along.”

“Or perhaps, like Mick and Gram, he enjoys a bit of matchmaking.”

Moira thought about that, then laughed. “You know, I think he might. I was never around him much before, so I wouldn’t have seen that side of him, but I can see it now. Do you know he’s even been trying to stir up interest between Peter and my mum.”

“Kiera and Peter?” Luke asked, clearly startled. “No way!”

Moira nodded. “I was as shocked as you are, but I saw signs of his success with my own eyes the night before we left Dublin. I think Peter’s been on board for years, if Grandfather is to be believed. My mum is less eager. I doubt she’ll give in easily, but she may finally be more open to it.”

“I’d never in a million years have seen it,” Luke said. “I think the whole matchmaking gene skipped right over me. Even Susie and Mack, who were dancing around each other for years, could have kept at it for a dozen more before I caught on that they just needed a nudge to get over the hurdle.”

“Maybe you’ll be better at it now,” Moira suggested.

“Why?”

“Because of us,” she said. “It’s as if I needed the experience of falling wildly in love before I saw the possibilities all around me.”

“Wildly in love?” Luke said.

Though he didn’t sound terrified by her choice of words, Moira blushed furiously. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have put it that way.”

“Was it the truth?” he asked.

She nodded, her breath caught in her throat.

“Then it wasn’t a mistake to say it,” he said, pulling her into his arms and sealing his mouth over hers.

Instantly, Moira was wide-awake, her blood humming through her veins. When he pulled away and studied her with a questioning look, she swore under her breath. “I promised myself it was too soon for this,” she murmured.

He smiled. “Is it a promise you’re thinking of breaking?”

She nodded slowly. “It’s a promise I’ve already forgotten,” she told him as she wrapped her legs around his waist and let him take her into his bedroom.

As they fell into his bed together, she thought that this might not be the reason she’d come all the way across the ocean to Chesapeake Shores, but it was definitely at the top of the list of reasons that could keep her here.

8

L
uke had been wrong. Having Moira here was going to be an even bigger distraction than he could possibly have imagined. Now that she was back in his bed, responding to his every touch, he was remembering just what it felt like to make love to her. He didn’t want to stop—not this afternoon, not ever!

Though he knew it was an inappropriate guy thing to make comparisons, he couldn’t helping thinking how different it was to be with her than it had been with Kristen. Kristen might have been more knowledgeable, more cleverly inventive and less inhibited, but there was something so practiced about it all.

With Moira each time felt like an adventure of new discoveries. She was delighted with every sensation he aroused, curious about what effect she might have on him with this touch or that. She could drive him over the edge with her innocent explorations. He knew he wasn’t her first, and yet he felt as if he were.

Still trying to catch his breath, he fell back on the bed, pulling her on top of him. “Do you have any idea how amazing you are?” he asked when he could finally speak.

“Me?” she asked, looking genuinely surprised and pleased.

“Yes, you. I don’t know what it is, but you completely take my breath away.”

She beamed at his compliment. “Then isn’t it lovely that you do the same for me? I never expected to feel like this about anyone, Luke. Never.” Her expression turned serious. “I think it’s because I was far too successful at keeping most people at arm’s length with that nasty temper of mine.”

He smiled at the understatement. She’d been a tyrant, no question about it. “I can see how that might happen,” he said. “It’s a wonder I looked beyond it myself.”

“It’s what drew you to me,” she corrected. “You’d never had such a challenge before. You said so yourself.” A cloud passed over her face. “Am I too easy now, do you suppose?”

“Absolutely not,” he said, drawing her face down so he could kiss her thoroughly. “I wish I could stay right here with you,” he murmured with regret.

“But you have work to do and miles to go before you sleep,” she said.

He regarded her with surprise. “Robert Frost?”

She laughed at his amazement. “I’m not entirely uneducated, you know.”

“Of course not. I just wasn’t sure your Irish schools would be teaching American poets.”

“Have you studied Shakespeare?” she inquired tartly.

“To my everlasting regret, yes.”

She smiled. “Well, there you go. Literature travels, Luke.”

“For better or worse,” he mumbled as he climbed from the bed.

“Oh, I don’t know. Another look at
The Taming of the Shrew
might serve you well,” she teased. “Some say it could have been written about me.”

He laughed, but then thought he detected a hint of worry beneath the taunting words. He went back to the bed. “You won’t be too much for me, Moira, mood swings and all.”

She smiled slowly. “Good to know, since turning into a saint overnight could be beyond me.”

He showered and dressed, then took a lingering look at her, still tangled in his sheets, several delectable curves bare. “Will you be here when I get back?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. “I’ll need to get back to your grandmother’s. I don’t want to be rude by staying out all night on my second night here.”

“I could call and let her know you have plans,” he suggested. “That you’re with me. Believe me, she’ll understand.” He was struck by a thought. “Or is it Dillon you’re worried about?”

“No, I imagine he’d understand as well. It’s me, to be honest. It’s different being with you here, Luke.”

He frowned at that. “How so?”

“More serious, somehow. In Ireland, we were mostly on neutral turf as we traveled. This is your world. I’m scared to discover if I’ll truly fit in or if you’ll even want me to, especially now.”

“Why now?”

“Because there are jobs waiting for me back home, photography assignments that could actually lead to a real career. It’s my first chance to be successful at something entirely on my own.” She held his gaze. “You of all people know how much that matters, how much dedication is required.”

Despite his own sense that the timing for them was off, he was taken aback by her unexpected eagerness to get home to Dublin. And yet how could he not understand the draw of a newly discovered passion?

He sat beside her on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know what the future holds for us, Moira. I do know you’re important to me.” He studied her. “Can that be enough for now? Can we figure this out as we go? What I do know is that when the time comes for you to go—as you planned—I know I’ll regret it.”

“But will you want me to stay?”

“Can you honestly tell me you’d want to?” he replied. “Weren’t you the one just saying how much awaits you back home?”

His attempt to turn the tables on her clearly backfired, because she turned away and began gathering her clothes.

She finally turned to face him. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want you to fight to keep me here,” she said in a contrary tone.

He might have laughed, but it was obvious she couldn’t see the humor in the standoff. She was staring hard at him, her frustration plain.

“It’s easy enough to say how much you care when you’ve just climbed from this bed,” she grumbled. “But even I know it doesn’t guarantee a future. We obviously need time to figure things out.”

“We only have a month,” he said, his own frustration mounting. “Let’s not waste it being at odds over things we can’t control.”

“We had only a few weeks in Ireland,” she reminded him. “A month seems like an eternity stretching out ahead of us.”

“Not to me,” he admitted. Though he wasn’t yet ready to admit it to her or even to himself, he was beginning to wonder if even forever might not be enough. He also knew he needed to figure it out, because right at this moment, his mixed signals could easily drive her straight back to that fledgling career awaiting her in Dublin. After that, it could well be too late.

When he got back to the pub, Luke found both his brother and his uncle there waiting for him, and looking unhappy.

“Where the devil have you been?” Matthew demanded. “I thought this was meant to be a rush job, but if you can’t even stick around, why should Mick’s crew be putting in overtime?”

Luke winced. “Was there a problem? Everything seemed to be under control when I left. It’s not as if I’m doing the construction myself or even know that much about it. The two of you are in charge of that.”

“You still should have been here,” Matthew grumbled stubbornly.

Luke turned to his uncle. “I suppose you share my brother’s opinion that I’ve been lax by taking a couple of hours off.”

Mick chuckled. “Actually, I’m more curious about what was so important that it took you away from here. I’m guessing it was Moira.”

Matthew looked startled for a moment, then stared hard at Luke. “Was that it? Did you go off with impossible Moira?”

“Stop calling her that!” Luke told him heatedly.

“How many times have you called her that very thing yourself?” Matthew asked.

“It’s not the same when I say it,” Luke said, even though he knew he probably sounded ridiculous. What else could he add—that he said it with love? Not likely. “Now, has there been a crisis here while I was gone or not?”

“Oh, don’t mind your brother,” Mick said. “Now that he’s happily married to Laila, he’s forgotten what it’s like to court a woman. And, as I learned way too late, it doesn’t hurt to keep your priorities in order and pay proper attention to someone you care about.”

Luke gave his brother a closer look. “Have you forgotten what it’s like to be in love so soon, Matthew, or is there trouble in paradise?” he speculated. “Is that it? Are you and Laila fighting over something? Shouldn’t you still be in the honeymoon phase?”

“Even in the honeymoon phase, people have things to work out,” Matthew said tightly. “And I do not intend to discuss my relationship with my wife with the two of you.”

Luke exchanged a look with his uncle, but wisely kept silent.

It was Mick whose teasing quickly turned to visible concern. “If not us, who else should you turn to? We love both of you.”

“Not talking about this,” Matthew said. “I just came by to see if the bar had been delivered and if it fit into the snug space we’d left for it. I thought that was a priority.”

Stunned by the reminder, Luke whirled around and looked behind him. How the devil could he have forgotten about the bar being delivered? Well, he knew how: Moira. He looked at the huge mahogany bar with its shiny brass trim, polished wood and detailed carving and couldn’t seem to stop the smile that spread across his face.

“My God, it’s perfect!” he murmured. “Suddenly I have a genuine Irish pub.”

“You do, indeed,” Mick said, his approval plain.

“And it’s the perfect size,” Luke added. “See, Matthew, all your worrying was for nothing.”

“Not for nothing,” Matthew retorted. “I had to shave off the doorjamb to the office and the molding on the floor to slide it in there. Don’t ever get any ideas about moving it.”

“Why would I? It’s in the perfect spot.” Luke moved closer to inspect it. “And not a mark on it. It’s none the worse for the trip. Even the mirror survived without the faintest crack. What do you really think, Matthew? Put aside your annoyance with me and tell the truth.”

“It looks as if it’s always been meant to be there,” his brother admitted grudgingly. “Mick’s right. It’s turned it into a genuine pub. Whatever else you do in here will only complement that.”

Luke could hardly wait to show it off. It made him even more anxious for opening night. He faced his uncle. “Are we on schedule?”

“The electrician will be here tomorrow. The final touches on the molding and painting will be done by the weekend, and then it’ll be all yours to finish up.”

“That quickly?” Luke asked, barely able to contain his excitement…and his nerves.

“We’ve a deadline to meet, don’t we?” Mick said. “Word’s already out that you’re opening to the public three weeks from Friday. It’s a shame we didn’t start all this in time for a St. Patrick’s Day launch, but having it ready before Memorial Day weekend will do. It’ll get a buzz going among the locals before all the summer people and tourists descend. Have you thought of creating discount coupons for the guests at Jess’s inn? She mentioned the idea to me earlier today.”

“A great idea,” Luke enthused. “I’ll see if Trace can design something. He was asking if I wanted him to do ads for me for Mack’s paper, so he can work on those at the same time.”

“And having the whole family involved is another smart plan,” Mick said approvingly. “O’Briens are never happier than when we have a chance to help out one of our own.”

“To say nothing of the fact that even if we’re the only ones to show up for the private grand opening for family and community leaders on that Thursday night, you’ll have quite a mob,” Matthew said.

The offhand comment set off panic. “Why would you be the only ones to show up? What did you mean by that?”

His brother clapped him on the back. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist. It was just a comment to serve you right after you snuck out of here in the middle of the day.”

“Well, it wasn’t funny,” Luke said. “I’m nervous enough about this as it is.” So much depended on the pub’s success, not just the self-respect he craved, but the approval of his family, which sometimes mattered even more.

“Chalk it up to my overall mood,” Matthew said. He sighed. “Now I’d better head on home and face the music.”

“What music would that be?” Mick inquired, always quick to seize on an opening.

Matthew actually laughed at the not-unexpected question. “Do you never tire of meddling?”

“Not once,” Mick said without apology. “In this family, it’s called caring.”

“Trust me, more of us call it annoying,” Matthew said, and walked out before the discussion could be prolonged.

Luke glanced at his uncle and saw that there was genuine concern on Mick’s face.

“Whatever it is, he and Laila will work it out,” Luke told Mick. “Let it be.”

Mick sighed. “I suppose you’re right. He warned me away emphatically enough. Even I can take a hint.” He gave Luke’s shoulder a squeeze. “Stop worrying. You’re going to have a hit with this place. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Uncle Mick.”

But as his uncle left, Luke couldn’t help wishing that those words had come from his father.

Moira straightened up Luke’s bed and the apartment before heading back to Nell’s cottage after her nap. The walk revived her, but she knew it was being with Luke that had put the color in her cheeks and the spring in her step. Since she wasn’t entirely sure how she herself felt about the afternoon’s events, she hoped neither Nell nor her grandfather were good at seeing through the sedate demeanor she intended to project.

“And what have you been doing this afternoon?” Nell inquired when she walked into the kitchen.

Moira immediately felt the quick rise of heat to her face and knew Nell had seen it as well, since she promptly chuckled.