Wild Irish Heart (The Mystic Cove Series Book 1) (13 page)

Keelin awoke with a laugh as Ronan covered her face with happy kisses.

"Hi, buddy, I was going to come get you." She shaded her eyes as a shadow fell over her and she looked up at Flynn.

"Hey, thanks for bringing him back."

"No problem. I was somewhat concerned when I saw him racing over the hills with Teagan. Thanks for tying a note to his collar. How is the little boy?"

Flynn stretched out next to her, leaned against the cottage, and bumped shoulders with her. It was comfortable, sitting here in the sun with him. She wondered how comfortable he would be if he knew just what she was. She let out a half laugh. She didn't even know what she was. But, she was learning.

"Rough morning?" Flynn asked.

"Yes, I met my brother." Keelin decided to skip over the healing stuff. She was too raw from seeing the disease zip out of Finnegan and snap a branch off the tree. Her mind couldn't wrap itself around the how and why of it and that made her nervous. She liked things that added up neatly and made sense. A secret part of her thrilled to the knowledge that she held this power. Not that it went to her head, but it was tremendously rewarding to know she could really make a difference.

"How'd that go? Um, I've heard, well. Things." Flynn cleared his throat.

"Let me guess, you've heard that he hates me? Yeah, he told me."

"He did? Wow, he's grown even surlier than he used to be."

"It's okay. I get it. Kind of. We muddled our way through it. I'm going to dinner at his house this week and maybe we can get to know each other a little. I need to go meet my sister. She's avoided me."

"Ah, Aislinn. She's an artistic soul. Quiet. Her head is in the clouds most days but her art is beautiful. I think you'll find a better reception there."

Keelin nodded. She didn't know what to say. Here she was sitting in the sun with a man that made her want to do things that were probably illegal in this country and she spoke of family that she had never known she had. Not to mention the absurdity of her morning in flexing her healing powers. She needed to go inside and take a nap before she did something stupid. Like curl up in Flynn's lap and nuzzle into his neck.

Opting for safety, Keelin stretched and stood.

"Thank you for bringing Ronan back. I really need to go lie down for a small nap and check on Fiona."

Flynn smiled up at her disarmingly. His dimples flashed and he looked almost boyish.

"Don't forget about Saturday. I'm holding you to it." Flynn stood up and stepped close, invading her space. Keelin took an involuntary step backwards. Flynn brushed her cheek with his hand and whistled to Teagan. Together, they strode across the hill, looking like an Irish painting. The way he moved was very "Lord of the Manor."

Keelin watched him go with a small sigh. She'd think about Saturday another time. For now, she needed to rest and then wanted to head into the village and talk to Cait. She hoped Colin would bring her car back soon.

Chapter Fifteen

The sound of
pans clattering in the sink woke her and Keelin stretched. The light shone warm through the windows and she checked her phone. It was mid-afternoon, yet the early morning seemed like days ago. Keelin rose and followed the noises into the kitchen.

Fiona stood at the sink, carefully washing the healing dishes that she had used earlier that day. A cup of tea steamed at her side and color had returned to her cheeks. She turned and smiled at Keelin.

"I'm so proud of you. You did good by Finnegan." Fiona walked over to embrace Keelin. Keelin smiled down into the old woman's hair and let her hold her for a moment longer.

"Thank you. I truly had no idea what I was doing." Keelin grabbed a second cup and poured herself some black tea. She blew on the cup as she settled at the table.

"Oh, I think you know more than you realize. You did a wonderful job of redirecting the illness."

"What was it? All I could see was this black twisty shape. It seemed to be invading his system."

"They think that he got into some of the poison they use to kill the rodents in the stables. It is quick acting and the chemist in town had nothing to reverse it. He had already vomited profusely but I believe that it had moved past that and was attacking his nervous system." Fiona shook her head at how close Finn had been to death.

"How do you know? How do you know what is the right thing to do? I was so scared," Keelin admitted.

"It is scary. Terrifying. You never know if you can do it or not. You have to tell people that too. All you can say is that you will try to help. There is never a guarantee. On anything, really." Fiona lifted her shoulders and let them fall. "I wish that I could give you a more definitive answer."

"What happened when I directed it out of the house? How could it have hit the tree? How could it, um, I don't know, become physical like that? What if I had hit someone outside?"

Fiona sighed. She moved to the table and sat down, looking into Keelin's face.

"I wish that I could truly tell you the science behind it, yet there is nothing that supports this. Trust me, I've looked. The old ways will tell you that as long as you direct it towards an inanimate object and your intentions are to dissolve it – not to harm another – it should be okay. I've had a few humdingers when I've directed it outside of windows, but I've yet to hit another person with it. You can tell it where to go, you know. If you have little to no place to direct it – send it up the chimney and out. Things like that. You can read through one of my books later on and learn a bit more about it."

"You realize that this is like, bat-shit crazy, right? I just can't get over this," Keelin blurted out.

"Keelin O'Brien. Do not use such language." Fiona eyed her. "And yes, it is crazy. Crazy beautiful though. This is the best gift. And the worst. You'll walk a fine line with this your whole life. Not all will be able to accept you. Be careful with whom you share your secrets. There is a difference between "dotty old woman who mixes up some healing tinctures" and "lay your hands upon someone and heal them." Know that. Understand that. This is nothing to mess with and you can easily be persecuted if the wrong group of people decide to judge you."

Fiona's words worried her. And she was absolutely right. Keelin tried to imagine performing a healing in Boston. They would carry her off and check her into the next loony bin.

"You'll want to increase your readings. I've pulled several books for you. No lessons for a few days. I think you had one of your biggest this morning. You'll need some time to absorb it all." Fiona motioned to a stack of books by the chairs in the small alcove.

"Okay, thanks. I want to head into town and talk to Cait; I think she is mad at me."

"Well, you shouldn't have kissed Shane," Fiona said dryly as she put away her teacup.

Shocked, Keelin whirled and looked at Fiona. A blush crept up her face and stained her cheeks.

"How did you know that? You weren't even home!"

"Word travels, my dear. As I told you, and you would do well to remember."

"Well, for one – he kissed me thankyouverymuch. And two, I told him that I just wanted to be friends and he tried anyway." Keelin felt righteously pissed off.

"Just friends, but you were wearing that little sundress on the date?"

"Hey, that was a perfectly acceptable dress for a dinner out." Though it may have shown a little more cleavage than attire for "just friends," Keelin thought. "Irrespective, it's nothing. We're nothing. And that's that."

"Mmhmm. You were doing it to get at Flynn. How'd that work out for you?"

Keelin sighed. She slumped back in her seat and began braiding her hair.

"He got mad at me. Then we fought. Now he is taking me out on his boat on Saturday. Which I haven't even agreed to go on yet."

"Ah, just like a man. Demanding. I bet he'll be a fine lover."

"Grandma! Oh my God."

"What? I've got eyes in my head don't I? That is one tall drink of water." Fiona laughed at her and the age dropped away from her face a little. Keelin could see that she had once been very beautiful.

"Was Grandpa a hottie?" Keelin asked.

"Oh my, child, he was delicious. Strong, broad shouldered, with hair that curled a bit in the rain. He was shy too, which I loved. I could always make him blush. Yet, in the bedroom, he was the one who made me blush."

Keelin choked on her tea. Fiona thumped her on the back as she struggled to breathe.

"He was the love of my life. For me there will be no other. Though I do so love having you here as well as that little pup. I had forgotten how nice it was to have an animal in the house." Fiona smiled fondly down at Ronan.

"It is nice. I've always wanted a dog. I've always wanted a brother or sister, in fact. Today was weird meeting Colin. He told me that he hated me!" Keelin said.

"I know, Keelin, I'm sorry. Though your dad loved Colin's mom, I don't think he ever truly got over losing you and Margaret. Kids are perceptive. He was a good dad but Colin and Aislinn always felt like they never quite lived up to the image they had of you. You'll have to break through that if you plan to have a relationship with them."

"How is that even fair? I was the one that got the short end. I had no brothers or sisters, no dad, and never even had a puppy." Keelin pouted. She had no idea how to deal with familial relations and she felt like she'd been unfairly judged.

"Who said it was fair? That's life. You're the one with more powers. Use them. You can heal in other ways, you know," Fiona said, and raised her eyebrows at Keelin. 

It struck Keelin that she was right. She had taken "healing" to only be for physical ailments. She had never considered the potential for healing emotional rifts. Thinking back, she realized that she had always been the peacekeeper between her friends and the first phone call for those going through heartbreak. It was starting to make sense to her, this proclivity towards helping others.

"Did Colin bring the cars back? I need to go make things right with Cait."

"Yes, you do and yes, he did. Keys are in the front seat."

"Okay, I'll be back later. Do you need anything?"

Fiona waved her out.

"No, go on. Ronan and I are going to have a nice cup of tea and read a romance novel." Fiona laughed up at her and Keelin left for the village, shaking her head at this funny, lovely woman who had come into her life. Ireland was turning into a whole new adventure for her.

She parked close to Gallagher's pub and hoped that the early hour would offer up a relatively empty pub. She needed to set a few things straight with Cait.

Keelin entered the cheerful building and squinted into the warm light, letting her eyes adjust as she scanned the room. A few tables held some older men playing cards and talking sports. Cait stood behind the worn bar, drying glasses. Not much taller than the bar, her slender build seemed dwarfed by it. Catching sight of Keelin, she narrowed her eyes at her and turned to go into the kitchen.

"Cait, wait. Please."

Cait stopped, huffed out a breath, and turned back to the bar. She put on a polite smile.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

"Sure, I'll have a Bulmers." Keelin eased herself onto a stool at the empty bar and watched the slim brunette carefully pour her a cider. She wanted to make sure Cait didn't spit in it.

"Listen, Cait, I didn’t know. Honestly. I just got to town. I thought I may have seen interest the other night but neither of you said a word to me. And I'm not interested in Shane. He's a nice guy but he isn't for me." Keelin rushed the words out.

Cait huffed out a breath. Never one to hold a temper for long, she smiled at Keelin.

"Okay, thanks. I don't even know why I lose my head over that man. Not that he even pays me that much attention. And when he does it certainly isn't by taking me out to nice seafood dinners or kissing me in the car." Cait looked at Keelin sideways as she stocked glasses.

"Does everyone know about the kiss?" Keelin threw up her hands in exasperation.

"Liam told Sarah who told me." Cait laughed at her.

"I don't even know these people. This is just ridiculous." She took a big gulp of her drink and let the cider cool her throat.

"Oh, get used to it if you live here. Everyone is in everyone else's business. Why don't you like Shane?" Cait blurted out.

"Oh, I do. I really do. I think he gets a bad reputation or tries to portray himself as something that he isn't. But I think he's lonely, to be honest. Either way, there's no chemistry. At least not with him." Keelin stopped herself. She mentally kicked herself and reminded herself of the town's need to gossip.

"Ah, does a certain dark-haired neighbor with the best shoulders in the county have you a little more interested?" Cait said intuitively.

"No, of course not." Keelin looked down at her drink.

"Bullshit."

"Damn it. Okay, but you can't say anything. Swear to it, Cait. If we are to be friends – real girlfriends – you can't say a word. Promise." Keelin needed someone to talk to. Her grandma was a sweetheart but she didn’t think she could get down to the nitty gritty with her.

"Only if you promise never to kiss Shane again."

"Done."

"Okay, so tell me, is he as good in bed as he looks?" Cait leaned eagerly over the bar, crossing her arms on the bar rail.

"What! No, we haven't. I mean, not that." Keelin blushed. "We've messed around a little, but we haven't had sex."

"And why not? Are you blind? I want to lap that man up like a bucket of cream." Cait made yummy-sounding noises.

"Oh, he's gorgeous. And infuriating. He always sees me at my worst and I feel like such a klutz around him." Keelin filled Cait in on all the times that Flynn had come to her rescue. Cait's eyes went dreamy and she heaved a big sigh. She fluttered her hand at her breasts.

"Ah, a big strong man coming to my rescue all the time? Sign me up! Maybe that is my problem with Shane. I need to be more helpless around him." Cait sighed.

"It wasn't intentional. And it just pissed me off. You know, back in Boston, I am a relatively capable individual. This has just been a series of incidents since I've gotten here and that man has witnessed every last one," Keelin fumed into her cider.

"Doesn't sound like a bad problem to have. He's a good guy, you know. He does a lot for the community and he looks after your granny just right."

"He's taking me on his boat Saturday. If I go."

Cait slammed a glass on the bar and stared at her.

"His boat? Like his real boat? Not the fishing boat? He doesn't take anyone on that boat."

"What boat? I have no idea. He said his boat. I didn't get details as I was busy yelling at him at the time."

"Okay, you have to tell me this now." Cait leaned eagerly on the bar and propped her face in her hands.

Keelin told her about their argument and how furious she had been at Flynn for making demands on her yet not treating her like a lady or courting her. Cait whistled.

"Keelin, he doesn't take anyone on his boat. Calling it a boat is like calling a Porsche a sedan. It is the one real luxury he allows himself. He docks around the side of the cove and we rarely see it. You have to give me full details. Oh, I'm dying to hear what it looks like inside. You have to seduce him below deck so I can get details."

Keelin eyed her balefully.

"Oh, sure, I'll be sure to throw myself at him so you can hear what kind of finishings his boat has."

"Yes! Do it. I'd do it for you but he treats me like a sister."

"Um, excuse me, what about this Shane guy?"

"Oh, I know, I know. Flynn isn't for me. But I can dream, can't I? Yummy. What are you going to wear? Are you getting your hair done? Maybe not. You don’t want to look like you tried too hard."

Keelin stared at her as Cait chattered on. Nerves started ticking in her stomach. Was this a real date? What was she going to wear? Would he expect her to put out? It was all she could think of anyway. She groaned. She was toast.