Wild Irish Soul (15 page)

Baird looked deeply offended. "Of course we are in a relationship. I don't cheat and I don't lie. I am going to be honest with people if they ask if I'm dating you."

Warmth spread through Aislinn's chest and she toasted Baird with her grilled cheese in her hand.

"Dating it is. I like the sound of that," Aislinn agreed and smiled across at him, her mouth full of sandwich and heart full of love.

"Now, get out," Aislinn said and pointed towards the door. Baird's mouth dropped open.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Shaking her head, Aislinn put her empty plate down on the table in front of the couch. "I'm sorry, but I have to keep working."

"Through the night?" Baird asked in disbelief.

Shrugging her shoulders, Aislinn nodded. "I have to finish this grand piece. And, I have several more paintings to go. Not only do they need to be finished, but they have to dry, be framed, and get packed up before the end of the week."

Leaning back, Baird crossed his arms behind his neck.

"Can't I watch you paint?"

"You most certainly cannot," Aislinn replied immediately.

"Ah, artistic temperament, I see." Baird's lips quirked at her.

Aislinn raised her nose at him. "Something like that."

"I'll go, on one, no, two conditions."

"What's that?"

"Come over here for a kiss," Baird said.

Aislinn put her hands on her hips and waited. "And the other?"

"Come here and find out."

Aislinn giggled at him and crawled across the couch, landing on his chest hard enough to make him go "ooof." She buried her nose in his neck, inhaling the clean scent of him and all but arched her back when his arms came around her to hold her tight to him. Looking up, she raised her head enough to nip at his bottom lip.

"The second condition?"

"That wasn't much of a kiss," Baird said.

Aislinn arched back and, supporting herself on his shoulders, she leaned in and kissed him, pouring all of her love and angst into it, until their lips were hot and they both gasped for breath.

"The second?" Aislinn asked again.

"I want to come to your show. As your date," Baird asked.

Aislinn smiled against his mouth.

"I'd like that."

Chapter Thirty-Four

The days before
her show passed in a blur of painting, making love with Baird and then unceremoniously kicking him out afterwards, and a detailed level of organization skills that she wasn't used to employing.

She couldn't have been happier.

Aislinn hummed as she cut driftwood pieces with a small power saw in her back courtyard. Today she was framing up her main showpiece. Whistling, she lined the lengths of driftwood to her measurements on the ground. Standing above them, she examined each piece with a critical eye. Turning one another direction and removing another and replacing it with a knottier piece, she finally nodded her approval. With small wood nails, she deftly nailed each of the corners together, allowing the natural ends to stick out in uneven shapes. After she affixed the driftwood to the stretched canvas frames, she would cover the nail marks with corded leather, wrapping the cord around the ends and knotting it.

Aislinn hefted the first frame over her head and marched inside, up to her apartment. No one had seen these three paintings yet. Well, aside from Baird, she thought. Even then, she'd covered the finished product after the first night that he had come to see her.

That night.

Aislinn flashed back to their raw, yet achingly beautiful sex on the floor in front of her paintings. She had never wanted someone to stay as much as she had wanted him to go before. Her hands had been itching to complete the painting and it had taken all of her willpower to sit and eat with him.

When he'd gone, finally, Aislinn had run upstairs and dove for her paints. She'd stood in front of the middle canvas, the one depicting the cove, and had closed her eyes for a moment. She could see the painting in her mind's eye, pulsing with color and emotion. Opening her eyes, she'd narrowed in on the waters of the cove and had begun to paint.

Aislinn smiled now as she held the frame to the middle painting. It was perfect. Her brow broke out in a sweat and her heart raced as she stepped back from the three paintings. What does one do when confronted with what might possibly be their best work? She tried to calm her breath as she allowed her love for these panels to flow through her. Selling them just might break her heart.

"Ash?" Morgan called to her from downstairs.

"Coming!" Aislinn called, not wanting Morgan to come up and see her paintings. She laughed a little at herself as she descended the stairs. In a matter of days, the entire city of Dublin could see her work if they so chose.

Aislinn bounced into her store, running on energy and love.

"Fiona!"

Aislinn beamed as the elder woman stood in front of one of her paintings, shaking her head. Today Fiona was outfitted in a light woven dress that reached to her ankles and swirled in a bright fuchsia and maroon pattern. Her hair was tied back with twine and bracelets with varying stones crowded her wrists. They jangled as she held her arms up for a hug from Aislinn. Aislinn held on a little longer than usual. Hugging Fiona was like coming home, and it calmed her jittery nerves.

She caught Morgan nervously hanging around the edge of the room and motioned for the girl to come over.

"Morgan, this is the great Fiona that I've told you about. Fiona, Morgan. I've been meaning to bring her to you."

"Is that so?" Fiona asked, her bright eyes crinkling at the corners as she turned to measure Morgan.

Morgan smiled shyly and held out her hand to Fiona, who took it and held it between both her hands. She nodded briskly at Morgan.

"You'll come to see me, then."

"Um, I will?" Morgan asked, uncertain of what Fiona was asking.

"Well? Don't you want to learn more about your power? Or powers, should I say?"

Aislinn cracked a smile as Morgan's mouth dropped open. People were never prepared for Fiona's honesty.  But those with extra abilities? They were used to being the ones to surprise others. Rarely did someone surprise them with their own knowledge and power.

"Um, yeah, I guess. I mean, I don't know what there is to learn really…" Morgan's hands fluttered in front of her nervously.

Fiona smiled brightly at her and reached up to pat Morgan on the arm.

"That's the point of learning, isn't it? You don't know what more you can do until you try."

Aislinn laughed at Fiona and bent to kiss her cheek.

"Inarguable wisdom as usual."

"I heard your show is this week. I can't believe that you didn't invite me," Fiona said, censure ringing through her tone as she swept through the store.

"I didn't know you would want to come!" Aislinn said, honestly surprised.

Fiona turned her steely gaze on Aislinn.

"And why wouldn't I come to support one of my own?"

Warmth flooded Aislinn and she was surprised to feel a little lump form in her throat. She dug her toe into the ground, like a sheepish teenager being scolded.

"I don't know. It's a fair way to travel, I guess."

"I'm taking the train. I've already booked my hotel," Fiona said over her shoulder and turned to look at the canvases lining the walls.

"This one is one of my favorites," Morgan whispered and pointed to one of Aislinn's ocean of fury paintings. Fiona studied it for a while before turning to look at Aislinn.

"You've improved. Considerably. So, you're in love then?"

Aislinn swore that she could feel her cheeks heat.

"Nosy old woman, aren't you?"

Fiona broke into laughter that shook her thin shoulders before sweeping around the room to look at the rest of her work.

"Your show is going to be a smashing success," Fiona decided, circling back to Aislinn.

"Thank you, Fiona," Aislinn whispered, surprised to find that she had wanted Fiona's approval. Maybe even needed it.

"Okay, put me to work then," Fiona declared and turned to Morgan with her eyebrow raised. The girl sprang into action, showing Fiona where they were in the packaging and framing process.

"I'll wrap the finished products and document the list. You finish the frames," Fiona decided.

"Thanks, Fiona," Aislinn said with a smile and bent to grab a roll of the thick paper that would protect her three canvases upstairs. "I've got to finish a project upstairs. I'll be down in a bit."

Fiona turned and Aislinn swore that the old woman was going to insist on coming upstairs to look at her paintings. Instead, she only nodded at Aislinn and began to pepper Morgan with questions. Smiling, Aislinn raced upstairs and began work on the final driftwood frames for her panels.

An hour later, she had just finished wrapping the leather cord around the corners of the frames and pulling the protective sheeting over the large panels when she heard voices downstairs. She'd closed the shop for the rest of the week as there was no way she'd have the time or patience to deal with customers. Hearing Keelin's voice, she paused with her wrapping.

"Aislinn! We're coming up!"

Aislinn swung around to check that her paintings were totally covered and then shook her head at herself. If she was going to be so secretive about her work then why was she even showing them? Maybe she should just keep them for herself. A permanent exhibition of her most inspired work, she mused.

Keelin and Cait all but bounced into the room on a rush of enthusiasm and energy.

"We can't wait for your show!" Keelin crowed, her arms full of shopping bags. Cait followed at a slightly more sedate pace, her arms also full of bags.

"What's all this?" Aislinn asked, gesturing to the bags.

"Outfits!" Keelin sang out.

The blood all but drained from her face.

She'd forgotten to pick an outfit for her show. What had she been thinking? Aislinn rushed over and grabbed Cait, kissing her cheeks enthusiastically before grabbing Keelin and pulling her into an awkward three-person hug.

"I'd forgotten to pick an outfit!" Aislinn exclaimed.

"We figured as much. To the rescue we have come," Cait said with a smile and moved to plop down on the couch. She waved her hand at the large paintings in the corner. "For the show?"

"Yes, my main piece. Nobody's seen it. Well…" Aislinn trailed off.

Cait leaned forward and pounced.

"You and Baird did the dirty! Right here!"

Keelin squealed and grabbed Aislinn's arm, pulling her, shopping bags and all, to the couch. "Tell us everything."

Aislinn glared over at Cait. "Why don't you just ask Cait?"

Cait smiled sweetly at Aislinn. "I'm pregnant. You can't be mad at me. Hormones make me do impulsive things. Like read your mind and find out that you and Dr. Yum had some fun right here on the floor. And that he loves you."

Keelin gasped. "Oh, he loves you! Do you love him? What happened?"

Aislinn glared at Cait. "Why don't you just tell her, Cait?"

Cait held up her hands in defeat. "I don't know everything, not for lack of trying. I could read it in his mind the other night when he came to the pub."

Interested, Aislinn leaned back. "When was this?"

"The night he and Patrick had a pint."

Aislinn raised her eyebrows at Cait. "Then? You're sure? We had a huge fight that night."

Cait shrugged her shoulders. "The worst fights that I've had have been with the man that I love."

Keelin nodded solemnly. "It's true. Myself as well."

"Well, long story short, he's decided to accept my abilities though he still seeks answers about them, and came over to tell me he loves me."

Keelin leaned back and looked at her. "What do you mean he still seeks answers?"

"Dr. Yum is a skeptic, Keelin," Cait said.

"Oh, so, what does that mean for you?" Keelin said, a worried line creasing her brow.

"It means that I just have to accept that he has the insatiable need for answers and once he finds out that there is no science behind our extra abilities, he'll have to calm down." Aislinn shrugged her shoulders as Keelin turned a steely gaze on Cait. A look passed between the two and Aislinn held up her hand to stop them.

"Look. We're dating. Exclusively. That's it."

"Have you told him that you love him?" Cait asked.

"Of course…" Aislinn stopped. Had she? "Um, actually, I don't think that I have."

"Good. It gives you leverage." Cait nodded her approval and Keelin frowned at her.

"Don't you think that you should tell him?"

"I'm sure that he knows. But I will. I can't believe that I didn't say it to him," Aislinn murmured.

The bags made a crackling sound as Cait dug in them and pulled out a bright red sheath. "This is a great dress. Go on, try it on."

Keelin clapped her hands. "Yes, model for us. Dress up time!"

Aislinn laughed, grateful for the both of them. She really couldn't believe that she had forgotten about what she was going to wear.

Aislinn took an hour to model for her friends, pawing through dresses, pants, and accessories and dancing around the room, pretending to be a snobby artist for the girls.

"Okay, I think we have a final two choices, yes?" Cait asked.

"Yes," Keelin said.

The first option was the deep red sheath that hugged her body like a second skin and made her look like a flame. She had a silver chain link bib-necklace that was perfect for the ensemble and if she left her hair in a riot of curls, she would give off a wild, yet sensual look.

The other option was a deep purple dress that had bright red accents at the trim and collar. It fell in a column straight to the floor and was made of thousands of tiny beads that moved with her body as she walked. For this, she'd pull back her hair and let the dress speak for itself.

"I like the red," Cait decided.

"I don't know. They are both great," Aislinn said.

"I don't want to look like a small-town artist. I want to look edgy and sexy," Aislinn decided.

The girls looked at each other before both turning to Aislinn and chorusing, "Red!"

"The purple really is great though," Keelin amended, running her fingers over the dress. "All that beadwork."

"I'll bring both and decide the day of," Aislinn decided. "Thank you so much for bringing these dresses for me. I don't know what I would have thrown on at the last minute if you two hadn't remembered!"

"We can't wait to see the show," Cait said.

"You're coming?" Aislinn asked, surprise evident in her voice.

"Sure and you don't think that we would miss your big debut show?" Keelin asked, aghast.

Aislinn shrugged her shoulders. "I guess, I just didn't expect people to travel all that way for my work. I mean, they can see it all right in my store."

"But not like we can see it at a big fancy gallery in Dublin now, can we?" Cait asked.

"We are so proud of you," Keelin followed up.

"Thanks, ladies. I'm so glad you came today. I needed this. I don't think that I realized how much I needed all of this support. Fiona, too."