The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

any like these from a man before.”
    “No, they all tell you you’re the most beautiful woman they’ve ever seen. It’s a waste of time to state the obvious, and it must get tedious for you.”
    She stopped as they reached the street, stared at him a moment, then laughed. “You’re a rare one, Trev from New York. I think I like you, and wouldn’t mind spending a bit of time here and there in your company. Now if you were just rich, I’d marry you on the spot so you could keep me entertained and indulged all my days.”
    “Is that what you’re looking for, Darcy? Indulgence?”
    “And why not? I’ve expensive tastes that I want to feed. Until I meet a man who’s willing and able to fill my plate, I’ll go on filling my own.” She reached up to touch his cheek. “Doesn’t mean I can’t have a meal or two with another along the way.”
    “Honesty, too.”
    “When it suits me. And since I have a feeling you’d cut through even a well-crafted lie quick enough, why waste the effort?”
    “There it is again.”
    She sent him a puzzled look as they crossed the street. “What?”
    “Efficiency. I find that very arousing in a woman.”
    “Christ, you’re the oddest of ducks. Since I find it amusing to arouse you so easily, I’ll take you up on that breakfast offer.”
    “Tomorrow?”
    She jingled her keys in her pocket and wondered why the idea was so appealing. “Eight o’clock. I’ll meet you in the restaurant at the hotel.”
    “I’m not staying at the hotel.”
    “Oh, well, if you’re at the B and B, we can—”
    “There you are, Darcy.” Aidan came up behind, his keys already in his hand. “Jude thought you were coming down the house to visit.”
    “I was distracted.”
    “I see you met my sister,” he said to Trevor. “Why don’t you come in for a pint on the house?”
    “Actually, I have some work. I was also distracted,” Trevor said with a glance at Darcy. “But I’ll take you up on the offer later.”
    “Always welcome. Your men are keeping us busy. Now with Darcy back, I’m wagering they’ll keep us busier yet.” He winked and shot the key into the lock. “Likely we’ll have a seinsiun going later tonight. Come in if you’ve the chance and you’ll get a small idea of what we’ll be offering those who come through on the way to your theater.”
    “I’ll look forward to it.”
    “Darcy, did you have that chat with Sinead?” She kept her eyes on Trevor’s. “It’s dealt with. I’ll be coming in to tell you about it in just a minute.”
    “That’s fine, then. Good evening to you, Trevor.”
    “I’ll see you later.”
    “Your men,” Darcy said when the door closed. “Your theater.”
    “That’s right.”
    “And that would make you Magee.” She took a careful breath, knowing it would only keep her calm for the short term. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “You didn’t ask. What difference does it make?”
    “I think it makes a difference in how you presented yourself to me. I don’t care to be deceived and toyed with.”
    He slapped a hand on the door before she could wrench it open. “We’ve had a couple of conversations,” he said evenly. “There was nothing deceptive about them.”
    “Then we have different standards in that area.”
    “Maybe you’re just ticked off that I’m rich after all, and now you’ll have to marry me.”
    He sent her a smile designed to charm, and got nothing but a withering stare in return. “I don’t find your humor appropriate. Now step back from the door. We’re not yet open to the public.”
    “Is this our first fight?”
    “No.” She did manage to yank open the door now, nearly bashing his face with it. “It’s our last.” She didn’t slam it, but he clearly heard the click of the lock through the thick wood.
    “I don’t think so,” he said with a great deal more cheer than another man might have felt under the circumstances. “Nope, I don’t think so.” He strolled down to his car and thought it might be a good opportunity to wander up to the cliffs and take a look at the ruins everyone had told him about.
    •    •    •
    This was the Ireland he’d come to see. The ancient and the sacred, the wild and the mystic. He was surprised to find himself alone, as it seemed to him that any who were drawn to this area would be compelled to come here, high on the cliffs where the ruins brooded.
    He circled the steep stone gables of the oratory that had been built in the saint’s name.