Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
T hat hadn’t gone as bad as it could have. And Kieran made sure the rest of the evening was a roaring success. He loved the hell out of Sara until they were both too exhausted to do more than kiss goodnight and curl up together in Rance’s king-sized bed.
The alarm they’d set chimed at four-fifteen. They both staggered out of bed and bumped into each other as they sorted through the clothes on the floor.
“We need to be more organized next time,” Sara mumbled.
“Next time?” The cobwebs disappeared from his brain. “You’ll come back again?”
“At the risk of adding ammunition to your argument, I’ll admit that I’ve never had sex this good and I want more of it.”
“If you think I’m too sleepy to remember that, I’m not.” He’d cherish that comment for the rest of his days.
“Speaking of sleep, why are you getting dressed? You don’t have to go anywhere. You can just stay here and catch up. I’ll bet you’re still jet-lagged.”
“I’m walking you out to the porch. That’s what we pure gold fellas do.”
“Until you pass out from lack of sleep. You need to conserve your energy. Aren’t you and Lucky doing a nine o’clock call to your granny?”
“We are.”
“Are you going to say anything about me?”
“I don’t know. I could, since Lucky’s in on this secret.”
“Do you want my opinion?”
“I do, yeah.”
“Don’t say anything about me. You’ll be giving her enough emotional news about your mom and Lucky. Even Oksana won’t be on the call. Mentioning me, even if you only refer to me as a new friend, could add confusion.”
“That’s good advice. I’ll take it. But I’ll need to tell her about you eventually. Just so you know, she’d believe I’ve found my dream girl and it was meant to be.”
“Which could only make the situation more difficult for both of you.”
“Maybe.” His gut tightened. No maybe about it.
“I hear Rance’s truck.” She picked up her jacket and put it on. “I just need my phone. Where?—”
“Here.” He took it off the bedside table, handed it to her and followed her into the living room. He didn’t want her to leave. “I’ll text you after the phone call with Granny. I don’t know what the schedule is apart from that.”
“Me, either.”
“But I’ll see you. At lunch, or dinner, or?—”
“We’ll see each other.” She turned and gave him a quick kiss. “Good luck with the call.”
“Thanks.” He opened the door and cold air blew in.
“Stay in the cabin. Go back to bed.”
“No, ma’am.” He stepped out on the porch in his bare feet. He hadn’t bothered to locate his socks so he could put on his boots.
She turned back one more time. “See you soon.”
“Very soon.” But not soon enough.
Rance stood in front of Midnight Thunder, arms crossed, probably because it was bleedin’ cold outside at this hour. Rance had a short conversation with Sara. Then he helped her into the driver’s side and did something with the seat again.
That lass had gumption, but if she was as knackered as he was… well, he had to trust her judgment, didn’t he?
She backed around nice and easy as if she owned that vehicle. Then she drove away.
Like an eejit, he stood shivering until the forest blocked the red taillights. He’d made a mess out of proposing to her, no question. But he didn’t regret doing it.
If he’d stopped to think, he wouldn’t have said those two words. They’d still be locked away, maybe forever.
But now she knew his heart, even if she thought he was off his rocker. She liked him, even admired him. She loved the sex and his accent. He could build on that.
Getting her to love him enough to want to marry him wouldn’t be hard. Finding a way to be together once she loved him — there was the challenge. Before he tackled that one, he needed more sleep.
Returning to the bedroom, he shucked his clothes and laid down on the sheets that smelled of sex. The heady aroma reminded him that she’d be back. Smiling, he pulled up the covers and closed his eyes.
A sharp rapping on the open bedroom door roused him from the deepest sleep he’d had in years. Sunlight filled the room.
“Time to get up, buddy,” Rance called out from the doorway. “You’re due at the house in an hour for that phone call with Lucky.”
“Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “Thank you.” What would he do without that fella?
He grabbed a quick shower and shave before pulling clothes out of his duffel. A wee bit wrinkled, but they’d have to do. The scent of coffee drew him to the kitchen.
Rance stood at the stove. “Don’t know what you usually have for breakfast, but I’m making us each a fried egg sandwich. We can eat fast.”
“That would be grand.” He’d read enough about Montana to know black pudding wouldn’t likely be on the menu around here. “I appreciate it.”
“I talked to Lucky and he’d actually like you there early so the two of you can work out how you’ll break the news.”
“That would be smart, now, wouldn’t it?” Preplanning an important conversation. What a concept. “Can I help with anything?”
“It’s done. Just get yourself some coffee.” He carried two plates to a small round kitchen table.
“You’re taking good care of me, mate.” He poured a mug of coffee and joined Rance at the table.
“Glad to. How’d it go? I mean, generally. I’m not asking for details.” He bit into his sandwich.
“We enjoyed ourselves.”
Nodding in approval, he swallowed. “Just what I hoped for.”
“I asked her to marry me.”
“Sure you did.” Rance flashed him a grin. Then he paused, his eyes growing wide. “You’re not kidding.”
“I’m not. She didn’t tell you?” That pleased him.
“She did not tell me. What the hell, dude? Are you nuts?”
“That’s what she thinks. Speaking of planning what to say in advance, I sure didn’t plan to say that. It just came out. At least she has something to think about.”
“That’s for damned sure.” His look of shock had changed to fascination. “I have to give it you, though. You’ve got solid brass ones, buddy.”
He shrugged. “It was like I couldn’t stop myself from saying it.”
“You obviously didn’t run her off. She wants to come back tonight and drive over alone, like I originally planned.”
“That’d be easier on you.”
“Yeah, and she’s taken to that truck like I thought she would. But if her sister says no, I’ll ride with her. Don’t want to tick off Lani when she’s starting to thaw.”
“How do you know?”
“Talked with her last night.”
“Oh, did you, now? I thought you weren’t gonna?—”
“I didn’t. We didn’t. I can tell she wants me but she doesn’t want to want me.”
“In other words, she doesn’t like you.”
“Sometimes she does. I can make her laugh, but that’s part of the problem. She thinks that everything’s a joke to me. That I have no depth, no ambition to be anything except a bartender.”
“Is she right?”
“A couple of years ago, she would’ve been. Not now. But she’s heard all the stories about me and drawn her conclusions.”
“What about this story? You’re going to a lot of trouble for Sara and me. You’re not treating that like a joke.”
“Yeah, but she’s suspicious. For good reason, I might add.” He picked up his phone from the table and checked the time. “Drink your coffee and I’ll wrap the rest of our sandwiches in a napkin so we can eat ’em on the way. I promised Lucky I’d get you there early.”
And Rance was a man of his word. Kieran valued that quality and so far he’d found it in abundance when dealing with the McLintocks.
On the drive back to the house, Rance educated him on the trees they passed. Most were evergreens, something he didn’t see much of in the farmland surrounding his village. This heavily forested landscape couldn’t be more different from the tidy fields of County Kildare.
His young, restless mother must have yearned for something more, a wild and unpredictable place. Snow-capped mountains and dense stands of tall trees would certainly qualify. If she’d had her way, he would have shared in her adventure, for better or worse.
He'd made this trip to solve the mystery of her disappearance, or so he’d told himself. But surrounded by this magnificent landscape, he’d gained something he hadn’t admitted he was after — understanding. Now he could forgive her.
He wouldn’t say that to Granny today, though. He might never say it. He’d had to walk in his mother’s shoes to gain that understanding. Granny had no wish to do that.