Chapter Nineteen #2
“Yes! You and that text you sent are distracting me, Aidan. It’s the worst timing, so will you please let me work and scoot off somewhere after you’ve got your tea?”
He releases a long breath. “Hmm. I’m tempted to stay here and watch you tackle the old bugger, but I’ll play nice. I’ll go if you tell me to my face what your reply to my text is.”
I study his eyes for what seems like an age, trying to come up with the right answer.
Only…I don’t know what it is.
I want to tell him soon, but am I ready for this?
Am I ready to dive into a sexual relationship with someone like Aidan? Sexy as sin, responsible single father, successful farmer Aidan…so tempting.
Would it be such a bad idea to explore what he can offer me?
“Here they are.”
I glance towards Mrs. McCarthy, watching her close her door, and force my nerves away. It’s now or never. If I’m honest with myself, there hasn’t been a real reason to ignore what I want for a while.
My time’s up. Quickly, I angle my body and face Aidan again, hiding from her.
“Soon,” I whisper.
His eyes darken, and he licks his lips. “I can accept that answer.”
The tension in my shoulders ebbs away, silencing my nerves.
But the excitement won’t fully disappear.
We’re both through with pretending that this thing between us will disappear if we just ignore it.
I hope that we look like two members of the village exchanging pleasantries, though I can’t be sure since people are already talking.
But no one would suspect us of anything if they walked past us. That’s what matters to me.
I know it’s what matters to Aidan.
I push another lock of my hair behind my ear, the simple gesture setting me free from our little bubble. “I’ll text you later.”
As Mrs. McCarthy reaches us, I push my hand against my abdomen, trying to silence the excited flutters.
“I brought three for you this time.” She rolls the paper bag firmly on top. “I hope that’ll tide you over for a bit.”
He raises his head and takes the bag from Mrs. McCarthy. “Thank you. I’ll transfer the amount when I get back to my office.”
She waves his words away. “Don’t be daft.”
I raise my eyes at the stubborn set to his jaw.
“I won’t take no for an answer. You know that.”
She shakes her head at him. “Must we have this conversation every time, boy? You know I’m even more stubborn than that old goat trudging up my pathway.”
Aidan and I turn at the same time, and there’s the man of the hour. I steel my resolve to get this over and done with once and for all.
“Mr. Murdoch.”
He grunts in passing, and I stifle a sigh and turn on my heel to watch him fetch Harry.
The older man pulls a rope through the metallic loop hanging in a halter from the bull’s neck, talking softly to the animal.
I lift my hand and turn the locket at my neck around over and over again, wondering for the millionth time how to get through to the older man.
As usual, my mind draws a blank.
I glance at the retired schoolteacher, who seems to be lost in her own thoughts as well, and I blink in surprise when she shakes her head at the man, her eyes narrowed and lips clamped hard into a straight line. Where has the polite old woman disappeared to?
Finally, Mr. Murdoch finishes up and turns around, the animal following along as if it’s a little pooch instead of a two-hundred-and-fifty-kilo steak walking on four legs.
The pooch would probably be the scariest of the two.
While I’d never expect an exuberant greeting from him, I can’t keep my irritation at bay when he passes me without even acknowledging me.
“Thank you, Mr. Murdoch.”
He pulls the bull to a stop and turns his head, his thick eyebrows furrowed in a straight line.
“We don’t need city girls like you changing things in our village.”
It’s my turn to narrow my eyes. “Maybe not, but I’m here for the time being, so you’ll just have to bend a little.
I’m not your enemy, Mr. Murdoch.” I gesture to the bull.
“But this is the last time that animal ruins Mrs. McCarthy’s flowers.
You’re ruining her garden, and that’s not fair. Is that understood?”
He shifts his feet on the ground and glances at Mrs. McCarthy, then back at me.
“Yes.”
I nod, satisfied for now. “Good.”
As the surly man starts to walk away again, a hand rests low on my back. I turn my head to catch which one of my companions the hand belongs to.
I almost wish I hadn’t because, when I catch Aidan’s gaze, my breath comes to a stop for a few seconds.
“Don’t lock your door tonight, Mae.”
I wet my lips. “What about Katie?”
“Don’t you worry about her.” His eyes gentle, but only a fraction. “I have to go.”
I open my mouth to answer him, but no sound comes out.
Aidan’s eyes land on my lips, but then he steps aside and gives a nod to Mrs. McCarthy.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, ladies.”
I only chance a cursory glance at him, hoping that my sharp-witted companion will fall for my air of disinterest in our very sexy and respectable farmer, but when I look back at her, my stomach swoops with nerves.
Mrs. McCarthy raises her eyes at me and clicks her tongue. “Well, pet. That settles that, then.”
I frown. “Settles what?”
Her lips twitch. “Never you mind. I think your job here is done. Don’t you have better things to do for the rest of the day?”
I shake my head, not falling for it, but I also recognise when I’ve been dismissed. “I’ll see you later, then.”
With no other clever retort, I turn my back on her, walk down the pathway, and back on the main road. Something tells me Mrs. McCarthy saw right through Aidan and me, but I also know that she won’t rat on us.
She’s also right. I do have better things to do than stay in her garden.
Which is making sure I’m ready when Aidan comes over later tonight.
I know I’m ready for him, and now that I’ve made the decision, I’m not as nervous as before. Instead, a fire of excitement and yearning for him and his clever mouth and hands settle low in my belly.
But despite what my head keeps telling me, my body might not be able to do what I want it to.
I suppose there’s only one way to find out.