Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
SELENE
Nora’s announcement that I had a visitor dropped like a stone in my stomach. I heaved a deep sigh as I stood and called out. “Be right there.”
I couldn’t imagine what Bren would want that wouldn’t wait until the following day. Unfortunately, there was only one way to find out.
I smoothed my sweater and glanced in the mirror as I passed. I stopped long enough to draw my fingers through my disheveled auburn strands, wondering how long they’d been that way. When I reached for my lip gloss to add a bit of color, I caught myself just in time.
I shook a finger at my reflection, a reminder that I had no desire to impress the man with anything other than my building restoration skills.
Anxiety tightened my gut as I left my room and headed down the stairs. The scent of peat clung to the cool night air he’d brought in with him.
Bren stood just inside the doorway, chatting with Nora. He wore his leather jacket over a simple shirt and jeans. His hair was slightly lifted, likely by the wind, but he otherwise appeared composed as usual.
It was as if everything that had shaken my world that day hadn’t bothered him in the least.
Bren glanced up at me before I reached the last stair, and his eyes found mine.
The set of his shoulders dropped slightly as if the sight of me brought him relief, but it was strange to think I might have that effect on him.
Regardless, his presence sent a current of unwanted attraction racing through me.
I found I couldn’t take the last step down onto the landing. Remaining on the first stair put us on equal ground, and I wholeheartedly claimed that advantage. “Hello, Bren. I wasn’t expecting to see you this evening.”
The man didn’t bother with niceties. “You didn’t answer my messages.”
Heat crept up my cheeks, his words leaving me defensive. “Sorry, I didn’t see them. I was working.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I called twice.”
I gave him a casual shrug. “I silenced my phone so that I wouldn’t be disturbed. I needed to focus after…today.”
Nora stepped neatly between us, closed the door behind him, and smoothed her cardigan. “This is a pleasant surprise, Bren. Please come in. Would you like a whiskey?”
Bren shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m good.” He turned back to me. “I wanted to check on you.”
I opened my hands wide as if that would prove something. “As you can see, I’m fine.”
His gaze darkened, revealing more emotion than he usually displayed. “You left early.”
I lifted my chin in a matter-of-fact nod. “I did. I felt I could better focus on plans for next week’s renovations away from the commotion at the castle.”
He held his gaze steady on my face, knowing exactly what I meant by commotion. Silence settled between us, and the fire shifted in the grate. Somewhere outside, the wind moved through the tree line.
I gave him another shrug. “As you can see, I’m fine. And we’re about to have dinner, so I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks for stopping by.”
Nora shot me a sideways glance, full of disapproval. “Ah now, we can’t be sending the lad away like that. Join us, Bren. I have a fresh pot of soup on the stove. Warm cornbread too.”
He sent the keeper an appreciative smile, but it faded into something more dangerous as he slid his gaze to me. “I was actually hoping to convince Selene to have dinner with me.”
Nora clapped her hands together once. “What a lovely idea.”
A moment of vulnerability sent panic racing through me. I sputtered as I sent the older woman a pleading look. “But…but you’ve already cooked. You said it’s almost ready.”
She whisked away my excuse with a wave of her hand. “My daughter was just saying she never gets a good meal, and it’s her favorite soup. I’ll just pack it up and take it home for her and the wee ones. They’ll love it.”
And just like that, I lost my dinner. Unless I wanted to go with Bren. Or unless I wanted to steal a meal away from Nora’s daughter and grandkids.
Though I could be happy making my own porridge if it came down to it.
I turned to Bren, ready to decline, but he stole my words by taking my hand. He wrapped warm fingers around mine and tugged gently. “Come on. Let me buy you dinner. I was hoping to discuss the project and clear up a few things.”
The sparkle in Nora’s eyes as she focused on our connected hands told me she wouldn’t save me. I was on my own.
My pride demanded that I refuse. He couldn’t just show up and expect I’d drop everything. And the way he’d unsettled my world… I’d be crazy to spend personal time with him.
Unfortunately, my traitorous heart rudely interrupted the logical conversation rolling through my mind. Maybe dining with Bren would be okay. It was just a meal, and if clearing up a few things meant I’d get answers, it might be worth it.
That was hard to resist. Damn it.
I exhaled and slipped my hand from his. “Fine. Just so you know, my tastes in food are expensive.”
The smile that stole across his lips nearly undid me. “That’s quite all right. Mine are the same.”
I swallowed, wary of his sudden shift in demeanor, and pointed up the stairs. “I just need to get my shoes.”
Nora began chatting with Bren in the wake I left behind, but I felt his gaze on me as I headed up. In my room, I pulled out a pair of jeans, opting for them instead of my comfy pants since we were going out, and I donned the nicer boots I’d brought with me from Dublin.
I approached the mirror again and drew a brush through my hair with a deep sigh of concession. This time, I did apply lip gloss. Not for him. But because I wanted to look presentable in public.
When I returned, Bren stood exactly where I’d left him. I took my coat from the chair where I’d dropped it and my purse earlier. I slipped one arm through a sleeve before he caught my coat and helped me into the other.
Nora released a soft cluck of approval and whispered beneath her breath. “A fine gentleman, he is.”
I wanted to complain that this was not a date, that I didn’t require help with my coat, and that I didn’t need her commentary to make things more awkward, but that would only make the situation worse.
Bren stepped aside and opened the door as I snagged my purse. The night air slipped in, cold and clean, carrying the scent of burning peat and a faint mineral smell of the lake. “After you.”
I stepped out and tugged my coat tighter around me, more for protection than from the chill. Bren followed, and Nora closed the door behind us.
It was just dinner. Two people clearing the air. That my pulse had kicked up when I’d seen him in the doorway was nothing.
I almost believed it.
The gravel crunched beneath our feet as we crossed toward his truck.
Except the truck he drove to the castle wasn’t there.
Instead, a sleek metallic silver car with a low, sculpted body rested in the driveway.
Its curves caught the light from the house, and it was truly a thing of beauty.
I wasn’t well-versed in car brands, but this one screamed luxury.
I did my best not to react at the sight of it, and when he opened the passenger door, I slid onto the black leather seat as though it was something I did every day.
When he closed the door and headed to his side, I released a quiet gasp. “Whoa.”
If I’d wondered if the man had enough money to fund any repairs beyond what was written in the contract, I no longer did. My recent warning that I didn’t plan to eat cheaply had probably left him chuckling inside.
Bren opened his door and settled behind the steering wheel. He started the car, the engine purring to life, but he didn’t shift it into gear.
Neither of us spoke for a moment, leaving the void filled with awkwardness.
He was the first to break the silence, though he remained facing the windshield as he spoke in an even tone. “I owe you more than one apology.”
An apology? I stiffened, wondering if I could trust this new side of him, or if it was just an act. Maybe he was afraid I’d walk off the job and leave him in a bind.
The light from the dashboard illuminated his face, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for me to detect nuances in his expression. “An apology for what?”
“For today.” He released a breath as he turned to face me. “For the castle. The grove. The way I handled both.”
I waited for more.
He said nothing as he shifted the car into gear, and we were on our way, leaving me to decipher his intentions.
The dark road stretched out ahead of us, the hedge lines pressing close on both sides as the faint glow of Cillian’s estate lights disappeared in the side mirror. I gathered my courage and pressed for more. “Does that mean you’ll tell me what’s going on?”
“Maybe.”
The tone of uncertainty in his voice slightly eased the tightness in my chest. At least he hadn’t said no.
I reframed my thoughts about the next few hours. A simple dinner. A normal evening. We were two people in a car on a Kerry road, and it seemed neither one of us was entirely sure what we were doing.
It wasn’t much. But for the moment, it was enough.