Dark Witch (The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy #1)(69)

“You should.” Now Iona got to her feet, held out a hand. “You really should. Come upstairs with me, Boyle.”

The wanting was so steep he couldn’t climb out of it. He stood, took her hand, and went upstairs with her.


*


UNDER STRICT ORDERS TO REPORT TO BRANNA’S WORKSHOP directly from the stables, and with Boyle busy in a meeting with Fin, Iona tapped Meara for a ride home.

“I have to get a car.” She frowned at the winding, narrow road Meara zoomed along as if it were a six-lane highway. “A cheap car. A cheap, reliable car.”

“I can put the word out on that.”

“Yeah, that’d be good. Then I have to learn how to drive on the wrong side of the road.”

“It’s you Yanks who drive on the wrong side, and can put the fear of God into a person just driving out to do the weekly marketing.”

“I bet. But why do you guys drive on the left? I read it was about having the right hand free for the sword, but it’s been a really long time since people needed to battle it out on horseback with swords.”

“You never know, do you? Most don’t battle it out on horseback with whirlwinds as a rule.”

“You got me there. Maybe I can talk Boyle into letting me drive some tomorrow. He’s going to take me around to some sites. I’ve been so buried in work and lessons I haven’t seen anything outside of that, and the village. Not really.”

“A day off’s good for the soul. But it’ll take considerable talk of the very sweetest of nature, and very likely promises of exotic sexual favors to convince Boyle to let anyone behind the wheel but himself.”

“I’m a good driver,” she insisted. “Or was when the steering wheel was on this side. And does everyone know I’m in the position to offer Boyle sex?”

“Anyone with eyes. If there’d been more opportunity today, I’d’ve pulled more out of you about the whirlwind business, and the sex. But we had too many people about for it.”

“You could come in,” Iona said as Meara pulled up at the workshop. “Then Branna couldn’t dump me right into more work, and I could give you lots and lots of details.”

“Why is it so entertaining to have a window into others’ sexual adventures? Maybe so we don’t have to deal with the upheaval of them in our own lives. In any case,” Meara continued before Iona could think of an answer, “I’d be all ears, that’s for certain. But I’ve errands need doing. Now, I could meet you at the pub later, with my ears, unless you’re already planning more adventures with Boyle.”

“I could squeeze in time for a drink with a friend. Do you believe in reincarnation?”

“Sure that’s a question.” Meara shoved back her cap. “Where did it come from?”

“I was wondering why some connections seem so easy, so natural, as if they’d already been made and are just getting picked up again. It’s the way it worked for me with you, with Branna and Connor. With Boyle. Even Fin.”

“I guess I don’t discount anything. You don’t when your best friend in the world’s a witch. But I think a big part of that is you’re open to those connections. You reach for them, you do. It’s hard not to reach back, even when you’re not the reaching type in general.”

“You’re not?”

“Not as a rule, no. I keep my circle tight. Less upheavals, so to speak.”

“Then I’m glad you widened it for me. See you at the pub? A couple hours?”

“That’ll do fine.”

“Thanks for the lift.” Iona jumped out, shot back a wave. She liked the idea of being open to connections, and the prospect of meeting a friend for a drink. Maybe she could talk Branna into joining them—a kind of impulsive girls’ night out.

Then maybe she’d get lucky and top it off with a little adventure with Boyle.

Pleased with the plan, she swung through the door.

“Let the lesson begin, then we can— Oh, sorry. I didn’t see you had company—a customer.”

She hesitated at the doorway, not quite sure if she should go in or out, then recognized the woman standing at the work counter with her cousin.

“Oh, hi. I met you my first night at Ashford, at the Cottage. You’re Mick’s daughter. Iona,” she added when the woman simply stood there, flushed and staring.

“I remember, yes. My father speaks well of you.”

“He’s terrific. Just one more reason I love my job. Sorry to interrupt. I’ll just go—”

“No, no, it’s not a problem a’tall. I’ve just finished. And thanks, Branna, I’ll be on my way then. Best to Connor.”

She hurried out, pushing a little bottle into her coat pocket.

“Sorry. I know you do some business here, even though most of it’s through the shop in the village.”

“A bit here, a bit there.” Branna tucked some euros into a drawer. “Those who come here are often looking for what I don’t sell in the village.”

“Oh.”

“I’m not a doctor, but I’m discreet. Still, in this case I’ll tell you, as it’s hardly the secret Kayleen thinks it is, and there may come a time you’ll be asked for the same.”