Dark Witch (The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy #1)(83)

“I can see that. It has to be a trial to you, having a woman as pretty as a spring morning, and as fresh and sweet, taking up your time and attention.”

“I’ve a life to live, don’t I?” Boyle snapped back, as every word Fin spoke made him, well, feel as if he acted the gom. “And a right to like that life just as it is—was—before.”

“Sure as I’m standing here I’d trade places with you if I could, to have a woman in my mind and heart who was pleased and willing to have me in hers. But you have, of course, every right to live your life without a sweet and fresh and pretty woman in it.”

“She’s more than that, as well you know. I’ve never seen the like of her, and I’ve seen you, Branna, Connor. But when it’s on her, I’ve never seen the like. It takes my breath. I don’t know why that is.”

“I’ve a speculation on it.”

Boyle mimicked Fin’s gesture. “Speculate away.”

“You sound like a man in love to me.”

“Oh sure and that’s helpful.” Boyle resisted throwing the brush only because it would startle Darling. “I’m telling you, she’s pushed herself into my mind, my life, my bed so I’ve barely a minute to myself. I took a day off work, which I don’t do, as you know, to drive her all around Mayo and Galway. I can’t get away from her even when I’m sleeping.

“I think she’s bewitched me.”

“Oh Christ Jesus, Boyle.”

But Boyle had the bit between his teeth now. “She’s come into it late, as you said, and she’s full of the power of it. So she’s done a love spell to wrap me up this way.”

“Bollocks. Even if she were inclined, and I don’t see it, Branna would never allow it.”

“Branna doesn’t know everything,” Boyle muttered, and glanced over darkly as Alastar kicked the wall of the stall. “She’s new to it, Iona is, testing her footing so to speak. She’s testing it on me so I’m tangled up taking walks and rides and drives and fixing her breakfast after a night of her sleeping wrapped around me like a vine. So if she’s put a love spell on me, you need to break it.”

“Is that what you think?” Very quietly, Iona stepped up to the stall. “I’m sorry but you were too busy shouting to hear me come in. What a lot you think of yourself, Boyle, and how little you think of me.”

“Iona—”

She stepped back, chin jerking up. “Do you really think I’m so weak, so sad, so pitiful that I’d want someone who didn’t want me of their own free will? That I’d use magick to enchant you into spending time with me, having feelings for me?”

“No. I’m only trying to work it out.”

“Work.” Her eyes filled, killing him, but the tears didn’t come. “Yeah, I know it’s so much work to care about me. So I’ll make it easy for you. There’s no need, and there’s no spell. I have too much respect for what I am to use it in such a small, selfish way. And I love you too much to ever use you at all.”

Every word came as a jab to his heart. “Come upstairs now, we’ll talk this through.”

“There’s nothing else for me to say, and I really don’t want to talk to you now.” Deliberately, she turned away from him. “Fin, could you give me a ride home?”

“I’ll take you myself—” Boyle began.

“You won’t. No, you won’t. I don’t want to be with you. I can call Connor if you can’t take me, Fin.”

“Of course I can.”

“You’re not just walking away after—”

“Watch me.” She shot him a look so full of both devastation and fury, he said nothing more when she turned and walked away.

“Let it be for now,” Fin said quietly, “and use some of this famous time and space to learn how to do a proper grovel.”

“Ah, fuck me.”

“And so you have.” He hurried out after Iona, reached down to open the car door for her.

“He’s never felt like this for anyone,” he began.

“Don’t try to smooth it over, please. If you could do me one favor, just don’t say anything. Anything at all. I just want to go home.”

He did exactly as she asked, kept his silence on the short drive. He could feel her pain. It seemed to pulse from her, sharpen the air in the car so keenly he thought it a wonder it didn’t draw blood.

Love, as he knew too well, could slice you to pieces and leave no visible scar.

He pulled up at the cottage, smoke curling from the chimney, an amazing array of colorful flowers twinkling in the evening gloom. And somewhere inside, Branna, as distant as the moon.

“Should I come in with you?”

“No. Thanks for bringing me home.”

When she started to get out, he simply touched her hand. “You’re not hard to love, deirfiúr bheag, but for some, loving is strange and boggy ground.”

“He can be careful where he steps.” Though her lips quivered, she managed an even tone. “But he can’t blame someone else for where he ends up.”

“You’d be right. I’m sorry you heard what was—”

“Don’t apologize. It’s better to see and know you’re a fool than to keep your eyes shut and keep acting like one.”