Danny, p.7
Danny, page 7
“And now that you have, what would you like to do next?”
“I’d like to kiss you,” she said. “But I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
He brushed his lips against hers. “I think it’s a grand idea. What next?”
“I’d like you to do that again, with just a little more…tongue.”
He did as she asked, capturing her lips with his and slowly tracing them with his tongue. He lingered for a bit, then kissed her deeply and Jordan sank against him, her knees going weak.
The sound of the music and the crowd faded around them and Jordan lost herself in the rush of desire that overwhelmed her body. It had become so easy to need him, and yet it frightened her at the same time.
She hadn’t been prepared to feel this way, to completely surrender to emotion and physical need. But she couldn’t help herself. His touch, his taste, it had become an addiction too overwhelming to resist. When he touched her she felt beautiful and powerful, as if everything in the world were hers to enjoy.
“What else?” he murmured, his lips damp on her cheek.
“I want you to run your hands over my body like you did this morning before we got out of bed. I want to feel your lips on my skin. And I want you to take all my clothes off and I want to take all of your clothes off and-”
“Stop,” he growled.
“Why?”
“Because if you keep talking like that, I’m going to have to leave the pub with a bar tray over my lap.”
Jordan arched against him, her hips meeting his and he groaned again. “Just from talking?”
“You have that effect on me,” Danny said.
“Maybe we should take a walk and get some air,” Jordan said. “We’ll cool off a little bit.”
“And that’s a fine idea. Lead the way.”
He grabbed her waist and gently pushed her along through the crowd, walking behind her. When they reached the front door, Danny held it open and they both stepped outside onto the street. “Come with me,” he murmured.
“Where are we going now?”
“Some place where we can be alone.” He pulled her into the doorway of a shop and kissed her again, his body blocking her view of the street. His fingers skimmed along her waist, then worked at the buttons of her dress. When he finally cupped her breast in his palm, he moaned softly. “Jaysus, I need you. I’ve never needed a woman like I need you right now.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the doorway. “We can’t stay here.”
When they passed an alleyway, he pulled her into the shadows and pressed her back against a brick wall, parting the front of her dress until he found her nipple with his mouth. He teased at the peak through the lacy fabric of her bra. Jordan’s breath caught in her throat and she sighed, waves of delicious sensation coursing through her body.
His hand slid beneath her skirt and before she could catch her breath, he touched the damp spot between her legs. Jordan arched against him and he gently stroked her through her panties. She was already on the edge and it didn’t take much more to make her shudder with pleasure.
Jordan tried to occupy her mind with something else, work, plans, schedules. But it was no use. He was determined to prove his power over her. She tipped her head back, her fingers clutching at his shoulders. And then, her body throbbed and wave after wave of sensation coursed through her. A moan slipped from her lips and though she knew they might be discovered at any moment, Jordan didn’t care.
When the last spasm died in her body, Jordan looked up at Danny and found him smiling. He touched his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. “Sorry about that,” he murmured. “I didn’t realize you were so close.”
“Neither did I,” Jordan whispered.
“Can you walk?”
She nodded. He took her hand again and led her out of the shadows. Her legs felt boneless and it was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other. They walked past the bakery and then found the path that led to the smithy.
Finny and Mogue were sleeping on the stoop and they raised their heads as Danny opened the front door. The moment the door latched shut behind them, Jordan knew what she wanted. With frantic fingers, she stripped off her clothes and then started on Danny’s.
They stumbled to the bedroom and by the time they reached the bed, they were both naked. Jordan pulled him down on top of her. How had she gone her whole adult life and never felt this desperation, this overpowering need?
He moved to find a condom in the bedside table, but Jordan stopped him. It was her turn this time. She wanted to watch him, to bring him to his climax, to memorize his every reaction without losing herself in her own pleasure.
“Don’t,” she whispered. “We won’t need them. Not yet.” Jordan trailed a line of kisses down his chest, stopping at his belly.
Danny’s fingers tangled in her hair. “What are you about?”
“You’ll see,” she murmured, wrapping her fingers around his stiff shaft. “Just relax. I’ll take care of everything…”
“DANNY BOY!”
The shouts echoed through the empty interior of the Speckled Hound as Danny stepped inside the pub. His father was serving breakfast to the Unholy Trinity-Markus Finn, Dealy Carmichael and Johnnie O’Malley-three pensioners who were regular customers at the Hound. Kellan and Riley were sitting on the opposite end of the bar, reading the newspaper.
“There’s our boy,” Riley shouted. “What’s brought you back here so soon?”
“Never left,” Danny said. “We spent the night at my place rather than drive back.”
“Too much of the black stuff?” Kellan asked.
“Something like that,” Danny said. He sat down at the bar. “Can I get a couple of cups of coffee to take away and some soda bread? Warmed up. And toss some butter in the bag.”
“Where’s the girl?”
“Still asleep,” he said.
Kellan looked up from the paper. “You’ve got yourself a girl?”
“Sure and he has,” Riley said. “Brought her to the pub last night, though they only stayed for three dances. Then they started snogging on the dance floor and a few minutes later they were gone.”
Nan came out of the kitchen, a coffee mug in her hand. Her expression brightened when she saw Danny. “Good morning, you! Is Jordan with you? I forgot to tell her last night that she should come to our engagement party. You’ll tell her, won’t you?”
“Wait a bloody minute,” Kellan said, glancing between Nan and Riley and Danny. “This girl, the one you were snogging. It’s Jordan?”
Danny winced. “Well, yes. That would be correct. Jordan and I are…involved.”
“You’ve been working for her for five feckin’ days,” Kellan shouted. “How the hell is that possible?”
“Don’t ask me,” Danny said. “I’m as surprised as you. But there’s no problem.”
“You’re sleeping with your boss,” Kellan said.
“Not actually. She’s not my boss. She’s my muse.” Eamon Quinn walked out of the kitchen, a coffeepot in his hand. Danny turned to him, anxious for a change of subject. “Hello, Da. How was your holiday?”
“Oh, it was grand. Got back late last night. You know how your ma loves Scotland. We expected to be back a few days ago, but there was another festival that Maggie just had to see. Bought a kilt, she did. What does a good Irish girl need with a bleedin’ kilt? It’s sacrilege, it is.”
“I like the girl,” Nan said, sitting down next to Riley.
“What girl?” Eamon asked.
“Danny’s new girlfriend,” Nan replied. “Or his boss. Or his muse.” She giggled. “Take your pick. She’s very pretty. But then, all American girls are pretty, don’t you think?”
Danny grinned. “Yes, they are. You should visit Castle Cnoc and see the work she’s done on the manor house. I’m sure she’d give you a tour.”
“That would be lovely,” Nan said. “It will give me another chance to convince her of your fine qualities and noble ambitions.”
“I do believe our brother is in love,” Riley teased. “Look at him. He looks besotted. He’s got that well satisfied look. And he can’t keep himself from smiling.”
Danny shook his head. It was hard to keep from grinning when the only thing going through his head was thoughts of Jordan…naked…asleep in his bed. “I’m not in love,” Danny assured them all. “I’ve only known her less than a week. And you’re the besotted one in this family, Riley.”
“Well, I’m happy he’s found a nice girl,” Eamon declared. “It’s about bloody time. I was starting to wonder if any of you lot would ever settle down.” He walked over to the Unholy Trinity and leaned against the bar. “We made the bet on Riley and Nan. What say we put some money on Danny and this new girl?”
“You’re gambling on my love life?” Danny asked.
“We’ve grown bored with wagering on Dealy’s ability to catch fish,” Markus said. “And it’s not nearly as interesting as your ability to catch women.”
“Can I get in on this?” Riley asked. “What’s the wager? How much are we tossing in?”
Kellan shook his head. “For a total wanker, Riley, you managed to get yourself a great woman. Don’t feck it up or you’ll go back to being a total wanker.” Kellan turned to Danny. “As for you, watch yourself. I happen to be fond of Jordan and I don’t want you hurting her.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” Riley asked.
“No, I just know my little brother. And he doesn’t have the best reputation. Jordan is a nice person. She doesn’t deserve a git like you.” He stood and grabbed his newspaper, then took it and his cup of coffee to a table in the corner.
“You know what your problem is, Danny boy?” Dealy asked. “You’re too damn good-looking. Riley and Kellan too. Look at Markus here. Look at that face. When he was a lad, the girls didn’t have such high expectations when it came to him. They knew he’d have to work harder because he was so close to ugly.”
“Who are you to talk?” Markus said. “You’re ugly as a bucket of toads.”
“It’s true,” Johnnie said. “When a lad is too flash, he thinks he can get any girl. He’s never satisfied with the one he has.”
“I’m perfectly satisfied,” Riley said.
“So am I,” Danny added.
“Don’t you get too comfortable,” Kellan shouted from across the room. “It won’t take her long to see her mistake. You just can’t go draggin’ anyone off to bed and expect them to fall in love with you.”
“I didn’t drag her into bed,” Danny said. “In fact, she came to me. How could I refuse?” That wasn’t exactly the full story. But what had he been supposed to do? She’d been frightened and uneasy and he’d just calmed her nerves in the best way that he could.
Kellan set his paper down and crossed the bar, leaning close to Danny, his voice low. “She looks like she’s tough and like she’s got herself together,” he said, “but she’s a lot more fragile than that.”
“I know,” Danny said. “And I’m not going to hurt her. That’s the last thing in the world I’d ever want to do.”
“You don’t understand. She doesn’t work like other people. She has this way of pulling you in, until all you want to do is make her happy. I’ve seen her do it. And if you fail, she doesn’t yell or curse. She just acts all disappointed and then you feel lower than an earthworm’s arse.”
Danny nodded. “I know, I know.” In truth, he didn’t know. He hadn’t experienced that moment with Jordan. And he didn’t mean to anytime soon.
Eamon Quinn walked through the doors from the kitchen with a paper bag. “Here’s your breakfast. Two black coffees and soda bread. I threw some fruit salad in there. And before you leave town, you may want to stop by and wish your mother a happy birthday. Tell her she doesn’t look a day over thirty-five,” he said.
Danny winced. “I’m sorry. I forgot all about her birthday today. I’ll ring her later. I’ve been so-”
“Don’t worry. Kellan told her all about your new job. You know, she’s been dying to get a look inside that castle, too. You might invite her for a tour to make up for the missed birthday.”
“I will,” Danny said. “Once it’s all finished, I’m sure Jordan wouldn’t mind.”
“Remember what I said,” Kellan muttered.
Danny nodded. “I have to go.” He grabbed the bag and headed out the front door of the pub. As he strode back to his cottage, he drew a deep breath of the sea air and smiled to himself. Funny how his life had changed so much in just five days.
It didn’t matter to him how long it lasted. He was going to enjoy himself while he could. And when it was time for Jordan to leave, he’d kiss her goodbye and regret that it couldn’t go on for just a little longer.
But even as he told himself it was just a passing thing, Danny could imagine them together for more than just a few weeks or months. He found her endlessly fascinating. And she seemed to find him interesting as well. There was a lot to be said for that, wasn’t there?
Danny hurried back to his cottage. The dogs were waiting and he shooed them out, then closed the door. A moment later, Jordan rushed out of the bedroom, half-dressed, her hair tumbling around her face.
“Where have you been?”
“I just went to get us breakfast,” he said.
“We’re late. I have to get back to the house. The workmen will be there and I have calls to make and-”
“It’s Saturday,” Danny said.
“I know it is. I work on Saturday. So do you. Just because we’re sleeping together doesn’t mean we can ignore our responsibilities.”
She’d gone from lover back to boss-and she was disappointed in him. “I wasn’t gone that long. I was talking to my brothers. Kellan was at the pub and my da was back from his holiday.”
“You should have told me you were leaving,” she said. “I woke up and you weren’t there. I looked all over for you and-”
“You knew I wasn’t far,” Danny said, frowning. “Jordan, I wouldn’t have left you here. I knew we had to get back. So come on, then. Get dressed. Let’s go. You’re the boss.”
Jordan blinked, her expression suddenly shifting. “Don’t say that.”
“What? That you’re the boss?”
She cursed softly. “I’m sorry. I’m really tired and I’m a little hungover and I just want a shower and a really big cup of coffee.”
He took one of the paper cups out of the bag. “I brought you coffee,” he said. Stepping closer, Danny dropped a kiss on her lips. “And something to eat.”
Jordan groaned. “See. I’m really awful. You’re right. I need to learn to relax. Why can’t I do that? It’s Saturday. We should just go right back to bed.”
“I shouldn’t have left you alone in a strange house.”
“Well, don’t do it again. Or I’ll have to make a note in your personnel file.”
Reaching out, he ran a finger along her arm, tracing a lazy path from her wrist to her elbow and back again. “You have a file on me? What does it say?”
She took a sip of her coffee and then sighed. “It says that you have trouble separating work from-from everything else, and I think that might become a problem.”
He stared at her for a long moment, fighting back a surge of frustration. Would it always come back to this? Did they always have to be boss and employee? Why couldn’t she see them as just a man and a woman? “Am I supposed to pretend that I don’t want you? Because I do. All the time. And if that’s a problem, then write it up in my personnel file. In big red letters.” He walked to the door and pulled it open. “I’ll be in the car with Finny and Mogue. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll go.”
Danny snapped his fingers as he walked out the front door, and the dogs came running. He opened the rear door of the Land Rover and they hopped inside. Then, he slid in behind the wheel and waited, his anger growing with every moment that passed.
When she finally came out of the cottage, Jordan walked slowly toward the vehicle. She got into the passenger seat and looked over at him. “I’m sorry,” she said. “This is all kind of new to me and I haven’t figured out how to handle it yet. You might be able to separate work and pleasure, but I’m going to have to work on it a little longer.”
“Then forget about the job. Don’t worry. I will get it done and it will be perfect. You have to trust me. We can just be lovers.”
She nodded, then reached out and grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer. Jordan pressed her face into his chest. “I really hope so.”
4
DANNY STARED AT THE ornate medallion he’d begun for the garden gate. He’d been working on it for three days, fitting it in between the hinges and hardware on Jordan’s list. He’d carefully copied the design from an old black-and-white photo that Jordan had given him.
The work was beautiful, but it wasn’t Irish. He suspected the original artisan was John Wellston, a British blacksmith from Galway who had done a lot of the work in the area at the turn of the century. Wellston’s work was quite prized nowadays, found on many historical homes.
At the time Wellston worked, Ireland was in the midst of a rebellion, an attempt to break away from British rule. Wellston worked for many of the wealthy British families and Irish loyalists. But now that Ireland was free, it didn’t seem right to put his work back up on the gate. It should be Irish work on an Irish gate.
Danny glanced at his watch, then dropped the tongs on the floor and shrugged his stiff shoulders. Jordan was out for the morning, running errands to Cork and Bantry. She’d been buying furniture for the house-keeping a careful inventory of it in a huge book in the library.
She’d been trying to track down some of the original furnishings so she might buy them back. But she hadn’t had much luck in that area. Everything she bought was carefully restored and reupholstered, then shipped to a storage facility in Cork, awaiting the moment when it would be moved to Castle Cnoc.
Danny grabbed a towel from the worktable and rubbed the sweat off his grimy face, then grabbed the medallion and hauled it outside, propping it up against an old wooden crate. Drawing a deep breath, he stretched his arms over his head, working the kinks out of his back as he stared at his work.
