Luck of the Irish (11 page)

Cian did his best to look offended, but in the end, he was smiling too hard to pull it off.

“Actually, after my business is done, do you want to take the scenic route back? Or are you in a hurry…?” Quinn tried not to look too hopeful, but he wasn’t sure it was working.

“That’d be great.” Cian smirked slyly. “I’ll get you up there and dangle you over the edge so you can kiss the Blarney Stone.”

 

“Dangle me over the edge? What in the hell are you talking about?”

“Well, the stone is set into the parapet of one of the towers of the castle. To actually kiss the stone, you have to lie down on your back and dangle out over the edge and kiss it upside down.”

Quinn blanched. Heights were not his thing. “Uh, maybe I’ll skip that part.”

Cian smiled over at him. “Don’t worry, no one’s ever died trying to kiss the Blarney Stone, and they’ve installed some safety features these days. It would be bad for tourism if people were falling to their deaths from Blarney Castle.”

Quinn looked thoughtful before he spoke.
“Tis there’s the stone that whoever kisses
He never misses to grow eloquent….”

C
IAN
smiled. “I think I know that poem. It always made me smile.”

Quinn nodded. “It’s by Francis Mahony. When I was younger, I used to wish I could go to Blarney. I thought if I kissed the stone, maybe I could figure out how to say the things that always seemed to get stuck in my head.”

Cian reached over and held Quinn’s hand in his. “Well, I think you’ve done a fabulous job of figuring out what to say.”

 

Quinn blushed and looked at Cian from under his lashes. “Well, I never had any use for the part about using words to get into the lady’s chamber.” “You never tried to be with a girl?”

Quinn shook his head. “No. I was kind of an early bloomer, I think, as far as being gay was concerned.” He brought their conjoined hands up and kissed Cian’s fingers. “I never had a crush on a girl, and I kept waiting for it to happen. Then one day, my older brother brought home a new friend. I was thirteen. I took one look at him coming out of the pond after swimming and I couldn’t get him out of my head.”

Quinn’s eyes sort of glazed over as he remembered those few years. “He was sixteen and beautiful. And it took me forever to admit it to myself. Once I figured it out, I was devastated. I started getting into trouble, driving my family crazy. I started drinking at fifteen, and my poor parents were going around the bend.”

Cian pulled Quinn’s hand over to rest over his heart. “What happened?”

“Nothing overly dramatic. My dad took me out to check the fences one day, and I was tired and hungover, and by the time the day was over, I’d told him everything.”

“What did he say?”

Quinn’s smile was soft and happy this time. “He said he loved me and that he wished I’d talked to him about it sooner. He told me that nothing would ever make him not love me and that being gay was nothing to be ashamed of. Then he hugged me and held me while I cried my eyes out.”

“Sounds like an awesome dad.” Cian’s heart twisted a little—but he had his granddad. It was good.

 

“He is. I’m lucky to have him and the rest of my family.”

 

“I thought you were sleepy.” Cian pulled Quinn’s hand up and nuzzled at his wrist, smiling at the shiver rolling through Quinn’s body.

 

“I am. But I hate leaving you awake alone.”

 

Cian pushed up the armrest that separated them and patted his knee. “Lie down.”

 

Quinn shifted so that he could rest his head on Cian’s thigh, Cian’s callused hand running though the tangles in his blond hair.

 

“Hmm, feels good.” Quinn slid one hand under Cian’s leg and rested the other on the top of his thigh.

 

“Get some rest. I’ll wake you when we get to Sallybrook, all right?”

“Uh-huh.” Quinn’s breath was ghosting over Cian’s thigh and heating up the fabric. It was a little erotic, but mostly it just felt comfortable, and Cian knew it could become familiar in no time.

He drove along, not hurrying more than he had to, knowing that Briarwood Farm and the return trip would come far too soon for his liking.
Chapter 11

C
IAN
woke Quinn when they reached Sallybrook so he could help look for their hotel. When they found it, it turned out it was a little side-of-the-road thing with individual cabins.

Quinn ran in, got them registered, and waved a key at him teasingly when he came out. Cian couldn’t help but smile. Even rumpled from sleeping in the car and grinning like a loon, Quinn Donovan was the most beautiful thing Cian had ever seen.

Quinn dropped back to his seat in the car and directed Cian over to a cabin at the back of the lot. It looked older, maybe built in the 1950s but well cared for. They got out of the car, let themselves in, and dropped the bags on the floor next to the wall.

Cian looked around at the room’s décor and grinned. “Why, Mr. Donovan, are you trying to tell me something?”

Quinn blushed and looked around at what was obviously the honeymoon cabin. “It was the only one with a king-sized bed.” He walked over and wound his arms around Cian’s neck. “That woman at the front desk saw me grinning at you from inside and said that it looked like lovebirds like us needed something better than a plain double.”

Cian’s hands found Quinn’s hips, his thumb settling into the groove that started just above the waistband of his jeans. “Well, I have to say that I approve of the way she thinks.” He pulled Quinn’s body flush with his and then leaned down, bringing their lips together.

They kissed like that for a few minutes, Quinn’s hand coming up to play with the curls at the base of Cian’ neck. Cian slid one hand between Quinn’s shoulder blades and pulled them even closer together.

Quinn finally broke the kiss reluctantly. “Hmm, as much as I’d like to continue this, I have a meeting in an hour, and I think showing up looking totally debauched would be in bad taste.”

Cian sighed and tried unsuccessfully to look put-upon. “I guess it wouldn’t be very professional. Not to mention looking sex-struck in front of my grandfather’s oldest friend.”

Quinn chuckled. “Sex-struck? Is that even a thing? You make it sound like being run over by a car!”

Cian smirked at him. “Sometimes it feels that way… like you hit me out of nowhere and knocked all my wits about.”
Quinn frowned and ducked his head. “Is that a bad thing?”

Cian cupped Quinn’s chin and forced his face up to meet his eyes. “It’s absolutely not a bad thing, love. I think I needed shaking up. I was so stuck in my life being alone and at the farm that I never even considered I’d find someone who was more than a hookup.”

“I’m more than a hookup?” Quinn looked so hopeful and so nervous at the same time that Cian wanted to find David the jerk and beat the crap out of him for daring to put that kind of doubt into Quinn’s gorgeous head.

“Darlin’, you’re the one that all others will be compared to for the rest of my life… and they will be found lacking, I’m sure.”

 

The smile Quinn graced him with was worth the hurt that bit of honesty caused. This man was forever taking his breath away.

 

Quinn kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome, sweetheart. Now, what say we get changed— separately, or we’ll never get out of here—and then go out to look at those horses for your father. I have to admit, I’m curious about them myself!”

Quinn reluctantly allowed Cian to pull away and started gathering things out of his bag so he could change. “Why? Do you think they’ll be much different from the horses you have at home?”

“Not really, but Kieran and Grandfather started out at the same time, using some of the same stock. It’ll be interesting to see where he’s taken the bloodlines.” Cian gathered his own things together and contemplated a shower, but decided to wait till later so he could have Quinn join him.

Quinn nodded thoughtfully. “I know what you mean. I love traveling with my dad to the different breeder shows and to the ranches we’ve sold stock to.” He frowned a little. “Of course, we don’t always find something good. It makes Dad furious when he finds out that someone’s been abusing an animal we sold them.” Quinn was far away for a second before shaking free of the memory.

“We’ve only had to deal with abuse incidents twice, but both times we were almost too late in finding out.” He shook his head sadly. “I’ve never seen my father hit anyone, but he came close the day we showed up and found that someone who was supposedly a reputable breeder was beating the pregnant mare he’d bought from us.”

Cian shuddered at the thought of anyone abusing an animal that way. “Christ, that’s horrible.” He slipped out of his shirt and jeans and quickly dressed again, keeping a wary eye on Quinn. The man was just so handsy!

 

They both quieted at the reminder of their regular lives. It wasn’t something either wanted to consider yet.

Cian sighed. “Come on, love. Get changed and we can get out there. The sooner we do, the sooner we can get back, right?” He smiled at Quinn and waggled his eyebrows, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m pretty sure I need a shower, and I’ve discovered that showering alone isn’t nearly as much fun as showering with a friend.

Q
UINN
pretended to think about it, then nodded. “I suppose that’s a worthwhile reason to hurry.” He grinned and then grabbed his stuff and shuffled off to the bathroom. Being in his underwear in the same room as Cian wasn’t going to get them out of the cabin any faster; in fact, he was pretty sure it would slow them down.

He changed quickly and checked his hair, then joined Cian in the other room. One more kiss and they were out the door on their way to Briarwood.

The drive didn’t take long. The whole country seemed to have a kind of magic about it that was working its spell on Quinn. He loved everything about it: the people, the gorgeous green countryside. The air seemed filled with stories that he was itching to get out.

A sideways glance brought another gorgeous Irish scene into focus. Cian was everything Quinn had ever dreamed of in a man. He was as beautiful on the inside as he was on the outside, and he was stealing Quinn’s heart without even realizing it.

Quinn had never met someone like Cian. He was kind and smart, funny and thought-provoking. It was like he just knew what Quinn needed and gave it to him without reservation. Only family had done that for him before. He was still trying to puzzle out what that meant when the other man spoke.

“There it is.” Cian pointed to a turnoff ahead that had a gate with the word “Briarwood” etched into it. The driveway was longer than the one to Cian’s place, but the view was much the same.

Pretty damned spectacular.

 

“God, Cian, is this whole country completely beautiful?” Quinn sounded like a little kid in a candy shop.

 

Cian couldn’t help but chuckle. “I like to think so, but I’m kind of biased, I think.”

 

They parked in front of the barn and got out and were greeted by someone Quinn knew had to be Kieran Michaels.

“Hello, lads. You’d be Davin’s Cian, then? I’d recognize those O’Reilly looks anywhere.” He extended his hand, and Cian took it. “You’re the spittin’ image of your Gran, son, and she’s a beauty.”

Cian blushed. Quinn thought it was adorable.
“And you’d be young Mr. Donovan, would yah?”

Quinn couldn’t help but smile at the friendly old man. They were going to get on like wildfire, he could tell. “Yes, sir. I’m, Quinn, Quinn Donovan.” He shook Kieran’s hand.

“Bah, don’t ‘sir’ me, lad. Name’s Kieran, and that’ll do.” He turned and started to lead them toward the barn. “Well, I was just about to go and check on one of my mares. She’s just given birth not long ago, and the little one was having some troubles latching on. I’m hoping to get it worked out, as I’d rather not have to bottle-feed the wee thing.”

Cian walked behind him. “It’s better for both of them if it can nurse.” Quinn nodded his agreement. Foals always did better with the connection to their dams.

“Well, let’s check and see if my little girl has it figured out.” Kieran led the way to a big stall in the back of the barn. Standing there was an adorable mare that was smaller than the one Quinn had bought from Cian’s granddad but just as beautiful.

Unfortunately, the foal still didn’t appear to be nursing, and Quinn could see that Kieran was concerned.

 

Quinn looked at Cian. “Is there anything we can do?”

Cian shook his head. “Not really. The mare could just be having a reaction to her milk coming in. It makes them touchy sometimes.” He turned to Kieran. “How long ago was she was born?”

Kieran looked surprised but answered. “Couple of hours. I was going to give it a couple more and then make a bottle.”

 

Cian nodded his agreement. They all looked up as someone else entered the barn.

 

“Hello, gentlemen.” A beautiful redhead stood behind Cian, smiling at them. “Ah, there you are, Constance.” Kieran’s eyes twinkled when he looked at her. “This is my granddaughter, lads, and the one who’s gonna run this place one day.”

The woman laughed. “Not for many more years to come, I’m hoping!” She gave her grandfather a fond hug and then turned back to the younger men. “So, which of you is Mr. Donovan? I hear you’re hoping to spirit off some of Ireland’s best to America!”

Quinn laughed. “That would be me.” He held out his hand. “Quinn Donovan.” The redhead took it and looked at him shrewdly. “Constance Cameron. It’s nice to meet you.” Her eyes flicked over to Cian. “And you are?”

 

Quinn watched the two of them. She was plainly interested, and Cian was just as plainly not. “Cian O’Reilly, Ms. Cameron.”

 

“Call me Constance. So you’re Mr. O’Reilly’s grandson, are you? From the stories I’ve heard, our granddads were quite the pair back in the day!” “Or so they’d have us believe, anyhow.” Cian smiled at her and then stepped back to stand closer to Quinn, their hands brushing as he moved.

 

Quinn waited as she looked at them, obviously working things out. He saw when she got it, and held his breath as she smiled ruefully before speaking. “Come on, then, let’s leave Granddad with his girls. I’ll take you to see Macree and Breasal. They are a lovely pair, if I do say so myself.”