Wild Irish Heart (The Mystic Cove Series Book 1) (17 page)

"What's that?" Keelin asked, and shrieked as he pulled her to him, already ready for her again. "No, really?"

"Really."

Chapter Twenty-One

Later, Keelin used
the small restroom below deck. She had pulled her dress back on and examined her face in the mirror. Her skin looked dewy from a healthy, make that two healthy, rounds of sex, she thought.  A small flush of color highlighted her cheeks and her brandy eyes looked bright. She smiled at herself. She looked happy for the first time in a long time. She was happy, she thought.

After refreshing herself, Keelin came upstairs to the scent of scallops. Flynn must have seared them while she was using the bathroom. The plate was set with a small board of cheeses, fruits, and brown bread. Small bowls held salads and he plated the scallops on pretty stoneware dishes. A bottle of white wine chilled in the bucket.

"Wine?"

"Yes, I'd love some." Suddenly shy, Keelin blushed as he moved towards her with a glass. Flynn laughed at her and gave her a small kiss.

"No need to blush now, my love. I've seen every part of you." Keelin groaned as he laughed at her. There it was again, the love word. She'd have to pay attention and see how often he used it around other people or if it was just with her.

They settled around the table and soon Flynn began to her regale her with his boyhood tales of growing up in the hills. He told her of his love for dogs and how it had grown into an avid hobby of his. Keelin told him what life was like growing up in Boston – a single kid with a single mom. His childhood seemed much richer than hers. She said as much as she let the butter and scallops melt on her tongue.

"It seems like the perfect childhood."

"I have no complaints. I'm not sure how well I would have done in a city. A boy needs the hills to roam and learn. Luckily, my parents indulged me and allowed me to develop a variety of interests. Hence the fishing, the restaurants, the dogs. I have a hard time focusing on just one job."

"Well, that is very admirable of you. Tell me about your restaurants." Keelin sipped her wine and listened as his eyes lit up and he talked about creating jobs in small villages that needed the tourist attractions. She admired how committed he was not only to his businesses, but also to the struggling Irish economy. "How do you juggle so many businesses?"

"I have managers that I trust at each place. They all own a percentage of the restaurant so they are just as invested in it as I am." Flynn gestured with his fork as he speared another scallop.

"That's smart. I have to say, you really are a kind man. I see how you are with your dog, and now with your employees. Fiona loves you."

"And I her." Flynn nodded at Keelin as he broke off a crust of brown bread.

"Does the healing thing freak you out?" Keelin asked casually as she popped a piece of cheese into her mouth.

"Why would it? People have been using herbs for natural remedies for centuries. It isn't that uncommon." Flynn dismissed their powers easily, Keelin thought.

"No, I mean, well of course that. But you know, the whole other stuff." Keelin wasn't sure how to say it.

"What, the rumors that she is a witch? That woman is no more a witch than my dog is." Flynn laughed as he got up to clear their dishes and headed below deck.

Keelin was stunned. She sat there and stared at the darkness of the cove. He didn't know. Fiona had never told him of her ability to heal with her hands. Heat flushed through her. She didn't know if she should tell him. She was scared to. What if he would hate her?

"You know all of that stuff is just nonsense. And people who subscribe to that line of thought are just nuts," Flynn said as he came upstairs with small slices of cheesecake on plates. "Don't worry, I would never believe anything so horrible about Fiona."

Keelin nodded and quietly took a gulp of her wine. She trembled. She couldn't tell him. He would think she was a freak. Could she have a relationship with Flynn and hide this from him? She looked at him as he smiled and proudly presented her with the cheesecake. Oh, yes. She wanted this. She wanted a chance with him. Deciding to keep her mouth closed, she took a quick bite of the cheesecake and groaned as the sweetness exploded onto her tongue.

"This is amazing."

"I know. Isn't it? This old woman in town who looks like a troll makes the most delicate of desserts. I use her to supply all of my restaurants with baked goods. It tastes like heaven."

Keelin devoured her piece along with her glass of wine. She wondered if tonight would be all she would get with Flynn before he found out about her true identity. It would come out at some point. Suddenly desperate, she jumped up.

"You haven't shown me the downstairs yet, Flynn." Keelin raised an eyebrow at him and cocked her hip. Flynn's plate clattered to the table and he jumped up to wrap his arms around her waist. His lips tasted of cheesecake and she smiled against them as he led her downstairs. She didn't want to look at the cove this time.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Later that night
, Flynn parked in her drive. He leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before getting out and rounding the hood of the car. Flynn opened the door and helped her down. He held her hand lightly as he led her to the door.

"I'd ask to spend the night with you but I don’t want to shock Fiona," Flynn said as he rested his forehead on hers. Keelin felt warmth pool through her as her heart clenched a bit and trembled.

"Someday, maybe."

"I'd like to take you out again." Flynn laid a whisper of a kiss on her lips.

"Yes, I had fun." Flynn laughed at her as she blushed at the thought of the fun they'd had.

"I'll stop by to see you the day after tomorrow. We can go for a walk in the hills?"

Keelin nodded. She had to see him again. She didn’t want him to go. Heat pulsed through her at every point his body came into contact with hers.

"Yes, Monday. I'll plan for it." She turned and slipped in the door only to hear his quiet words.

"Goodnight, my love."

Chapter Twenty-Three

The next day
, Keelin kept reviewing the date in her mind. She was unaccountably nervous. All morning, she had replayed his words to herself. Was "my love" the same as "loving" someone? Was it just a term of endearment? Her heart clenched at the thought of loving him. The view of the cove's glowing water haunted her.

Fiona bustled in from the outside, bringing in sunshine and a rambunctious puppy. Keelin smiled as Ronan raced to her and wiggled at her feet, begging for a scratch.

"Keelin! How was your date last night?" Fiona asked breathlessly. She hung up her coat on the hook by the door and moved to the table with the bag of herbs that she had collected that morning. Keelin blushed as she thought about how to answer the question. "Ah, so he's a fine lover then," Fiona said as she caught the blush on Keelin's face.

Keelin sighed. "He's wonderful. Everything about him. He's a good employer, concerned about the economy, loves dogs, honest, and hardworking. Not to mention gorgeous." Keelin kicked at the table leg.

"So, why aren't you happy?" Fiona stopped sorting her herbs and gave her full attention to Keelin.

"I just…I don't know. I couldn't tell him about our power." She looked at Fiona nervously. "How did you tell Grandpa?"

"Well, honey, I was honest with him. If you can't show the person you love all the corners of your soul, do they really love you or just an image of you? Why would you want to live like that? Forever hiding a secret?"

"I don't know. I really don't. I guess I'm not used to discussing this and I have seen how it has led to destruction in my past relationships. I'm scared. I really think that I have a thing here with Flynn. The cove glowed last night."

"Ahhh." Fiona rushed around the table and gave Keelin a small hug. "So, it is love. On both parts. You have to tell him, Keelin."

"I know. I know. I will. We are going hiking tomorrow. Maybe I will tell him then."

Chapter Twenty-Four

Restless, Keelin decided
to take a drive into the village to tell Cait about Flynn's boat. And, well, just to talk to someone with similar issues to hers. Keelin pulled up to the pub and stretched, feeling twinges in muscles that she hadn't felt in a long time. Even though she was nervous, it was almost impossible to keep the smile off of her face. An evening of being lapped up like she was the best dessert on the table would do that, Keelin thought, and swung through the door of the pub.

"Well, I'm not one of those fancy women that you take up with, am I now?" Cait shouted at Shane. Her heated tone had Keelin stopping in her tracks.

Cait and Shane faced each other across the room, mere inches apart, both of their chests heaving.

"Whoo, boy," Keelin whispered under her breath, and didn't move.

"Who said that I want one of those fancy women?" Shane countered.

"It's plain as all can see, isn't it? Nothing but the richest for Shane," Cait said.

"I don't know where this is coming from, Cait. You're being crazy," Shane said, and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Oh, crazy is it? Well, then you can just take yourself right out of my pub. Wouldn't want you associating with a mad woman, now," Cait sputtered at Shane.

Keelin's mouth dropped open as Shane wrenched Cait to his chest and captured her lips in a smoldering kiss before shoving her away from him.

"You're crazy. You drive me crazy. This is all crazy," Shane muttered to himself. Seeing Keelin, he threw his hands up in the air and breezed past her out of the door. Keelin turned to watch him go and then looked back to Cait, her eyebrow raised.

Cait stood with her hand to her lips, her face slack with a mixture of shock and lust. Keelin walked over and waved her hand in front of Cait's face.

"Hello…earth to Cait," Keelin said.

Cait's eyes snapped to hers. "Sorry about that."

"Oh, don't be. Really, it was most entertaining," Keelin said and laughed down at Cait. Cait moved behind the bar and poured them both a cider without asking. Keelin settled onto a stool and studied her friend's flushed cheeks.

"So, want to tell me about that?" Keelin asked.

"Nope, not in the slightest. I can see it all over you that you have way more exciting news. So, dish." Cait gestured with her cider.

Keelin eyed her for a moment. "Okay, I'll give you a free pass. For now. And only because, yes, I have the best story for you."

Keelin all but glowed as she filled Cait in on her night.

"Three times? Three!" Cait squealed at the end of it and Keelin laughed.

"Three," she said.

"So, when do you see him next?" Cait asked.

"Tomorrow: we are going hiking. I'm nervous," Keelin admitted.

"Because you haven't told him about yourself, have you?" Cait asked, reading Keelin's mind.

"I haven't. I…he just seems so resistant to the concept. How do I even begin?" Keelin asked as she tore apart a bar napkin.

"I don't know. I really don't. But all I can say is…the sooner, the better. You don't want to get too far along with him and have him find out. He'll never forgive you," Cait said ominously.

Keelin finished her cider and mulled it over. Cait was right. She'd just have to do it on the hike tomorrow. Worst-case scenario, he'd run screaming over the hills to get away from her. Keelin could only hope that it was far less dramatic than that.  

Chapter Twenty-Five

Fiona helped Keelin
to pack her hiking bag the next day. The old woman fussed nervously over her.

"I'm fine," Keelin said.

"I know, I know. I just…never mind," Fiona said as a knock on the door interrupted them.

"Coming!" Keelin yelled out, and snagged her small pack for a day hike. "I shouldn't be too late."

"Good luck, my dear girl. Remember, true love sees all."

Keelin nodded and stepped into the sunshine and the warmth of Flynn's smile. He scooped her up immediately and caressed her lips with his. Startled, Keelin let out a laugh as she sunk into his mouth. He tasted elemental – all manly and earthy. On a small moan, she stopped herself and leaned back to look into his deep blue eyes.

"Morning, handsome." Keelin smiled up at him and tried not to sink into his eyes. Oh, she was for sure a goner, she thought as her heart tripped a bit and seemed to fall off a ledge into her stomach.

"Hey, beautiful. I thought about you all night. I couldn't wait to see you again today." Flynn smiled openly and easily at her as he took her hand and led her down a path. Keelin's heart clenched a bit. She wanted to fall into this easy rhythm with him. She didn't want there to be secrets. How would she bring the subject up?

They followed a path over the hills and winding around the other side of the cove. The sun was retreating behind one of Ireland's famous mists, yet it was still warm enough for a hike. Keelin realized that she was able to identify many of the plants and flowers thanks to Fiona's tutelage. They reached the base of a path that led up a sharp cliff. Though the ascent didn't look to carry on for that long, the path was severe.

Flynn stopped her at the base. "Up for a climb? It is tough but only for a small bit. The view is worth the climb."

"Absolutely. I would love to see the view."

"Why don't you go first? That way I can catch you if you slide," Flynn joked at her.

"Sure, you just want to look at my butt," Keelin teased as she poked a finger into the muscles of his hard stomach. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, trailing his hands down to cup her bottom.

"Mmm, I certainly do love it. Maybe we should stop here and rest for a bit." Flynn wiggled his eyebrows at her and pulled until she was locked against the hard length of him. Heat shot straight to her core.

"Oh no, this one is for the top. Last one up owes the other a massage!" Keelin laughed at him and turned tail to run up the path. She heard his chuckle behind her but didn’t look back. Soon she her breath came out in heavy puffs as she navigated the rocky terrain. Rocks slipped out from under her feet as she heaved herself over sharp rock piles, and she gasped as her foot slipped and caught the sharp edge of a stick. Rolling her eyes, Keelin told herself to slow down. This was a dangerous path and she needed to be careful.

"Keelin!" Flynn's shout broke her thoughts and she turned to see him fall from the ledge below her.

Panic raced through Keelin as she screamed for Flynn. Her heart pounding, she turned to race down the ledge and realized it was too steep to do so. She would have to back down as a rock climber would. Trying to hurry and calling Flynn's name repeatedly, Keelin eased herself painstakingly down the path.

"Flynn. Please, Flynn, answer me. Flynn!" She reached level ground and raced to where Flynn was crumpled over his leg. Her heart slammed into her chest and she forced herself to take deep breaths as she saw a pool of blood rapidly flowing from him. Flynn groaned and leaned backwards. His face was ashen and quickly turning to white.

"Help. Run. It's bad. Really bad. Please. Call for help," Flynn gasped out.

"Here, let me look." Keelin kneeled at his side and tried not to wince at the rapid flow of blood. Flynn's hands were covering a large wound in his leg. He applied pressure and was trying to stop the flow of blood but it squirted from beneath his hands. Keelin ripped his pants open and discovered the cause of the blood. A compound fracture had caused his bone to rip through his thigh. And, judging from the flow of blood, he had ripped his femoral artery. Keelin knew that death would come soon without a tourniquet and immediate medical aid.

"Okay, Flynn, don't look. Just keep the pressure on. I am going to make a tourniquet." Keelin stripped off her shirt and ripped it into several strips before she laid it underneath his leg and told him to brace himself. She looked around for a few sticks. Finding some near, she placed one in his mouth and the other in the shirt to tighten it.

"This is going to hurt. Just hang on." Flynn nodded at her and closed his eyes. His color was fading fast. Keelin quickly tied the tourniquet and pulled it as tight as she could. She could feel the tension in Flynn as he clenched his jaw around the stick. The gray dregs of panic threatened to cloud her head and Keelin tried to breathe. What now? Keelin pulled Flynn's hands from the wound and saw that the tourniquet had done little to stem the flow of blood. If she didn’t save him now, he would die.

Keelin reached for her pack. Inside was her necklace. Grace O'Malley's necklace, she reminded herself. She had packed it this morning for some odd reason and now she knew why. She placed it over her head and the stone warmed itself between her breasts, a low hum throbbing through her skin. Flynn eyes tracked her through his narrowed eyelids. 

Keelin hiccupped a sob out as she pressed her hands to Flynn's leg. She watched as the blood squirted between her fingers and her mind whirled. She couldn't breathe – couldn't think. Could she do this? Could she heal someone – not just someone – but the man she loved? She wanted to scream. She wasn't prepared for this. Fiona hadn't taught her how to handle emergencies. What if she made it worse? With a quick glance at Flynn's pale face, Keelin realized there wasn't much opportunity for it to get any worse. He was close to death.

Keelin took one of her hands, slick with blood, and wrapped it around her amulet. Instantly, her mind cleared and the stone grew hot in her hand. Keelin closed her eyes and placed her hands on Flynn's leg. She whispered a short prayer of love. A soft white ball of light formed in her mind's eye. She imagined the ball of light traveling through her mind and down into her heart. From her heart, she poured all of her love into the ball of light and it began to pulse with a dull pink light. Taking her love, her heart, she allowed the ball of light to run through her arms and into her hands. In her mind, she could see the dull edges of death creeping through Flynn's veins towards the beautiful blue light of his soul.

Suddenly furious, Keelin forced her light into Flynn's leg and slammed it in front of the dark light creeping towards his heart. She gasped as pain shot through her. Determined to hold on, she fought the dull blackness and started to build a wall around it with her white light. Over and over, she pushed the sticky black stain further from his leg, creating building blocks along the way. Her entire body shook with the effort, and sweat dripped in a stream down her back. Tears, unbeknownst to her, ran down her face and into his wound. Over and over, Keelin prayed for her light to rebuild his artery and to knit the bone in his leg. Her strength began to fade and she shook with the effort of holding on until she was certain the dark light was gone. In one final push, her amulet burned to her chest, and with a loud snap, her light eradicated the darkness in his leg.

Flynn jumped to his feet. "What the hell was that?" His fury blasted her.

Shocked, Keelin stared at his angry face and slid into the darkness.