IRISH FIRE (23 page)

C
aitlin stood on the porch, her face pale, her hands trembling. May I come in?

Wordlessly, Brian stepped aside and closed the door behind her. Neeve lifted her head briefly before settling into her original position.

Caitlin kept her back to him and clenched her fists to stop the shaking of her hands.

How is Annie? he asked.

Shell be all right. Her voice cracked on the last word.

Im makin tea, he said to the back of her head. Would you care for a cup?

She still wouldnt look at him. Do you have anything stronger?

Will whiskey do?

She turned and something in her face must have shocked him.

Are
you
all right?

She nodded. Are you?

He held up a bandaged hand. Nothin serious, accordin to the doctor. Sit down. Ill be right back.

He returned with two glasses filled with a liberal amount of amber liquid. She was seated on the couch, her face warmed by the heat of the hearth fire. Friendly light it was, copper colored, slightly aromatic, safely contained. He sat down beside her.

She took the glass from his hand and swallowed more than she should have.

Easy now, he warned her. Theres no hurry.

I cant She stopped.

He waited.

She stared into the fire, not looking at him. I wanted to tell you Again she was unable to continue.

He set down his drink and took her hand in his. It was ice-cold against his warmth and she was still trembling. Carefully, he drew her into his arms.

She buried her face against his shoulder and sobbed. From deep within her the sound came upthe guttural, wrenching, primitive cry of a woman uncomfortable with tears. She felt his hands move up her arms, tenderly, soothingly. Cradling the back of her head in his hand, he pulled her tightly against him and pressed his lips against her temple. He muttered words in Gaelic, words shed forgotten and would have no memory of beyond this moment. Over and over he stroked and soothed and kissed and spoke, and all the while she sobbed and shook in his arms.

When there was nothing left, when the tears had battered her face so that her eyes disappeared and no one outside of her own mother would recognize her, she relaxed.

Somehow he knew what she needed, a reaffirmation of lifeAnnies, his, her own. He must have felt the change in her at the exact moment it happened. She felt his hands, no longer soothing, slide beneath her jumper to caress the bare skin of her back. His lips moved from her temple to the hollow of her cheek, the line of her throat, the curve of her mouth. Circling his neck with her arms, Caitlin pulled him down on top of her and parted her lips.

She was a woman whod gone too long without and it all came together quickly. For Caitlin it was as if shed never known the intimacy of a mans tongue in her mouth, never felt her bare breasts filling his hands, his leg urging hers apart, his fingers sliding down her belly, moving against her, inside her. His words, urgent, whispered, encouraging. For the first time she understood the building intensity, the ache of rising heat.

Meeting his mouth eagerly, she arched her back and held his head to her breasts, to the dip of her waist, the inside of her thigh and when it was time, she took the hard length of his swollen flesh in her hand, guiding him in until her body closed around him, every nerve heightened, exposed, waiting for his thrust and that first delicious rush of pleasure that would begin it all.

She loved the way he slepteffortlessly, thoroughly, without motion or sound. She loved the texture of his hair, the black shine of it, the way it fell across his forehead and grew down unevenly to the base of his skull where his spinal cord began. She loved the feel of his ribs and the play of hard muscle beneath his skin when he moved his arms. She loved the way he smelled of linseed oil and hay, leather and horse. She loved his voice, kind with rough edges, amusement lifting the ends of his sentences in a lovely Irish lilt. She loved the rise and fall of his smooth chest, the lean spareness of his shoulder blades, the clean line of his nose, the firm, no-nonsense cut of his lip. In fact, decided Caitlin, she could not have designed a man to be any more appealing than Brian Hennessey was to her at this moment.

Hed fallen asleep on top of her. Shifting carefully so as not to disturb him, she maneuvered his weight so that she could breathe comfortably. He muttered something inaudible and moved his hand to cup the underside of her breast, but didnt wake.

She saw the back of his hand and winced. It was badly blistered, burned because of Annie. If it hadnt been for Brian, Annie would be She couldnt face it, not yet. That was why shed come. After Annie had been sedated and fallen asleep in her hospital bed, Caitlin had come to see Brian, to reassure herself that he was alive and well, to tell him just how much what hed done meant to her.

Those had been her intentions, nothing more, despite what had passed between them that night on the Naas Road. But when he opened the door and she saw the bandages on his hands, the raw scrape across the plane of his cheek and the weariness in his eyes, she lost what was left of her control. She hadnt planned to seduce him. She would never have done such a thing. He was particularly vulnerable just now. Perhaps she should have been the strong one, the one to step away. It would have been the fair thing, the right thing to do. But she desperately needed comfort and shed waited such a long time for a man, this man, to want her.

Admit it, Caitlin, she said under her breath, hes not like anyone else. Not that admitting it changed anything. She was in the middle of a bitterly contested divorce that could drag on indefinitely. She could be forced to change her domicile from Ireland to Kentucky at the whim of a judge and she was nearly out of moneynot an appealing package for a man who had choices. What theyd done was rash, foolish even, because neither of them was a casual kind of person. Sex meant more, a great deal more, than a relieving of tension. But she wouldnt take it back, not now, not for anything.

Brian lifted his head, bracing himself on his hands and looked down at her. Regrettin me already? he chided, softly mimicking her own words.

Not for the reasons you think.

For what then?

She hesitated.

Tell me, Caitlin.

Im afraid to start something that may not play out.

He traced her jaw with his finger. Doesnt everyone begin that way?

She frowned. Not in the same sense.

Meaning?

Suddenly self-conscious, she turned her head to the side. Im still married and it looks like it may be some time before Im divorced.

I can wait.

If the judge finds in Sams favor at the custody hearing, I could be forced to return to Kentucky.

No one can force you to do anythin.

I cant lose my children.

Of course not. The amusement was back in his voice again. Is there anythin else?

Her voice lowered to a whisper. Im not in the best position financially.

Brian chuckled low in his throat, winced and swallowed painfully, lingering effects of the fire. After a minute he spoke. I rather like havin you dependent on me.

You know what I mean.

I do.

Doesnt it matter to you?

He kissed her nose, then both eyelids, and finally her lips. Things have a way of workin out.

She sighed and closed her eyes, only too willing to give up her objections and revel in the feel of his mouth moving across her skin. Much later, when hed found an afghan and wrapped it around the two of them, she whispered into his ear, Thank you, Brian, for Annie. I cant tell you how grateful I am. There are no words for what youve given me.

His eyes were bright. Youre very welcome, he replied gently. Im happy that it all worked out.

Gratitude isnt the reason Im here with you, like this.

No?

No.

Laughter deepened the lines around his eyes. Its settled then.

Relieved, she rested her cheek against his chest. Somehow he understood and it was enough.

Succumbing to the combined effect of alcohol, darkness, and warmth, Caitlins eyelids drooped. She was nearly asleep when Brians words jarred her awake.

There was a casualty of the fire, Caitlin.

Her eyes flew open. What do you mean?

His arms tightened around her.
Irish Gold
died in the flames. Im sorry.

Her lip trembled. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over. She wiped them away. Poor little thing. He never had a chance. You never told me how the fire started.

Brian shook his head. We dont know yet. There will be an investigation.

Were any other horses injured?

No.

Something was wrong but she couldnt put her finger on it. Her brain was too muddled with drowsiness and drink and the afterglow of sex to think clearly. I should be getting home. I said I wouldnt be long.

Ill know more after the fire chief looks into things.

What things?

He kissed her shoulder. The cause of the fire.

Caitlin sat up and pulled the blanket around her shoulders. He was too close and she was too vulnerable. This conversation required space between them. You would tell me if there was anything else, wouldnt you, Brian?

She could see the indecision in his face and pressed her advantage. Because if you didnt and we werent careful and something happened

His hands slid up and down her arms. Youre a clever lass, he said, his mouth against her neck. Rest assured, if I thought you were in any danger I would tell you and the garda.

Why was Annie in the yearling barn?

She wanted to see the colt.

Was she with him when you found her?

She felt the sudden tensing of his jaw.

I cant be sure, he hedged. The barn was filled with smoke.

He was lying. She was sure of it. But why? Its odd that
Irish Gold
was the only horse killed.

We were lucky.

I wasnt so lucky, Brian.

He sighed, sat up, reached for his clothes and began to dress.
Irish Gold
was crippled, Caitlin. He was facin a serious operation and an uncertain future. The expenses would have been enormous. Even then He stopped suddenly, as if he knew hed already said too much.

Caitlin frowned. Please, finish that thought.

Brian tucked in his shirt. I dont believe he would ever have made a race horse.

A cold miserable lump settled in her stomach. What makes you more of an expert than Robert Fowler?

Fowlers a vet, not a trainer, Brian replied. He cures sick animals, he doesnt judge them for racin potential.

Please dont repeat those sentiments to anyone else.

He stared at her. What is that supposed to mean?

She swallowed and forced the words through her lips.
Irish Gold
s condition was no secret. I wouldnt want to be suspected of burning down your barn for the insurance money. My children would be taken from me for good. A thought chilled her blood. She could no longer feel the warmth of the blanket between her fingers. I hope you dont think I started the fire for that very reason.

A thin white line appeared around Brians lips. His face went completely still. Averting her eyes, Caitlin found her clothes. Her fingers shook as she pulled on her underwear, sweater, and slacks. If only he wasnt staring at her. Its late, she said shakily. Ive stayed too long already.

He interrupted her. You didnt start the fire, Caitlin, but someone did. Its too soon to speculate but when I know more Ill tell you. I promise you that.

Did someone deliberately set out to kill my colt? she demanded.

I wouldnt rule out the possibility.

What about
Graybeards Lady?
Is she in any danger?

I dont believe so. The important thing is that you and the children arent in any danger. Annies presence in the barn was coincidental. She wasnt supposed to be there.

Caitlin shook her head. I dont understand. Suddenly she remembered. Sams man, Mr. Fahey, gave your exercise boy an envelope at the Punchestown races.