Chapter Sixteen

 

The fire of his kiss crackled through her body like a shock of lightning. It sizzled through her veins to explode behind her eyelids.

Her body vibrated with his onslaught. She felt his erection against her abdomen and instantly knew what his interest was in her. It had nothing to do with a recording contract.

He sucked and toyed with her lips until she was dazed. He traced the line of her lips with his tongue until they parted, then plunged into her mouth. He kissed her as she’d never been kissed before. His mouth was hot and hinted at the Guinness he must have had earlier. The erotic kiss sent her senses reeling.

She felt his arms slide around her waist. His hands dipped down to the curve of her bottom and pulled her hips against his. He ground his erection into her. The intimate feel of him made her moan deep in her throat. His lips slid from hers and trailed fiery kisses down the length of one side of her throat to the hollow at her collarbone, then back up the other side to reclaim her lips once more.

She moaned again and buried her fingers in his silky hair. She clenched handfuls in her fists and held him to her, not wanting to ever let him go.

Was this was the kiss he had threatened her with two days ago on her front steps? Or was it the result of pent-up desire since then? Whatever it was, this was the kiss she’d always dreamed about but never had. This was a once-in-a-lifetime kiss and, by God, she would have more of it before she was through.

As quickly as he’d pressed her against the wall, Kieran backed away and took her by the hand and pulled her along the main street. She stumbled blindly behind him to where he’d parked his bike. Through her daze, she watched him remove his jacket and hand it to her, instructing her to put it on and get on behind him.

When she hesitated, his blue eyes burned a path straight to her belly. By the look of him she knew she better to do as he said or he’d cause another scene.

She wasn’t afraid for her safety more so than the fact she couldn’t trust herself in his presence. He’d ignited something with his kiss and she wanted more.

She’d donned the heavy leather jacket. Kieran’s scent on the garment assaulted her as if she were back up against the wall of the pub and waivered on her feet.

Steadying herself, she got on the bike behind him. Shock raced through her when he grabbed her legs and pulled her tightly against him so her breasts were against his back and her legs practically wrapped around his hips as her arms were now.

He started the engine and was about to pull out when she heard someone calling her name. She turned to see Megan rushing up the street, a frantic look on her face.

“Oh, Ei, I’m so glad I found you.”

Eilis saw the panic in her friend’s eyes, and whatever feelings Kieran had forced into her with his kiss, started cooling. Realization at what she’d allowed him to do to her against the pub wall, and her own reaction, horrified her. But she couldn’t think about that now.

She pulled herself off the bike and grabbed Megan by the shoulders to steady her. Megan clutched her mobile phone in her hand and had a wild look in her eyes.

“What is it, Meg? What’s happened?”

“Oh, Ei!” Megan cried and collapsed into her arms. She sobbed against her shoulder, mumbling. Eilis pulled her friend away from her, shaking her.

“Megan, tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s Sean. Mrs. O’Sullivan just rang. He’s burning up with fever.”

Eilis wrapped her arms around her friend’s shaking body.

She glanced at Kieran. An annoyed crease formed between his eyes, but she saw sympathy too. She hoped the look she gave him apologized for this. Yet at the same time, she was thankful Megan had stopped her when she had, because she had no idea where Kieran was about to take her or what he would do to her. Or perhaps she did. Knowing that his kiss could so quickly lower her defenses, scared her.

She met her friend’s gaze once more. “Give me the car keys. I’ll get us back up to the B&B and we’ll get him to the doctor. He’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

She pulled off Kieran’s jacket. The chill of the evening assaulted her like a splash of cold water. It was exactly what she needed right now. She handed Kieran the jacket. He touched her hand as he took it. She hesitated momentarily, then guided Megan away.

♥ ♥ ♥

“Damn!” he cursed, scowling at passers-by. Just when he had the chance to take Eilis somewhere where they could talk, and so he could kiss her again, Fate had stepped in again and taken her way from him. Was this just a game with Fate? And if so, how did Destiny fit in? He wished Fate and Destiny would war on their own time, and leave him alone.

He was no Romeo, but judging by their kiss, there was no mistaking they could be very good together, whatever other connection they seemed to share.

Kissing her hadn’t been his intention, but once he’d got her out of the pub, pent-up desire had hit him and it was like trying to stop a freight train with a feather.

Hearing her sing in the pub had been indescribable. Her voice was smooth as velvet and warm as whiskey. It had heated him so deeply he could barely breathe. He wondered why she’d opted for the job as an artist’s rep over one she could have had singing. If she thought he had talent, she’d obviously never listened to herself.

He slammed his foot down on the kickstarter, gunned the motor then maneuvered the bike onto the street.

Approaching a roundabout, he paused wondering which direction to turn. Left would take him back to his B&B. Right would take him back to Cork. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but none of them to be explored this night.

The horn behind him forced a decision and he flipped on his left blinker. He’d return to his B&B and hope Eilis rang him once the crisis was over. He’d left his new mobile number on her answering service. If nothing else, he was a man of his word.

♥ ♥ ♥

Mrs. O’Sullivan was at the front door waiting when Eilis and Megan returned to the B&B. Megan had the car door open and was running up the driveway before the car came to a full stop. She met Mrs. O’Sullivan half way.

“Where is he?”

“My husband is in your room with the doctor now.” Mrs. O’Sullivan barely got the words out as Megan dashed past her into the house. Eilis struggled to keep up.

Mr. O’Sullivan met them at the bedroom door. He put his finger to his lips, then quietly opened the door for Megan to enter. Mrs. O’Sullivan stopped Eilis in the doorway.

“I’m so sorry.” Eilis saw worry written all over the poor woman’s face. “He seemed fine when you left. He fussed a little, but only as you left. He settled soon after. When I put him down for bed he started fidgeting, but you know how babies can be in a new place. Then he started crying and nothing would settle him, the poor mite. I wouldn’t have bothered you except that I thought he was developing a rash. Himself rang the doctor. He arrived just before you did. I’m sure he’ll be fine, but I’m still so worried.”

Eilis looked through the doorway at where Megan knelt at the bedside looking down at her son.

“Thank you, Mrs. O’Sullivan. You did everything you could. We appreciate it. Really,” Eilis assured the distraught woman.

A man stepped out of the bathroom just then, wiping his hands on a clean towel. He wasn’t dressed as a doctor. He looked more like someone’s grandfather. He was tall and lean, balding and with his glasses resting on the very tip of his nose. He smiled kindly at Megan.

“Are you the mother?” he asked, moving to the bedside. He brushed the backs of his fingers across the boy’s cheek. He went to his bag and pulled out a file to make some notes.

“I am. What’s wrong with my son?” Megan’s gaze was fixed on Sean.

The doctor didn’t reply immediately as he continued to write. This only frustrated her friend all the more. She rose and went to the doctor’s side when his answer wasn’t forthcoming.

“What is wrong with my son?” she repeated, more forcefully this time.

It was like time stood still before the man put down his pen and looked into Megan’s eyes. “Maybe we should go downstairs, so we don’t wake your boy, hmm?” Megan nodded and reluctantly followed him out of the room.

The O’Sullivans left Eilis and Megan alone with the doctor in the front parlor.

“I’m the O’Sullivans’ family doctor, Michael Dunne. I came right over when I got their call.”

“What’s wrong with Sean? He was fine a couple hours ago.” Megan’s voice was hoarse as she spoke, her throat raw from sobbing in the car.

“Your son is fine, missus. He’s just suffering from a common illness brought on by a bacteria called Varicella.”

“Varicella?” Megan and Eilis chimed in together.

Dr. Dunne nodded. “Simply put, your son has chickenpox.” Megan was obviously stunned. She was too. Chickenpox was common enough, but Sean was so young, barely a year. Where had he picked it up?

“But he was fine a few hours ago when we left him with Mrs. O’Sullivan. How could he have contracted chickenpox in such a short space of time?” Megan asked. She was calming, but there was no mistaking the lingering worry.

“Illnesses can take days to come on. Because Sean is so young, there was no way for him to tell you he wasn’t feeling well. He probably didn’t know himself until it progressed earlier this evening,” Dr. Dunne explained. “Did you notice anything unusual about him in the last day or two? Any spots or rashes? Did he seem out of character? Go off his meals? Anything?”

Megan thought for a moment. Eventually she shook her head. “He’s been fidgety all day, not wanting to stay in his stroller. You know how kids are. Angels one day, devils the next.”

“I examined him. He has a few spots on his chest, but no matter,” said the doctor. “I’m prescribing him a regimen to follow over the next two weeks.” He pulled a prescription pad from his medical bag and started writing. As he wrote, he told Megan what she was to do. “I’m giving you a prescription for a child’s dose of a pain reliever.” Without lifting his head, he looked over the top rim of his glasses at Megan. “Only use it if Sean’s temperature goes over 101 degrees, otherwise just try to keep him comfortable and cool. A cool, damp cloth will help. Quite often, a bath in oatmeal water helps.”

She nodded that she understood.

“I’m also giving you a child-strength antihistamine. This will help relieve the itching. You’ll want to clip his nails regularly to keep him from scratching himself and breaking open the sores as they appear.” When he was finished writing, he tore the page off the pad and handed it to Megan. She glanced over it to be sure she understood correctly, then folded it away into her pocket.

“Thank you, Doctor. When can I take him home to Cork, or does he need to stay here until he’s well?” Megan asked. Eilis knew if Megan couldn’t take Sean home to care for him, it would drive her crazy. She would want to care for her sick child in the comfort of her own home rather than in an anonymous B&B in the height of tourist season.

“You may want to take him with you tonight. He should sleep through the drive. I gave him something to calm him and a dose of the antihistamine. You’ll want to get that prescription filled as soon as the chemist opens in the morning. Follow through with it. Keep him home and calm. He’ll be as right as the Irish rain in no time,” the doctor promised, smiling.

“Thank you, doctor,” Megan whispered. “If we’re done, I’d like to go to him now.” The doctor nodded and Megan rushed from the room leaving Eilis alone with the physician.

“Thank you very much, Doctor,” Eilis said, extending her hand. “He’s her first and I think this is the first real illness he’s ever had.”

“Not to worry,” he told her. “Sean is a healthy boy and will recover fully. Kids get these illnesses. It’s part of growing up.”

“I suppose it is.” Eilis quickly glanced towards the door, then back to the doctor.

“Did you have another question?”

Her worry must have been obvious to him. “Is chickenpox contagious?”

“‘Tis. But if your friend keeps Sean home and has had it herself, then everything will be fine.”

“What if I haven’t had chickenpox? Can I get it from him?”

He nodded. “Yes, it’s possible. But as long as you’ve kept your distance, you should be OK. Just watch for symptoms.”

“Is there an incubation period?”

“Two weeks. When was your last visit?”

Eilis grimaced. “Two weeks ago.”

“I see.” She didn’t like the sound of that. “If Mrs. O’Sullivan has a spare room, I would be happy to examine you before I leave.” Eilis nodded and followed him into Mrs. O’Sullivan’s kitchen where she was waiting, worry etching her face.