Excerpt from The Empress of Ireland

“Please, it’s a terrible night. It’s Sunday and there’s nothing else open. Except this umbrella.” He held it out to her.

“Is this a peace offering, since I was the dummy who forgot mine?”

“Call it what you will. Is this your first night in Ireland?”

“Yes. I flew in today.”

“Then it can’t start out like this. But I have to warn ya, most people who come, never leave.” He gave her a wink that made his eyes sparkle under the dim streetlights. He was kind of cute, and what else could she do?

“This is Kinsale not Brigadoon,” she said with a chuckle.

“Let me take your bag,” he offered. “By the way, the name’s Alasdair. You can’t be walking the streets at night with a complete stranger.” He smiled again. Okay, he was really cute with ebony tousled hair and emerald green eyes.

She popped open the umbrella and raised it above their heads. He stepped close and put a tentative hand around her back to join her under the cover. He was warm, solid and smelled like firewood. Her stomach did a little flip.

“Shall we?” he asked.

She smiled. “Sure.”