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"SO, ARE WE READY FOR Christmas Eve?" Devlin limped around the store with his cane, turning off the stained glass lamps, checking the locks on the front door and the windows.
Eve looked up from the cash register, where she was counting out the money and preparing the bank deposit. She grinned at him, her heart full. The last week had been the best of her life. They'd spent every evening in front of the fireplace upstairs, talking about traveling. What the future might bring.
Could she even stay in Ireland? This had just been a visit, a favor for a dear friend without any salary. But if she were to stay, Eve imagined there would be all sorts of regulations to consider.
Then again, Devlin had talked about coming to the States for an extended stay, to explore the Rockies and Pacific Northwest with his cameras. One way or another, there had to be a way they could pursue this relationship and see where it might lead.
"I'm done," she called out. "I just need to take this down to the bank, then get started on dinner so it can all be cooking while we're at the Christmas Eve service."
He withdrew his coat from the back closet. "I'll take the deposit to the bank, so you can go on upstairs." He dropped a swift kiss on her cheek and tucked the money bag under his arm. "This is one dinner I can't wait to enjoy. Your pies look totally amazing."
After locking up behind him, she opened the door to the upstairs apartment and whistled for Walter, who raced down the steps and straight to the back door, where he danced with excitement until she caught up and let him out.
She was halfway up the stairs when the phone rang behind her.
"We're closed," she muttered under her breath. She hesitated, then relented and made it back to the front desk on the fourth ring. "Shamrocks and Shivers Antiquarian Bookshop."
There was a short pause, then a silvery laugh. "You must be the American. When Dev told me that Shauna found a librarian to help her out, I thought it utterly charming."
"Can I help you?"
"Actually, I want Dev but he hasn't answered his phone today. I hope he's all right. No more little accidents?"
The voice was clearly upper class British, the tone condescending. Eve gritted her teeth. "He isn't here right now."
"Well, that's inconvenient. My plane is taking off and they're making me shut this phone off. Can you take a message?"
Eve grabbed a pen and paper. "Go ahead."
"This Lydia. Tell him...I'm sorry I missed his birthday last month. And I'm sorry I missed his call last night. I will definitely meet him at The Lanesborough Hotel on the fourth, as planned. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Writing down the message, Eve swallowed hard. "Got it."
"Oh—and I'm on for Scotland in May. Tell him to decide on the dates, and I'll work on the arrangements. I'd like it to be even better than last year." She laughed softly, the satisfaction in her voice telegraphing just how good it had been.
Eve stared at the notes long after the woman ended the call.
How could she have been so naïve, so utterly stupid? One soul-searing kiss had made her forget every resolution she'd made, every bit of intelligence and perception she'd possessed before meeting Devlin. She'd let herself fall in love.
And all the while, he'd had ongoing plans with a woman whose voice dripped diamonds and old money, and perhaps many other women as well.
Stupid didn't even begin to cover how she felt. She'd be fleeing home on the next plane if not for her responsibilities and debt to Shauna.
She would stay on until the day she could leave. Be nothing more than polite to Devlin. And then she would try to forget that she'd never even met the despicable man.