Heart of the Druid Laird Read Free Page B

Mairéad’s mother? Something about her drew him, and he knew better than to ignore his instincts. Slowly, so as not to draw attention, he made his way toward her, stopping now and then to pick up this object or that. She never looked up, not even when he stood right before her. Dermot reached for a business card from the Lucite card holder in front of the computer. “Zoe LeBlanc and Sidney St. George, Proprietors.”
    She gasped, and her body jerked at the sound of his voice. The receipts fluttered from her hand like a flock of startled sparrows, and she dove to the floor after them.
    “St. George.” Dermot leaned over the counter to get a better view of her very fine backside. “Sounds like it ought to have dragon-slayer written after it. The St. Georges were famous for it, ye ken.”
    She rose abruptly, and her head connected with the edge of the counter with a thunk. “Ow!” She scrunched her eyes shut and rubbed the back of her skull. “Is there something I can help you with?”
    “I did no’ mean to startle you, lass. I’m looking for someone.” Dermot tucked the business card into his breast pocket. “Are Zoe and this Sidney fellow a couple?”
    She frowned and busied herself with putting the slips of paper back in order. “A couple of what?”
    “A couple with a child, perhaps?”
    “ I am that Sidney fellow, and no, Zoe and I are not a couple.” Still she refused to look at him. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m very busy.”
    “Who would do that to a lass? Give her a man’s name that is.” Look up, woman. Let me see your eyes.
    She let out an exasperated sigh, and her eyebrows drew together to form a tiny wrinkle between them in the shape of a V. V for vexed. Most people treated him with deference. Some cowered in his presence. None let on that he’d vexed them. For some inexplicable reason, the fact that she didn’t hide her response pleased him.
    She raised herself to her full height and squared her shoulders. “My parents, of course.” She met his gaze, one eyebrow lifted in annoyance. “And you are…?”
    The shock of recognition took his breath and rendered him speechless. The impact slammed into him like a cannonball to the midsection. He stepped back. Mairéad’s spirit radiated pure and bright from this woman’s eyes. All he could do for several seconds was stare. How could this be? How had she hidden herself from him all this time?
    Fumbling with his pocket, he drew out a card, hoping she didn’t notice his hand trembling as he gave it to her. “ Diarmad Macaoidth, at your service.”
     
    Damn! Why did you have to go and look at him, you idiot? The moment their eyes met, Sidney fell into some kind of crazy, gut-wrenching thrill ride. Scary Faerie’s warning pinged around inside her head while the Scot’s gunmetal-gray gaze bored into her soul. His voice was bad enough. Deep and rich like a fine aged cognac, it resonated through her until her insides shifted and realigned. Did she have to make it worse by looking at him? No man had the right to be that gorgeous.
    Sidney forced herself to break the eye contact and glanced at his business card before laying it facedown on the counter. “Well, Deer-Mud-Mack-Eye—”
    “It’s Diarmad, lass.”
    “What brings you to my little corner of the world, Deerrrr Mutt?”
    “You do.”
    The roller-coaster took a drop, leaving her heart somewhere in midair. Oh, God. This can’t be. Scary Faerie had to be a dream—because if she wasn’t, then what the hell was going on? “Sorry you came all this way for nothing.”
    “Are you no’ going to ask why I’m here?”
    She shook her head. She longed to ask, but a vague sense of foreboding held her back. How was it possible he could affect her the way he did? She pretended to return her attention to recording consignment receipts and willed him away.
    “We can discuss it over lunch tomorrow.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “I’ll pick you up here at noon.” He rapped the counter