The Mighty Quinns: Danny Read Free Page B

thought possible. She saw gates and railings and balustrades and a beautiful sundial that she immediately wanted for the garden at Castle Cnoc.
    But it wasn’t just architectural items that she found. Along one wall were a series of small animals, hedgehogs and rabbits and squirrels, clever little creatures made of cast iron. She wandered over to a crooked shelf tacked to a crossbeam and examined a collection of small carved objects.
    â€œYou did these?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
    â€œWhen I was a kid. The cast-iron animals are for the tourists. They’re small enough to fit in a suitcase and make a nice remembrance. You wouldn’t believe how many good jobs I get because of those bloody hedgehogs.”
    Jordan smiled. “They are cute.”
    He reached down and grabbed one and handed it to her. “Then take one with you. They make a proper doorstop or a decent paperweight. But they’re pure hell if your toe runs across one in the dark.”
    â€œThank you,” Jordan said.
    He stared at her for a long moment. “You have a lovely smile,” Danny said.
    Jordan quickly turned away, crossing the dirt floor to the forge. The massive stone fireplace, set at waist level, was located against the far wall, banked with coal, red embers glowing inside. Soot stained the stone above the hearth. Tools lined the walls surrounding the forge and a battered anvil sat in the center of it all.
    â€œThis is amazing,” she murmured. She walked to a spot where an iron gate was propped against a post. The decorative ironwork was so intricate, so artistic that Jordan immediately knew she wasn’t in the presence of a craftsman but an artist. She pointed to a huge rosette sitting beside it. “What is this for?”
    â€œThat’s just a try,” he said. “The two I finished were set into the stone wall of a formal garden, kind of like a window.”
    â€œI want you,” she blurted out, spinning around to face him. “I don’t care what it takes, but I want you.”
    A slow smile curved his lips. “That’s always nice to hear.”
    Jordan groaned inwardly. Never in her life had she been so befuddled by a man. Yes, she found him wildly attractive. What woman wouldn’t, him standing there with his shirt unbuttoned to the waist and his gorgeous body tempting her?
    But there was something else at work here. He was incredibly talented and impossibly charming and nothing like the men she was usually attracted to. Yet the attraction was undeniable. If he agreed to work for her, she’d have to keep that attraction in check.
    Maybe she ought to just walk away. Having him in close proximity was a disaster waiting to happen. What she really needed was a blacksmith who was old and wrinkled and didn’t have all his teeth. That kind of man would be so much easier to resist. Danny Quinn was the human equivalent of catnip.
    â€œHow much do you want me?” Danny asked.
    â€œWhat I meant was that I want you to do this job. I can see your talent and I think we can work out a way that your needs—” She cleared her throat. “Your artistic needs can be met.” Jordan drew a deep breath. “As far as compensation, I’m willing to be generous if you’re willing to put all your time and effort into the project until it’s finished. Ten-hour days, six days a week if necessary.”
    â€œAnd what kind of compensation are we talking about?”
    â€œWell, it depends on how long you take to finish the job. But I can promise you that it will be very generous. Well worth your while.”
    â€œYou’ll have to include living expenses. I can’t work from here.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause I don’t want to spend my time making the drive back and forth every time I need to fit something, dragging iron from here to there. We can set up a forgeon-site. It will be more efficient. I’ll need a place