Beneath an Irish Sky (Choc Lit) by Isabella Connor Read Free Book Online

quieter we can eat?’ Jack asked, and the castle and clouds floated back into Emer’s view.
    They couldn’t eat in her office. Never a minute’s peace there. Outside was cold and damp, even if you wanted to combat the clouds of tobacco smoke from both visitors and patients who couldn’t fight the nicotine cravings.
    ‘There is a place,’ she told him. ‘You’re not afraid of heights, are you?’
    Jack blinked nervously. ‘No, not really – why, what did you have in mind?’
    ‘It’ll be a surprise. C’mon, let’s grab some sandwiches.’
    He held up a carrier bag. ‘Already got them.’
    Another brownie point for him, only … ‘I don’t eat meat. Did you get a vegetarian option? Or fish is okay.’
    ‘I bought one of everything,’ he said solemnly, not seeming to think there was anything out of the ordinary in that.
    ‘Oh.’ Emer resisted the temptation to laugh, not wanting to hurt his feelings. ‘Good for you, Jack. Right, onwards and upwards. Follow me.’
    Some of the nurses cast appreciative glances at Jack as he stood chatting to Emer beside the lift. Even if it wasn’t true, it still felt good to be thought of as part of a couple again.
    Emer pushed open a door and Jack felt a cool breeze pluck at his hair and jacket. The rooftop lay ahead of them and now he understood her question about heights. He’d wanted more privacy and now he’d got it, because surely only the desperate and the bold would come out here. The clanking and echoes of the hospital behind him faded away and were replaced by the sounds of city traffic. Luckily, it had stopped raining.
    ‘Well, thank you, Emer – I was hoping to see the sights …’ he joked, peering over the edge. They were seven floors up and there was a reasonable view of Dublin. A park spread out on the left side, and the river glinted a steely grey through the heart of the city. In the distance, there seemed to be a giant knitting needle piercing the sky. ‘What’s that huge spike?’ he asked Emer, who came over to stand beside him.
    ‘That’s the Millennium Spire,’ she told him. ‘The locals have given it ruder names than that, though. Four million euro to build and a million plus so far to keep it clean. Nobody knows what it’s supposed to be, but it does make a grand meeting place.’
    ‘Like this rooftop. Do you come here often?’
    ‘I used to, when I still smoked, but I’m a clean-living girl now.’ Emer winked and smiled, and the sight of her dimples made him smile back. ‘C’mon over here, out of the wind.’
    Jack followed her to a stone block sheltered by a large heating vent and they settled down side by side. He rummaged in the plastic bag and plucked out a sandwich. ‘Cheese and pickle?’
    ‘Grand,’ she said, accepting the sandwich and a bottle of apple juice.
    Perhaps he’d better not munch away at beef in her presence. He selected an avocado and prawn half baguette. About to unwrap it, he suddenly noticed Emer was shivering slightly. Standing up, he took his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders.
    She looked surprised but murmured, ‘Very gentlemanly of you.’
    The sandwich had virtually no taste and Jack soon set it back in its plastic packet. Emer was gamely working her way through the cheese and pickle. Jack had been looking forward to seeing her again, but it was hard to get a conversation going when you were sitting side by side on a breezy rooftop, eating. Emer had less than an hour for lunch, though, so Jack would have to get things started. Best to begin with something she’d approve of.
    ‘I saw Luke this morning. I asked him to come back with me.’
    ‘Mmm.’ Emer hurriedly swallowed her mouthful and half-turned towards him. ‘What did he say?’
    ‘He didn’t seem to think it was a good idea.’ Understatement of the year. Emer looked disappointed so he added, ‘I showed him a photo of Matt, my son. Said he really wanted them to meet, which is true. I phoned Matt last night. Luke didn’t