Her Irish Surrender by Kit Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

we’ll find anything in here?” she asked in a quiet voice.
    “We won’t know until we look, will we?” he answered with a smile. 
    “Would you like to browse through it?” Adaline asked.
    “Yes, thank you,” Mrs. Van Cleet said as footsteps could be heard on the nearby stairs.
    Adaline froze and closed her eyes a brief second. When she opened them, Lorcan stood behind her. “What are you looking for, Mr. Van Cleet?” he asked.
    “The young lady here found what we needed,” said Mr. Van Cleet. “Thank you, Lorcan.”
    Lorcan lips formed a firm line. “I’m glad to hear it.” He turned on his heel and made for the front counter. Adaline sighed at his retreating form.
    “Don’t you worry none, Miss Dermont,” Mr. Van Cleet whispered. “He’ll come around.”
    “I hope you’re right,” she whispered back. “Or it’s going to be a long day.” The Van Cleets smiled in understanding, then opened the book and began to leaf through it. Adaline sighed again, and looked at Lorcan who stood behind the counter, his head bent over the sales ledger. His bruises and black eye were much better today, and she couldn’t help but feel a small flutter in the pit of her stomach.  He was indeed a handsome man, and as she thought on it, the finest looking one she’d ever seen. Her heart fluttered along with her stomach, only to fall into despair at the same time.   He’d not taken to the news that she would be staying on and working in the shop. Even for only as long as it would take to work off the fare to bring her out west.
    Today was the first day to see Lorcan, to look into his eyes and see his disapproval of the situation.  Yet, it wasn’t there. Not really.  True, he’d tensed at the sight of her when they made eye contact, but now he looked as if all was normal.  Maybe he wanted to get through the day with as little interaction between them as much as she did. But even so, the thought he didn’t want her there, stung. She turned away, grabbed a feather duster, and began to clean the nearby stacks.
    * * *
     
    Lorcan closed the ledger and leaned against the counte r.  Mr. and Mrs. Van Cleet had settled into another cozy corner of the bookshop and examined their book.  There were several sets of chairs placed through out the shop so patrons could peruse a book before purchase.  He did his best to focus on the elderly couple instead of the pretty woman dusting shelves. Unfortunately, his best wasn’t good enough. His eyes slowly traveled toward the back of the store.  He swallowed when they found her, and he had to steady himself against the counter as the bell above the door rang.  Several men entered, and went straight to the case containing his mother’s baked goods.
    “Morning , Lorcan,” one of them said. “What’s today’s special?”
    “Sugar cookies and apple pie,” he answered. “But she’s not brought the pies down yet.”
    “I’ll take the cookies, ” another man said. “I haven’t the time to wait for pie.”
    The first two men worked at the livery stable and feed store.  The other man was a stranger to him. “Can I help you, sir?” Lorcan asked.
    The man’s eyes glanced at his surroundings. “These two gents tell me your mother makes a fine pie.”
    “Yes, on that I’ll have to agree,” Lorcan said. “She’ll bring them down shortly, if you’d like to wait. Folks take them home, or to work with them. I’m sorry we haven’t a place for you to eat here, but I can wrap up a slice for you.”
    “I understand , I’ve no problem taking one with me.”
      Lorcan nodded and went to help the other two, as he stole glimpses of Miss Dermont in the back. He wasn’t the only one. The stranger also caught a glimpse and turned to look at her. Lorcan’s gut went cold.
    “My, what do we have here?” he heard the stranger say.  The man began to stroll in Miss Dermont’s direction.
    Lorcan felt a ripple of … something, crawl up his spine, and hurried to get the two