Love and Shenanigans (Ballybeg, Book 1) (The Ballybeg Series) by Zara Keane

Author:Zara Keane
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Humor, Romantic Comedy, Fiction, Romance, Ireland, Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction
ISBN: 9783906245010
Publisher: Beaverstone Press LLC
Published: 2014-05-16T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

FIONA CRUNCHED UP THE GRAVEL DRIVE to Fatima House, the nursing home where Bridie had been transferred two weeks previously.

September had faded into October, bringing an abrupt end to the horde of holidaymakers in Ballybeg. Tourists, she’d discovered, were good news for the Book Mark. They popped in for a coffee and a freshly baked scone and stocked up on reading material for the beach. Now it was time to implement her plans to lure extra locals into the shop. The first Children’s Story Hour was scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon, and the inaugural meeting of the Ballybeg Book Club would take place at the end of the month.

Despite throwing herself into Plan Save the Book Mark body and soul, she couldn’t stop thinking about Gavin Maguire.

That kiss… that crazy, impulsive, hormone-altering kiss. If she hadn’t pulled away, what would’ve happened? Would he have called a halt? Stopped them from ripping each other’s clothes off and making love on the cold cave floor? And if he hadn’t, would the sex have been as soul-searing as it had been all those years ago in Vegas?

She fanned herself, exhaled in a whoosh. Her body temperature increased by a few degrees merely thinking about it.

Since the day in the cave, she’d been avoiding him and ignoring his texts. It was the cowardly route. She knew this, but her head was spinning. This wasn’t mere sexual attraction—on her side, at least. The feelings that had lain dormant were showing signs of life. Over the years, she’d had several boyfriends, but none had impacted her the way he had. She’d had better sex since their night in Vegas and longer relationships. But no one had come close to penetrating her heart.

She parked the car in the last available space and took the short flight of stone steps leading to the entrance of the nursing home. Inside, the marble-floored lobby was quiet.

“Is Bridie Byrne back from physiotherapy?” she asked the gray-haired lady sitting at the reception desk.

The woman smiled. “Wait a moment. I’ll call and see.” A couple of minutes later, she replaced the receiver. “You can go on upstairs. Bridie’s finished her lunch.”

Her aunt was reading in an armchair by the window of the small room she shared with two other women. She glanced up when Fiona came in. “How’s my shop?”

“Still standing,” Fiona said with a smile.

“You and Sharon haven’t come to blows?”

She laughed. “Not yet. Ask me after we get through next week’s Children’s Story Hour.”

Bridie lowered her book and removed her spectacles. “How are you coping with life in Ballybeg?”

A muscle in Fiona’s cheek pulsed. “Ah, you know,” she replied with a shrug. “Not what I signed up for, but I’m surviving. It’s nice to be able to see Olivia regularly.”

“Your aunt Deirdre was in to see me yesterday.”

“Oh, yeah? Does she still have the pitchforks out for me?”

“She said Muireann extended her holiday. She’s spending a few weeks with a friend in Brisbane.”

A pang of envy pierced Fiona’s solar plexus. “Muireann’s in Australia?”

“Apparently.

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