The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary

Author:Loucinda McGary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2008-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

BALANCING HER TWO BAGS AND PURSE IN ONE HAND, RYLIE rapped on the door of Donovan’s apartment. If he didn’t answer quickly, the scent from the bakery bag would prove too tempting.

Just like him.

However, if he opened the door less than fully dressed, she would have quite a dilemma. Which to open first, the bag with the thick slices of bread called bram-brack or the bag with the condoms?

If only every day offered such delectable choices.

She was about to knock again when the door swung open, and Donovan stood there in jeans, pullover, and socks, but no shoes. Okay, enough clothes to solve the initial problem.

“Special delivery from Brigit’s,” she announced, holding up the white paper bag as she stepped inside. Then she rattled the plastic bag in her other hand. “And a little something from the pharmacy in Dungannon. A dozen little somethings.”

She moved close, intending to stand on tiptoe and kiss him, but he brushed away, his movements stiff and guarded.

“I was just about to call you,” he said, and his tone sounded strained. “I have to get to Holy Family right away.”

She tossed both bags on the coffee table and clutched his arm. “Has something happened to Dermot?”

He shook his head and pulled away. “No, not exactly. . . ”

His stony expression did nothing to ease her growing anxiety. He sat on the couch and mechanically pulled on his sneakers. Chewing her bottom lip, she plopped next to him.

“If it’s not an emergency, you should eat something first,” she babbled, pulling the bag with the raisin bread toward her. “I know you haven’t had anything.”

He shook his head again and the haunted look in his eyes stopped her words and her breath.

“I can’t . . . ” Donovan closed his eyes and his throat worked for a moment. Then he spoke in a rough whisper, “Brenna called about the tests.”

“No!” Horror ripped down her spine.

“No, not that! God, no.” He reached over and cupped her cheek with a trembling hand, and she sagged against him in relief.

“Dermot’s not your father. But Brenna says—” His voice choked off again for a moment. He dropped his hand and looked away. “She says he’s not mine either.” When she tried to protest, he plunged on. “I have the Niall Marker and he doesn’t, so he can’t have fathered me.”

“There must be a mistake,” she insisted, but the tortured look on his face said otherwise.

She knew exactly what he was feeling, the shock, disbelief, anger. What kind of sick cosmic joke was this? An unreasoning urge broadsided her, and she ached to touch him, hold him, reassure him everything would be okay. But she couldn’t because she knew it wasn’t true. Everything might never be okay again.

Still looking a bit unsteady, he stood and reached for his jacket. Rylie picked up her purse and the bag of brambrack and stood also.

“I’ll drive.”

Neither of them spoke more than a few words all the way to Armagh, though Rylie did manage to get Donovan to eat a slice of the brambrack.

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