The lass shivered in his arms. Too soon indeed the kiss ended. And he released her. He’d always release her. He’d no sooner stand in her way than he’d hurt another human being who didn’t damned well earn it.
I kissed him.
She’d actually done it.
What possessed her?
Amelia stared in Daniel’s eyes and in them, she saw a myriad of emotions. Most of them she couldn’t read. But she noted the ever present sadness there, lingering in the fringes. Was he upset? She hadn’t meant to bother him.
First to turn away, Daniel walked back to her grandfather’s urn. He lifted it with care and headed back to the car. Their beach walk ended as soon as it began.
Taking his cue, Amelia hopped back to the rental. Daniel returned and offered his assistance; a strong arm hooked under her arms, holding her to his body as they walked. She studied him on the trip. The expression on his face solidified her thought that he kissed her to stop her from crying and that’s all.
She wanted to be mad at him but given his past, she couldn’t find it in her.
Daniel drove south along the coast with a wistful look in his eye. As many times as she tried to talk to him, she stopped herself. He probably didn’t mean it, the kiss. He did return the kiss – she still felt his arms around her, holding her close…
Stop thinking about it!
“Are you hungry?”
Amelia stiffened. He hadn’t heard her stomach growling…had he?
“I’m pretty hungry myself. I just need to stop at a bank–”
“No.” She shook her head. “No. I asked you to come along with me here, Daniel, so I’m paying for lunches and dinners and breakfasts and…and snacks. And drinks,” she added.
“Is that so?” Daniel quirked a brow. “Right then. Where should we go?”
“What do you feel like? I could go for beef again. Maybe big greasy burgers and fries with lots of salt.”
“Jaysus.” Daniel shoved a hand through his blue-black locks. “You sure you’re a beautiful lass? ‘Cause you sound like a lad to me.”
The absurdity of his words made Amelia laugh. Her. Beautiful. Right. The guy was on something. Or he was kissing her ass. Pushing that thought aside, she said, “First place you see with burgers, we’re going.”
“Doubt we’ll come across anything taking the scenic route. Want me to get onto the main roads then?”
“Sure.” Amelia kept her eyes glued out the window.
If she didn’t look at him, she had a slight chance of keeping him off her mind.
Thirty minutes after the moment she brought up burgers, they still hadn’t passed anywhere serving them. Amelia’s stomach was almost eating itself from the inside out.
“Right lass, it’s not burgers, but how about we get us a nice bit of fish and some chips on the side?”
“Oh god that sounds like heaven,” Amelia answered.
“Grand. There’s a place up ahead.”
“You’re familiar with the area?”
Daniel shook his head. “I saw a sign a few minutes back.
“Oh.”
Unbearable silence filled the car; until Daniel parked across the road from a small store with a bright blue sign. A fisherman sat in his boat, his bucket full of fish and another on his line. Amelia couldn’t read the words though. She’d never learned Irish.
“So, fish n’ chips then?” Daniel asked.
Nodding, Amelia reached into her wallet and took out a few euro notes. “If they have hot chocolate can you get me one? If not, just a soda is fine. Lemon-lime or regular cola. And get yourself whatever you want, too.”
Daniel smiled then and the sun came up in her chest, bursting rays of warmth radiating to the furthest reaches of her body. “If they’ve got a fried chocolate bar, will you try that?”
“Fried chocolate? That sounds so gross!” Amelia scrunched up her nose. “And hell yes, I’ll try one!”
“You’re mad, you are,” he said, laughing. “I’ll be back.”
Daniel checked for cars and then ran across the street, ducking into the store. Amelia wanted to know more about him but she also didn’t want to push. She knew the bare bones. The prison sentencing, the loss of his family. But she wanted to know his likes and dislikes. His favourite time of day, what seasons he preferred. What he wanted to do with his life now.
That last one was definitely off limits. She couldn’t ask him. What would she do if their roles were reversed? She didn’t know. The one thing she was capable of now, she was doing. Being a friend to him.
He returned with their food and Amelia devoured her fish first. Fried to crispy perfection. She’d need to work all this off once her knee healed but for now she planned on enjoying every bite.