“Don’t.” She pressed a finger to his lips…lips that had touched parts of her no other man ever had. “Don’t deny it, Daniel. You can’t. You don’t know what’s in my head.” Or my heart. “Only I do, and I’m telling you, you’re important.” You’re everything. “I wouldn’t lie about that. I wouldn’t deny it, either.”
“Ah love.” He pulled her into his arms again, holding her close, like he couldn’t get enough of her. “Amelia…you’re important too. More than I can express, you’re important.”
The lit numbers on the alarm clock on the bedside table flashed ten forty-three as Amelia relaxed in Daniel’s arms, a smile on her lips and hope in her heart for the future. Their future. Maybe, just maybe…
She and Daniel might be able to work. Regardless of the past, she’d help him with the future. She hoped he wanted her in his as much as she wanted him in hers.
Two weeks after the day they met, Daniel drove into all too familiar territory. Nerves on full alert, he considered trying again to tell Amelia who he really was and where he’d been for the last fifteen years. But now that he was so far gone, so wrapped up in love with her that he’d never be able to untangle himself, fear of losing her kept him from making that call.
Tonight she wanted to go out, to a pub, and have a few drinks while listening to a band. If only he’d gone into the shop instead of her, she wouldn’t have known about the little ceilidh celebration happening tonight.
He shouldn’t have come in here, but Amelia insisted, so Daniel acquiesced. The pub had live music tonight, which of course meant plenty of drunks and rowdies, maybe a few brawls in the not too distant future. And, just the same as every other door he opened, on the other side Daniel was greeted with stares. Fifteen years after the fact and not a single person in the tiny village he grew up in failed to recognize him.
At least the music never stopped, though it did skip a few beats and the band took a moment to right themselves. Amelia grabbed two of his fingers, the most she could fit into her little hand, and dragged him towards the bar. Seemed the lass had put herself on a mission of sorts, but he didn’t have the mind to figure her out with nearly fifty pairs of eyes on him. Nor did he truly hear her when she asked what he wanted to drink. So she ordered a pint and a cup of coffee; no doubt who would be getting what there.
Trouble. He knew it well and right now, the air had a scent to it. This was too close to home and Daniel never should have agreed to stop for the night. It wasn’t yet too late and they had the tent in the boot, as well as plenty of guest houses along the way. These people were just aching for a fight. That scent, a mixture of warmed bodies, heated with rage, stale cigarettes, snuff and alcohol permeated the small building. No, trouble wasn’t just brewing. The bottle had been shaken and the top was about to blow off.
Sheer luck granted him a glimpse of the Gardaí in the reflection of the mirror behind the row of spirits on the bar. Daniel knew him well. They’d gone to school together, were even mates for a short while before they grew apart. And from the look on his face, this wasn’t going to be a social visit – not a pleasant one at least.
Protecting Amelia moved to the top of the list. If anyone caught wind of his involvement with her, things could get ugly for her. He wouldn’t see her come to harm and more than he’d want to know exactly which of the people sitting in this room pulled the proverbial trigger on his family that night. Daniel gave her hand a squeeze and released it, hiding her body with his as he turned to face the man.
“Well, would you look at who’s decided to pay us a visit,” the Gardaí sneered.
“I’m not wantin’ any trouble, Desmond. Just come to have a drink and then I’ll be on my way.”
Making a big show of it, he crossed his arms and laughed. The music came to a stop as if Desmond Cullough’s laugh was some kind of signal. “That’s bloody hilarious! ‘Cause as you walked in here, I saw you takin’ Mr. O’Bannon’s wallet right from his pocket.”
The accusation stung, like a slap to the face. His anger rose to inexplicable heights, as did the heat in his face. “I did no such thing and you know it!”
“That so? Then you’ll not put up a fight if I search your person.” The Gardaí took a step forward, a display of his authority.
Through clenched teeth, Daniel replied, “You don’t want to be putting your hands on me, little man.”
Stopping less than an inch from his chest, Desmond glared, craning his neck. “I may just have to take that as resisting arrest. C’mon you murderous bastard, give me an excuse to kill you.”