The Lost

“Doesn’t Ross Delaney live here with him?”

“He may as well live here, for all the time he spends doing the old man’s bidding. But he calls the guest cottage down the lane his home. According to Bridget, he told the old man that he needed his own space.” She gave a dry laugh. “His own space. Can you imagine? Half our town could live here and it still wouldn’t be crowded.”

She looked over to see Aidan stifling a yawn. “Oh, here I am prattling on about all this foolishness when you’re probably dead on your feet.” The girl removed a robe from the closet before drawing back the elegant comforter to reveal snowy sheets. “I’ll leave you alone now and let you get some sleep. I’ll see that you’re awake with plenty of time to dress for di

“Thank you for everything, Charity.”

The girl left, closing the door behind her. A moment later Aidan heard the parlor doors close.

Slipping out of her denims and sweater, Aidan picked up the robe. It was soft as a whisper. A look at the label confirmed that it was cashmere. With a sigh, she slid it on and sashed it before walking barefoot to the window to stare down at the scene below. All around were acres of rich green lawn, studded with rose gardens, statuary, wildlife. A garden of paradise.

It all seemed too good to be true.

Wasn’t there always a snake in paradise?

She climbed into bed, hoping she could turn off her thoughts and just relax. But she kept thinking about all the things she’d learned. A rich old man who lived here all alone, and believed her mother to be his long-l ost daughter. That would make him her grandfather.

Of course it wasn’t possible. But what if…?

And then there was Ross Delaney, the mystery man. When they’d first met, he’d been studying her much too carefully. If any other man had looked at her like that, she’d have felt violated. But there was no denying that she’d felt something very different in his presence.

She’d sensed his curiosity and something more. If she didn’t know better, she’d think it an instant attraction.

The woman hasn’t been born to suit Ross Delaney. ’Tis said he’ll never marry. The old man treats him like a son.

He was probably just curious about her, and protecting his turf. Not that it mattered. Once she and Cullen Glin had their meeting, she would be on her way home, with a fat check that would, hopefully, cover the worst of her debts.

Clinging to that thought, she drifted into sleep.

“Miss O’Mara.”

The thick brogue penetrated Aidan’s consciousness and she opened her eyes to see Charity standing beside the bed.

She sat up, feeling as though she’d been drugged. Sluggish and vaguely disoriented. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Only an hour or so. Bridget sent me to fetch you. It’s six o’clock. She said di

“Thank you.”

“Do you need help? I could run your bath.”

“Thanks, but I believe I’ll just grab a quick shower. How will I find the dining room?”

“No need to worry.” Charity lowered her voice for dramatic emphasis. “Ross Delaney himself will be up shortly, to take you there.”

“Up here?” Aidan glanced around.

“Not here. Next door, in the parlor.”

“Oh.” She shared a laugh with the girl. “All right. I guess I’d better get ready so I don’t keep him waiting.”

As soon as Charity was gone, Aidan hurried to the shower. Half an hour later, with her dark hair freshly dried, falling long and straight to her shoulders, and her makeup applied, she stood before the open closet doors, trying to decide on the appropriate attire. She’d overpacked for a single night, but she hadn’t been certain just what would be expected of her. And, of course, there was the fickle Irish weather to contend with. After much dithering, she’d brought one of her old business suits, a dress that she thought would work for warm or cool weather, as well as the comfortable denims and sweater she’d worn on the flight.

Since they would be eating here, she didn’t need to worry about the weather. She settled on her one dress, of aqua silk with a slim, straight skirt, square neckline and long sleeves. She added her grandmother’s small pearl earrings and a pair of strappy high-h eeled sandals.

With a last glance at her reflection in the full-l ength mirror, she stepped into the parlor.

“Oh.” She stopped in midstride when she caught sight of Ross standing by the fireplace. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“Sorry.” He seemed to pull himself back with an effort from some dark thoughts that had him frowning. “I knocked before letting myself in. I heard the shower ru

“Yes, thank you.” Though it irritated her to know that he’d been here without her knowledge, she forced herself to put it aside. He was, after all, much more entitled to be at home here than she was. Still, it rankled that he’d been just outside her bedroom for all this time, listening as she’d taken her sweet time getting ready.

He handed her the glass.

She noted that he was drinking water from a crystal rock glass. “You don’t care for champagne?”

“No. What do you think of your first glimpse of Ireland?”

He had a definite way of changing the subject when it suited him.

She looked up. “How do you know this is my first trip here?”

His lips curved in the faintest hint of a smile. “It’s my job to learn as much about you as possible.”

“And you’re very good at your job.”

“I am. Yes.”

His brogue wasn’t as pronounced as that of the others she’d encountered, but it was there in that simple phrase.

“Then you know that this visit will end as quickly as it began.”

“Is that your plan?”

She sipped her champagne to avoid his eyes. “I came here to satisfy an old man’s curiosity about me. And, in all honesty, to satisfy my own curiosity about him. But more than that, I came here for the promised check for my inconvenience. Once I’ve met Cullen Glin and heard what he has to say, I’ll be on my way in the morning.”

“I wouldn’t be so certain.”

She looked over. He wasn’t smiling. There was no hint of a joke in his tone. And yet… Her tone sharpened. “If, as you say, you’ve done a thorough investigation of me, you have to know that I’m not who he thinks I am.”

“I know only that Cullen Glin has spent years searching for his long-l ost daughter.”

“I’m sorry for him. I’ll be happy to meet him, and then accept his check for the inconvenience. But I won’t pretend to be what he wants me to be.”

“Nor would he ask that.” Ross’ tone remained deceptively even. “If you’ve finished your drink, I’ll take you to him and you can tell him what you’ve just told me.”

She handed him her empty glass and he set it beside his on a sideboard.

As they stepped into the hallway and started down the stairs, Ross lowered his voice. “I do hope you’ll be polite with Cullen, and at least express your gratitude for this opportunity. Further, I’d appreciate it if you’d take care not to tire him. This is an extremely emotional time for him.”

“For him?” Aidan could feel her temper rising. “What about my emotions? If you know all you claim to know, then you realize I’ve just buried my mother, I’ve come halfway around the world, and I’m being lectured on how to behave with a stranger who wants to make me into someone I’m not.”

He paused to put a hand on her arm. “I’m only trying to help you through an awkward meeting.”

She drew away as though burned. “I’ll behave as I damned well please, Mr. Delaney. And when this meeting is over, I’ll be more than happy to leave you alone with the old man you’re trying so hard to protect from the big, bad American.”

For a moment he merely stared at her. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.