Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Aidan glanced between us then let out a beleaguered sigh. “Well, I have to say, this is all very fucking boring. The Balfes have thrown you a party, and you’re out here hiding away.”
“I’m not a party girl, sorry,” I said, wondering where Rhys was going when he rose from his stool. He walked to the drawer where the utensils were kept and grabbed a clean spoon then returned to the counter before handing it to me. I took it from him, touched by the gesture.
“Thanks,” I murmured quietly, and Rhys nodded before sitting back down.
Aidan watched the exchange, and I resumed finishing my soup, this time with a fresh spoon thanks to Rhys. Aidan cocked his head and folded his arms, his attention still on me. “If you aren’t a party girl, then what kind of girl are you?”
“Fuck’s sake, quit creeping on her,” Rhys said, sounding annoyed, and my cheeks grew hot at the way he intervened.
“I’m not creeping on her. I heard Derek loud and clear last night. I’m just trying to make conversation and get to know our new friend.” Aidan flashed me the sort of grin I suspected had most girls melting and doing whatever he asked of them. It was a good thing I was made of sterner stuff.
“What do you mean, you heard Derek loud and clear?” I asked, frowning.
They’d been talking about me?
Aidan blew out a sigh. “Just that you’re here to spend the summer with Nuala and we’re all to keep our dirty mitts off you. Not that that was my intention. You’re not my type.”
“Sure, she’s not,” I thought I heard Rhys mutter under his breath, but I was too busy staring at Aidan.
“Derek can be protective,” Nuala explained. “He tells all the guys the same thing about me, but I’m fine with it because none of them are my type, either.” She gave a shrug.
“Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t come here to get laid,” I said, a little grumpy about Derek’s interference. I mean, if I wanted to have a fling with an Irish guy, that was my choice.
Nuala sighed. “Sorry. My brother’s Fionnuala blocking ways are irritating, I know, but his heart is in the right place.”
“Hold up a second. What the hell is Fionnuala blocking?” I asked, one eyebrow raised. I’d heard the name before. Pretty sure my mom had been friends with a girl called Fionnuala (pronounced Fu-noo-la) at school.
Aidan barked a laugh before explaining, “Fionnuala is slang for vagina.”
“So, you call your vagina a name that also contains your actual name?” I asked Nuala in growing amusement.
She blushed. “Yes, but it’s not like I came up with the term. It’s commonly used.”
“It’s a posh girl thing,” Rhys said quietly, and Nuala swiped him on the arm.
“I am not posh!”
Aidan grinned. “Not posh? Pull the other one. You call your vag a Fionnuala because you couldn’t possible lower yourself to utter the word ‘fanny.’ That would be far too uncouth. Sorry to break it to you, babe, but you’re posh. I mean, look where you live.”
“Well, if I’m posh, then you’re posh, too. Your house is even bigger than this one.”
“I’m not denying it.”
Nuala folded her arms in annoyance.
A silence fell before I said, “Now, I just feel sorry for all the women out there whose parents named them Fionnuala.”
At this, all three of them burst out laughing. Aidan patted me on the shoulder and appeared to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. “Ah, it’s going to be a good summer with you around, Moretti,” he said, and I glanced at Rhys to find him staring at where Aidan’s hand still rested on me. He looked vaguely bothered. Why did my stomach fill with butterflies to imagine him irritated by another guy touching me, even in such an inoffensive spot as my shoulder?
I wasn’t sure if Aidan was right about it being a good summer, but it was certainly going to be an interesting one.
***
My alarm went off at seven the next morning. The party wrapped up around eleven-thirty, so I was able to get a decent night’s sleep. I was still waking up intermittently though, my body getting used to the new routine.
I showered and dressed in the plain black pants and top Uncle Padraig left for me, my work uniform. He’d also shown me where the hotel was located yesterday, which was only a ten-minute walk from the house. I didn’t mind walking because it was such a pretty spot, and I could enjoy the scenery along the way.
I arrived at the hotel at eight, going around to the staff entrance at the back, though I had to ask one of the passing employees to point me in the direction of the kitchen. I found it easily enough and presented myself to the head chef, Moira, whose chili soup I’d enjoyed the night before.