Wild Irish Dreamer - Tricia O'Malley Page 0,24

and stomping over to the dryer. She pulled out his still-soggy clothes and dumped them in his arms.

“You’re throwing me out?”

“Yes, now. You need to go,” Fi said, desperation kicking up in her stomach as she realized how on edge she was. It wouldn’t do to read his thoughts – no, not this man – and if he stayed a moment longer, she would be invading his privacy. Unable to explain that to him, she pointed to the door.

“Like that? You’re tossing me out. I tell you I like you and you’re throwing me out?”

“Correct.”

“Moments ago you were offering to bed me.”

“I’m a complicated woman, Liam.”

“I’ll say. You can’t really be throwing me out in my underwear.”

“Nobody lives here. You can dress in the hallway.”

“Fi… talk to me.” Liam stood by the door, his eyes warm and measuring on hers.

“I have nothing to say. Just go, please,” Fi said.

“I don’t like leaving you like this.”

“We’re mates. I’m not mad. But I do need you to leave. I don’t feel well.” Fi stepped back as concern filled Liam’s eyes and he moved forward.

“Can I do anything?”

“No, it’s… I had a curry for lunch. Stomach issues. Best you leave,” Fi said as mortification stained her face pink.

“Ah, I’ve been there. I’ll go. But we need to talk about this,” Liam said, stepping out in the hallway.

“Maybe, maybe not. It’s really not much of a thing at all. Truly. Okay, off with you then. Safe home,” Fi said, closing the door and bolting it before racing to a bedroom and throwing herself on the bed face down. Embarrassment flooded her, along with something else she couldn’t quite put a finger on – shame, perhaps? She’d all but thrown herself at the man, then tossed him from her flat. Not that he hadn’t been pushing her buttons, Fi reminded herself as she flipped over to stare at the ceiling. What with him prowling around almost naked and being all… Liam in her face. He had to know the effect he had on her.

Or did he? She hadn’t really told him, had she?

This was why she didn’t do relationships, Fi reminded herself. Dating and flirting were not her strong areas. She always ended up being unable to shield her gift from the person she was close to, and she had been treated to some very uncomfortable revelations. Like the time she’d accidently discovered her lover was working her around to bringing another woman into their bedroom. And maybe something about golden showers? She’d left that one behind as fast as she could. There were some things best left undiscovered, and some fantasies best left unsaid.

Fi’s gift often put her in an awkward spot, much like this moment, where she’d tried to take control of a situation and had it backfire in her face.

“I had to tell the man I’d had a curry…” Fi groaned and covered her face. “Now that’s all he’ll think about when he sees me.”

Chapter 13

“Are you sure you’re wanting to get married then?” Liam asked Dylan, causing the other man to stop writing in his notebook and glance over at him from across the table. Liam had crashed the ship’s galley once again – it served as their temporary office, and was close enough to Fi’s apartment that he hadn’t soaked up too much more rain.

“Aye, I’m sure,” Dylan said, leaning back to study Liam.

“Women are mental,” Liam said, stretching his legs out in the sweatpants he’d found stashed in one of the rooms.

“They are at that,” Dylan agreed. Reading his friend’s mood right, he reached behind himself to open a small cupboard door and pull out a bottle of whiskey.

“A wee dram then?”

“Why not?” Liam shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest as his mind whirled with what had just happened. They’d gone from teasing and playful to almost angry in mere moments. There was something else going on there, but Liam hadn’t been given the chance to dig deeper. He didn’t like puzzles – well, he liked finishing puzzles. It was more that he didn’t like unanswered questions, and Liam had a lot of them for Fi.

“Why not, indeed? The weather certainly calls for it,” Dylan said, his tone placid as he poured them both a small measure of whiskey. “Slainté.”

“Pissing down out there,” Liam commented.

“Indeed. Are you here to talk about the weather or talk me out of marriage?”

“Neither. I just wanted to know why you’re tying yourself to a woman forever, is all.”

“You’ve met Grace. You love