Page 19 of Hold a Candle

Mica’s eyebrows crawled skyward but Pauley ignored him. “I’m doing fine, Jamie, ye needn’t worry about me. It’s Luca I’m concerned about.”

“That’s an understatement, Pauley,” Mica drawled, stepping up from behind her and holding out his hand to Jamie. “I’m Mica Peterson, Pauley’s new partner.”

Jamie reached out and shook his hand. “I’m Jamie MacNamara and I’m glad to hear she isn’t working alone,” he replied with a quick smile. “Did ye see anything on yer way out?” He glanced back down at Pauley but it was Mica who answered.

“Nay,” he replied with a negative shake of his head.

Another man walked up from behind Jamie and then gawped at Pauley. “Ye are the lad’s mother?”

Pauley’s eyebrow arched. The young man was very handsome with a devilish smile that told her he found her attractive. With his blond waves of unruly hair over a darker, almost shaved look above his ears, and a killer smile, she was sure the young man was an unrepentant flirt. “Aye, I’m Pauley MacBride.”

He grinned lazily, eyeing her up and down. “I’m Dal MacIntosh. Luca will be working with me while he’s at Neamh.”

Pauley let her gaze drag up and down Dal’s lithe frame with a pointed question in her eyes. “And who’s going to watch ye while ye are watching my son?” she mocked.

Dal flushed and his gaze slid to Jamie who was glaring at him with disapproval. “Oh...um...sorry if I gave the wrong impression,” he hastily apologized. “I’ll take good care of Luca,” he stuttered, withering under Jamie’s frown.

Mica snickered and tried to smother a laugh.

“I’m sure ye will, Dal, and I thank ye,” Pauley replied, her eyes dancing at Dal’s discomfort. At least the kid had manners when reproached. He seemed a decent and sincere young man, even if flirting appeared to come as natural as breathing to him.

Jamie turned to Pauley. “If ye want, ye and Luca can ride with us and then I’ll follow ye back to yer car when ye are ready to leave. That way ye don’t have to drive the unfamiliar roads at night alone.”

Pauley hesitated until Mica jumped in. “That’s a good idea, Pauley. I’ll just head back to the station and finish some paperwork before I wrap it up for the night. Ye go on ahead. I’ll feel better if ye aren’t driving alone, at least for right now.”

Feeling like she was being organized without her permission, Pauley frowned. Then Jamie took her hand. “I’d feel better about it too.” He squeezed her fingers. “Ye have been through quite a shock tonight. Ye never know when reaction could set in. In fact, if Mica agrees, maybe he could have one of yer constables move yer car to yer house. I have an extra bedroom and ye can stay with me.”

Pauley definitely felt like she was being organized, but then Mica joined him.

“That is a right smart idea, sir,” he enthused in deference to Jamie’s probably ten-year gap on him. Then he shot Pauley a beaming, innocent smile as his eyes darted between her and Jamie. “If ye leave yer car as bait to see if they try anything, then we’ll have a heads up that they are willing to come after ye too. Great idea, Mr. MacNamara.”

“Just call me Jamie.”

Feeling outnumbered but not wanting to seem churlish after Jamie’s offer to help Luca, she finally nodded. “Aye, I can do that.” She wasn’t sure about spending the night though. She would discuss that in private with the smooth-talking fox. She had boundaries.

“I need to get our bags out of the car,” Pauley replied as she handed her keys to Mica. “I’ll lock it.”

Mica opened the door for Luca to get out, then pointed him in the direction of his mother and Jamie. Pauley popped the boot and Jamie took two bags out of the boot, then closed it. She locked the car as Luca walked up.

“What are we doing, Mum?” Luca asked, looking around.

“We are going to ride with Jamie and Dal, then Jamie will bring me back. This is Jamie MacNamara. His daughter is married to Lord MacCandish of Heaven’s Gate. Ye have him to thank for yer new job,” she pointed out.

***

JAMIE COULD SEE THEguarded look on Luca’s face as Pauley reminded her son of his manners. “I’m pleased to meet ye, Luca,” he said easily, nodding to the lad. He was surprised when Luca offered his hand, the red creeping up his neck in the moonlight.

“Thank ye for getting me into Neamh, Mr. MacNamara.” Luca’s tones were a mixture of obeying his mother and sullen because he didn’t really want to come, but was afraid not to.

Jamie studied him for a moment as they shook hands. He and Rhonda had never been blessed with a son. They had both wanted one, but the good Lord hadn’t seen fit to bless them with more than Lucerne in their lives, and they’d been very thankful for her. He’d been a lad once though, and although it was a few years behind him, he could remember the angst of youth and being uncertain of what you wanted to do with your life.

“Yer Mum tells me ye like animals,” he remarked, avoiding the awkwardness of Luca’s implied shortcomings. “Dal is training to be a vet, so ye can learn a lot from him if that interests ye.”

“Aye, I do like animals,” Luca admitted.

Jamie led them to the truck and opened the front door. Then he motioned to Luca. “In ye go, I’ll let ye and Dal introduce yerselves.”

“Hi, Luca. I’m Dal.” Dal grinned curiously over at Luca while Luca mumbled something back as he folded his tall frame into the front seat and closed the door.

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