Page 24 of Dublin Debacle

Dr. Kelly nodded. “It isn’t unusual for someone to have temporary amnesia after a head injury.”

Emily shot a glance toward Jack. “Actually, I think he was lying. He wouldn’t look me in the eye when he said it.”

Jack’s lips quirked on the corners. So, she’d read his body language as well.

“Peter and I will work with him today,” Dr. Kelly said.

Jack raised an eyebrow toward his colleague. For having just met the good doctor, he was already on a first-name basis with the woman. They must have hit it off over sharing their cooking skills.

Jack smothered a grin. He was glad for the former MI6 operator. Providing protection for the attractive doctor wouldn’t be a hardship for the widower and now empty nester. His daughter would be graduating from university soon and forge her own path in life.

Peter had admitted his trepidation over the path she’d hinted at. He was afraid she’d follow in her old man’s footsteps and find a way to join the elite MI6. After nearly losing her to a rogue agent within his own organization, Peter wasn’t confident she’d be safe. Not that being an MI6 agent had been in any way safe to begin with. He’d left the organization and joined the Brotherhood Protectors after they’d helped rescue his daughter. He’d trusted them not only with his life, but with that of his daughter’s.

“Have you heard anything from Lucie?” Peter asked Jack.

“Not yet. I expect it won’t be long. She’s amazingly adept at...data mining,” Jack said.

Peter laughed. “Is that what they’re calling hacking these days?”

Jack’s lips twisted. “I don’t care what they call it as long as it helps us save lives.”

“Agreed.” Peter’s mouth formed a grim line. “I’m not sure Madison would be alive today without Lucie’s help.”

“I’m glad Ace hired her on,” Jack said. “I’d rather have her working for us than against us.”

Peter nodded. “With her computer skills and Dmytro’s connections across Europe, they’re a formidable team, making all our missions successful.”

Jack gave Emily a crooked smile. “I think you’d like Lucie and Dmytro. And of course, Ace Hammerson, the leader of the Brotherhood Protectors International. They’re good people who only want to help.”

“I, for one, will take all the help I can get to stop this madness,” Emily said. “I’ve lost my father, whether he’s dead or in hiding, almost lost my uncle last night and, if my uncle’s request to warn my brother is any indication, I could lose Finn.”

“Don’t forget, you’re at risk as well,” Jack added.

“I’m the least of my worries,” she said. “Without my family, what’s left?”

“Who would run the pub?”

She shrugged. “Who would care?”

“Daphne,” Dr. Kelly said. “Jobs can be scarce in Dublin. She’s happy that you two stayed in touch all the years you were in the States. And since you returned, you two have been inseparable.” The doctor smiled. “Because of you, she’s registered for classes at the university. She wants to get a degree in marketing so she can help you make the pub even more profitable.”

“I love Daphne,” Emily said with a smile that lit her face.

That heartfelt smile punched Jack in the gut, and his first thought was what it would feel like if she aimed one like that at him. He physically shook himself in an attempt to dislodge that thought from taking root in his mind.

“Daphne is the sister I always wished I’d had.” Emily laughed. “After we left Ireland, we kept in touch by letters and then through phone calls and texts.” Her smile faded. “She helped me through the loss of my mother and talked me into giving my father another chance.” Emily looked across the table at Dr. Kelly.

“And you helped plant her feet firmly on the ground.” The doctor smiled. “She has purpose and direction now.”

Jack finished his food and drank the last of his coffee.

When Emily laid down her fork, he gathered her plate and his and carried them to the sink.

Emily collected Dr. Kelly’s and Atkins’s dishes and followed Jack.

“Leave the cleaning to me,” Dr. Kelly said. “Besides checking on your uncle, I have nothing else to do today.”

“It won’t take us long to wash and dry,” Emily assured her. “You two cooked, the least we can do is clean.”

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