Page 54 of Tempting Irish

Chapter 16

Bree

It would beeasy to stay in the hotel room, mope around like a heartsick teenager, and wait for Owen to come back andtalk. But after an hour of waiting, I know I have to get out, to do something to take my mind offhim.

I think about renting a car and leaving the city for a couple days, exploring the countryside. But after hearing about Delaney’s experience driving on the opposite side of the road, I figure it’s safer to stick with taxis and bustours.

In the lobby, I pull out a brochure that has a picture of an ancient monument onit.

“Newgrange Tours,” I mutter.A seven-hour tour from Dublin to the Neolithic tombs at Newgrange and the Hill ofTara.

Exactly what I need to get my mind off Owen, and better than the shopping trip Emer and Delaney have planned. I enjoyed my time with them last night, but I know there’ll be more questions, and more awkwardness, after this morning’s admission. And one of the reasons I came here was to see thecountry.

To revisit myroots.

Plus, I really hateshopping.

Grabbing a taxi to take me to the tour pick-up, I send a quick text to Emer to cancel and let her know where I’mgoing.

She calls me back right away. “Do ye want me to go withye?”

“Seven hours on a bus probably isn’t the best thing for you in yourcondition.”

“If this is about what happened thismorning-”

“It’s not. I just want to do a bit of sightseeing. I don’t know when, or if, I’ll ever be backhere.”

Emer sighs on the other end. “I wanted to talk to ye aboutthat.”

I step onto the tour bus and take a seat at the back, away from the families with young children that crowd thefront.

“Aboutwhat?”

“Ye movinghere.”

“Oh.”

“Ye said ye didn’t have much to go back to. So, why go back?” Emer continues, rambling quickly. “I was talking to my mom, and she said ye can stay with heruntil-”

“Emer,” I stop her, tears pricking my eyes. “I can’t just move back. I don’t have ajob.”

“Ye don’t have one back in the States, either. Just think aboutit.”

“I will.” I hesitate before saying, “Emer?”

“Yeah?”

“Thankyou.”

I swear, I can hear her smile through thephone.

Could I do it? Move back here? There’s nothing stopping me. No one waiting for me back in Michigan. Except forFrank.

I shiver at thethought.

The man has been quiet lately, but that doesn’t mean he’s gone. That he won’t make good on his promise to find me. And there was that letter from his lawyer a few months ago. God only knows what the man is capableof.

Maybe moving here is a good idea. But if Frank does want to cause trouble, I don’t want my family being dragged down withme.

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