Page 49 of A Merry Irish Christmas
‘Well, it has to be a treat. How about smoked salmon and scrambled eggs?’
‘Sounds awesome. With some of that wheaten bread of your mom’s?’
‘And lashings of butter. We need to keep our strength up.’
Evan joined her in the kitchen and they made breakfast together. Mary was surprised how relaxed and friendly it felt between them already. Evan was proving to be very easy company.
When the food was ready they brought it back to the table and chatted as they ate. Evan asked Mary to tell him about the O’Sullivans.
‘Carmel’s an author. She’s a bit of a local celebrity. She writes historical romance – mainly Regency stuff.’
‘LikeBridgerton?’
‘That kind of thing, yes. Very sexy.’
‘And this religion of hers doesn’t have a problem with that?’ he said with a smirk.
‘Okay, laugh it up.’ Mary smiled. ‘Her husband Sean is a solicitor – he’s lovely. And their daughter Hilary will be there too with her husband and their son Charlie. He’s five.’
‘So when are you exchanging presents with your family?’ Evan asked, pushing his plate away when they’d finished eating. ‘Your mom told me you’re going to Zoom.’
‘Around one-thirty – after the swim and before we go to the O’Sullivans’.’
‘That’ll be kinda early for them, won’t it?’
Mary shrugged. ‘It’ll be eight-thirty, which is reasonable enough. They’ll be up early anyway – Bo will see to that.’
When they’d cleared up after breakfast, they went their separate ways to get ready for the swim. It was only a short walk downhill to the beach, but Mary elected to drive so that she could load the car with supplies – towels, blankets, hot water bottles, flasks of tea and a change of clothes. When Evan joined her, he was wearing a grey hoodie with jeans and chunky boots, and looked ruggedly handsome as he slid into the passenger seat beside her.
They joined the crowd streaming onto the beach as they drove onto the sand. Mary was glad Evan had decided to come too. This beach was one of the most beautiful places in the world in her opinion, and one of her absolute favourite places. She had such happy memories of long days spent playing on the sand with her brothers and sisters, the five of them splashing around in the sea until their skin turned blue and their teeth chattered. Then they’d wrap up in jumpers and padded jackets, and warm up over picnics of crisps, lemonade and sandy sandwiches.
‘It’s so beautiful here,’ Evan breathed as they got out of the car.
The sky was pale grey, shot through with rays of bright, piercing light. Mary shielded her eyes against the sun to gaze across the wide expanse of sand and the shimmering water to themountains that rose in the distance. ‘You’ve been down to the beach before, right?’
‘Sure. For one of my moody walks.’ He grinned at her.
Rolling waves washed onto the beach with a hiss of foam, and cries of ‘Happy Christmas’ carried on the breeze as spectators huddled in groups, chattering and laughing, clouds of breath mingling in the air with the steam from cardboard coffee cups. Swimmers were scrabbling out of their clothes, and Owen was walking among them, barking out last-minute instructions. He waved to Evan and Mary and indicated it was time to get ready.
‘Well, here goes nothing!’ Mary said. She and Evan returned to the car and stood on either side of it to change. When she’d stripped down to her swimsuit, she folded her clothes neatly and piled them on the driver’s seat. As she slammed the door closed, Aifric appeared at her side and handed her a Santa hat.
‘Wow, not bad,’ Aifric murmured under her breath, jerking her head towards the other side of the car, where Evan now stood in his new swim trunks.
That was an understatement, Mary thought. He was fitter than she’d expected – not too ripped, but lean and toned. There was a light sprinkling of dark hair across his broad sculpted chest that she found very sexy. She let her gaze drift over the defined muscles of his abdomen and the tantalising line of his happy trail.
‘It’s rude to stare,’ Aifric whispered in her ear as he approached them, and Mary blushed, realising she’d been caught ogling him. But when she focused on his face again, he was totally checking her out too. A slow smile spread across his face as their eyes met.
‘Here.’ Aifric handed him a Santa hat as they joined the shivering group of swimmers lined up on the sand, mottled thighs pimpling in the breeze off the sea.
‘Thanks.’ Evan pulled on the hat.
‘You’re going towearthat?’ Mary asked in amazement. She thought he’d draw the line at looking ridiculous.
He shrugged. ‘When in Dingle…’
‘Mary!’ a voice called from behind her. She turned to find her Aunt Caroline shivering on the sand, arms wrapped around herself.
‘Hi, Caroline. Happy Christmas.’ Mary introduced her to Evan.
