Blurb:
Dermot McTiernan is determined to move on with his
life after losing his one and only love to another man. He decides to try his
hand at ranching in North Central Texas with his friend, Ian Benning. He
figures if that doesn't work out, there are many other opportunities in the
booming post-war state. When the luscious red-head from County Cork, Ireland
shows up in Dallas, can he retain the courage of his convictions and move on
without her?
Kathleen O'Donnell made a monumental mistake
marrying, Kelsey Gilhooley. Her decision for entering the union, no matter how
honorable, had made her life a living hell. Even though still married, she
holds out hope for finding the man of her dreams. When she comes across her tall,
dark-eyed Irishman in Dallas, Texas, will she be able to abandon happiness and
walk away a second time?
Exerpt:
Dermot looked around
the room and its many patrons. Most were men dressed in black business suits. He
noticed two women serving food and drinks, one a tall brunette, the other had red
hair worn in a long single braid down the center of her back. He sincerely
hoped the brunette served them because he wanted nothing else to remind him of
Katie O'Donnell What-ever-her-married-name-was.
He closed his eyes to
the memory and swore he caught a whiff of her scent. His imagination was
playing a cruel trick. He thought to get up and leave, but before he could tell
Ian he'd changed his mind about eating, a female voice whispered in a familiar
brogue.
"Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph."
CHAPTER
TWO
Kathleen O'Donnell
Gilhooley almost swallowed her tongue. The very moment she'd prayed for since
the day she'd left Ireland a year ago had materialized, yet she wanted to run
as far and as fast as she could. She'd hoped to meet Dermot McTiernan dressed
in her best, but obviously the saints had other plans.
Hands shaking, she
smoothed the humidity-laden curls back from around her face, and blotted the
perspiration from her forehead with the hem of her apron. Trying her best to
hide her nervousness, she stepped forward, shoulders squared. "Dermot, is
it really you?"
"It would appear
so, wouldn't it?" He stared past her to the window apparently fascinated
by the activity on the street.
There was no way she could've known how he'd
react to seeing her for the first time in almost ten years, but his tone took
her aback none-the-less. She wondered if
he'd gotten her letter explaining the circumstances surrounding her union with
Kelsey Gilhooley. From his reaction this
morning, she guessed he hadn't. Either that or it hadn't made a difference.
Well, that was okay.
They were here now and, hopefully, with time on her side, she could make him
understand. "How many eggs for ye?"
Dermot's friend and the
taller of the two by a couple of inches, spoke up first. "I'll have four,
please."
Kathleen waited
patiently for Dermot to speak. He took so long, she wondered if he'd gone mute in
the last minute and a half.
Finally, he lifted his
head, looked her straight in the eye but spoke to his companion, "Ian
Benning, this is Katie O'Donnell."
"Pleased to meet
you, ma'am." The man stood, offered his hand in greeting.
She shook his hand,
correcting her name, "Kathleen Gilhooley, 'tis my pleasure." She
directed her attention back to Dermot. "Will ye be havin' four eggs, as
well?"
"Sure."
After turning in the
order, she checked on the pan of biscuits she'd left cooking in the oven. She'd
placed them in to bake just before going out to help Sarah take orders.
Normally she liked to help out in the dining room instead of being cooped up in
the over-heated kitchen. This morning, however, turned out to be a different
story.
Following what just
happened in the dining room, she certainly questioned her decision to leave her
homeland. She might've expected anger when they met, discomfort to be sure.
What he'd exhibited had been much different. He'd been distant and sullen. That
scared her more than any outburst.
She put two biscuits on
each plate and took them to the table. The man introduced to her as Ian,
thanked her. Dermot said nothing until she grabbed the pot and poured each of
them a cup of coffee. The hurt and betrayal in his eyes wounded her far more
than any physical injury she'd endured in her marriage to that drunken monster
Gilhooley.
As she turned to walk
away, he grabbed her hand demanding, "What're ye doin' here?"
His tone set her off
and, while she knew it wasn't rational, that he was trying to defend himself by
making the first strike. But she'd learned to protect herself, too, and rose to
the bait. "'Tis a free country and I can be here if I want." She backed
away in an effort to pull her hand from his grasp, but he only tightened his
grip.
"I want to know
why you're here," he demanded through clenched jaws. "How could ye've
done such a thing to me?"
Ian stood.
"McTiernan, calm down and let her go."
"I'll let her go
when she gives me a good answer."
Kathleen looked about
the large room in a panic. Every one of the café's patrons watched the scene
with interest including the owner, Mr. Browder, who was walking in their
direction. She feared what Dermot might say and she needed this job to keep her
room above the establishment.
"Can we talk
outside?" she pleaded. With one last great tug, she wrenched her hand
loose but the motion sent her reeling backwards into the table behind her where
she sat in a plate of fried eggs and a bowl of strawberry jam. A couple of
gentlemen, their mouths agape, helped her stand, after which they returned to
their seats. Her face heated with humiliation, she straightened to face her boss.
"Mrs. Gilhooley,
please return to the kitchen. I'll handle the situation from here." He
turned to Dermot and Ian. "I apologize for the interruption to your meal.
Let Sarah or me know if there's anything else you require."
Kathleen entered
through the kitchen door, as Mr. Browder aided the diner who'd lost his eggs to
her backside. The whole incident had been embarrassing enough without having to
sashay through the dining room with bright yellow yolks streaming down her
green skirts.
Mrs. Browder waited for
her with a wet soapy rag. "What in the world caused all that
commotion?"
"A reunion with an
old friend that didn't go as well as I'd hoped."
"I see."
Sarah came into the
kitchen carrying the customer's empty plate. Her look was one of wary amusement.
"Mr. Browder said to replace Mr. Smith's breakfast right away."
Kathleen took the egg soaked rag from Mrs.
Browder and, while the older woman fussed over cooking the gentleman's eggs,
she found she didn't care if her dress could be saved. She really didn't even
care if she lost her job.
The only thing that
mattered to her more than her livelihood or a place to lay her head at night
was Dermot. She had to talk to him and make him understand she'd married to ensure
a good future for her parents. After that, well, she didn't know yet but, being
the optimist she was, something was bound to turn up.
I hope you're able to pick up the first in the series. Buy links are below:
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Carra
