Free Irish Hearts by Nora Roberts Page A

his own temper in check. "Dee," he said shortly, giving her a small shake. "Get a grip on yourself. It's just a cross."
    "It was my mother's. I've got to have it-it's all I have left of her. It's all I have." She was trembling violently, and he drew her into the warm circle of his arms and began the ageless comfort of rocking.
    "I'll find it for you, don't worry. I'll go back and find it tonight."
    Resting against his strong shoulder, she felt strangely content, and both panic and the threatened tears dissolved. "Do you promise?"
    "Yes, Dee, I promise." He rubbed his cheek against the silk curtain of her hair, and she wondered suddenly what it was about a man that made it so good to be held by one-or was it just one man? Sighing, she allowed herself another moment's luxury pressed against him.
    "I'm all right now, Mr. Grant." She drew herself away as far as his arms would permit. "I'm sorry I acted like that."
    "You don't have to be sorry, Dee." His hand lifted to brush back the full, thick waves that tumbled around her face. "And it was Travis before; let's leave it at that. I rather like the way you say it."
    She felt her pulse respond to his soft words and gentle touch, her awareness of him growing until she thought her veins would burst from the pressure.
    "I-Is it that you're implying I have an accent?" Her brows lifted in mock censure as a defense against the suddenly dangerous atmosphere.
    "No. I'm the one with the accent."
    His smile drew one of her own, but the innocent intimacy only heightened her confusion, and she felt her color rise in an unaccustomed blush, her lashes sweeping down like fragile shutters. He grinned at the uncharacteristic shyness before he rose and moved to a small bar across the room.
    "I think you could use a drink before I take you home." He lifted a crystal decanter. "Some brandy?"
    "Brandy's a stranger to me, but perhaps if you've some Irish-" She sat up straighter, grateful for the distance between them.
    "I'd be hard pressed not to with Paddy as my trainer," he commented, pouring a small measure of whiskey into a glass. "Here." He walked back to her and offered the glass. "This should steady you and keep you from falling into my arms again."
    "And what would you be finding so funny?" Tilting her head, she regarded him with curious eyes.
    "That a half-pint like you could down two fingers of whiskey as though it were a cup of tea."
    "Aye, well, it comes with the blood, I suppose. I'm not one that drinks often, but when I do I can handle my liquor-which is more than can be said of that slimy pig of a groom." He turned back to set the empty glass on the bar so that she was unaware of the hardening of his features. "Travis-" she said, hesitating over his name, and he turned, relaxing his face into calm lines. "I'm grateful to you for what you did." Standing, she moved until she stood in front of him. "I'm owing you, Travis, though God Himself knows how I'll ever repay you."
    His eyes were intense for a moment, brooding over the face she turned up to his; then his features relaxed into a smile, and he ran his finger down her cheek. "Perhaps one day I'll call in the debt."
    The sun streamed onto the kitchen table as Adelia removed the postbreakfast clutter. She was grateful Paddy had noticed nothing amiss, having been fast asleep when, late and disheveled, she had arrived back home. He had greeted her that morning with his usual cheery smile, and she had mirrored it, firmly blocking the memory of her night's encounter from her mind. Hearing footsteps approach the kitchen, she closed the door on the dishwasher.
    "I'm just coming, Uncle Paddy. I've got the buttons all figured out now. It's amazing how-Oh!" She stopped as she turned and saw Travis leaning against the doorway. "Good morning." She pushed at her hair as her thought processes skidded to a halt.
    "How are you?" He walked toward her, eyes traveling in an intense survey.
    "I'm f-fine, just f-fine," she stammered, and despised herself. Will