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He’d only have to lean just a little bit closer…
There was a jolt as the large plane touched down, a ripple of applause working its way through the cabin and making Kerry laugh again as she moved back and arched up to look over the seat in front of her.
‘Okay—is it unusual for a pilot to actually land the plane safely here?’
When the cabin lights flickered back on Ronan eventually dragged his gaze upwards from where he’d been attempting to fill his eyes with the sight of her lithe body arched against her seat belt.
‘It was a smooth landing.’ He shrugged. ‘Sometimes folks just think that merits a thank- you.’
‘I’ll remember that for next time.’
She had dozens of next times ahead of her, didn’t she? With an unaccustomed wave of angry bitterness, Ronan thought he should make sure and clap whenever he touched down in Dublin again—a kind of ‘thanks for the memories’ to all the pilots who’d got him from one place to the other in the last decade.
Kerry settled back in her seat, took a deep breath and asked, ‘How long are you in New York for?’
‘Why?’
The words came out in a rush. ‘I don’t suppose I can persuade you to play tour guide for a day?’
It wasn’t going to take much persuasion.
CHAPTER TWO
KAREN had to be losing her tiny mind.
Since when did she run around asking men she’d only just met to spend a day with her? Since never—that was when. It wasn’t that she was stuck in some old-fashioned notion that a woman didn’t have as much a right to ask a man out as the other way round, but it wasn’t something she made a habit of. And what did she really know about this guy beyond the fact he was disgustingly good-looking, great company and more than a little fascinating to her?
She swiped her clammy palms along the sides of her crisp white shorts and pushed her sunglasses up onto her head, squinting as she looked around the crowded street. If he stood her up that would be one way of getting out of it, she supposed. But the truth was she didn’t want him to stand her up—the idea of another day in his company having been sending a flutter of anticipation through her stomach since before she’d gone to sleep the night before. And she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt that before seeing a man. Not that it was a date, because it wasn’t—she’d even offered to pay him for acting as her tour guide.
He’d laughed, mind you.
But it still wasn’t a date. It was a stolen day, a one-off, a way of marking her newfound freedom by doing something completely out of character…
Lord, but it was hot. She really hadn’t been prepared for how hot it was, or how heavy the air was, or how sticky and dishevelled she felt or how noisy and overwhelming New York was with the constant sound of car horns and the wail of sirens echoing from streets away or the number of people or—
Her breath catching when she saw him.
He was standing in the midst of all the people milling around in front of the Empire State Building and it was just plain daft that in that moment he was the only thing Kerry could see. It was simply that he was the only familiar face, was all. And, as much as she’d told herself she was fine with making such a large trip alone, the truth was some of the joy of her first night in New York had been tempered by the fact she had no one with her to turn to and share it with. Like the excitement of the first moment she saw the Manhattan skyline laid out in front of her, and it finally hit her that she was in New York!
She continued staring at Ronan, reasoning again that no one could really blame her—he was incredibly easy on the eyes. Standing with his feet spread, as if claiming the small piece of sidewalk underneath him, he had his hands on his lean hips while he slowly turned a circle, searching the crowd with a frown of concentration on his face. The bright sunlight made his short, spiking hair look lighter—a milk chocolate as opposed to the dark she’d thought it was on the plane—and he just looked so, so, well, he did.
Kerry raised a hand and waved it above her head.
But Ronan continued circling, so, feeling a little silly for waving like an idiot, she walked forwards, swiping her hands down her sides again as she got closer. ‘Hi there—do you by any chance know how to get to the Empire State Building?’
The lazy smile that slid onto his mouth brought an immediate answering smile to her lips. How pathetic was it she was glad to see him? And it didn’t bode too well for her conviction she could take her trip alone and still enjoy it just as much, did it?
‘You’re close, if it helps any.’
Stopping a foot away from him, she watched as his gaze travelled down her body all the way to her feet before rising faster than it had lowered. And she was surprised by how the simple glance suddenly made her feel warmer than she already was, every nerve ending tingling with awareness.
‘So are we starting the grand tour here?’
Ronan casually pushed his large hands into his jeans pockets, adopting the pose of a man extremely comfortable in his own skin. ‘Is there a queue all the way round the block?’
Kerry turned on her heel and surveyed the long line of people, sometimes three or four deep, stretching from the entrance until they disappeared around the corner; the thought of joining the end of a line that length in the sweltering heat was enough to draw a small groan from her lips.
‘Yes.’
‘Then no.’ He shot a glance at the bag resting on her hip, the strap slung diagonally across her body between her breasts. ‘I suppose you have the obligatory camera in there for pictures of all the sights?’
Kerry patted it with one hand, her chin rising with confidence. ‘And sun cream and a mini-fan and a bottle of water and a map and energy bars and a mobile phone and—’
Ronan smiled wryly, long fingers wrapping around her elbow to turn her before he started walking into the crowd. ‘Well at least if we get stranded in the desert we’ll survive.’
‘Are you making fun of the fact I like to be prepared for every eventuality, Mr O’Keefe?’
‘Possibly. But if I achieve nothing else today it’s my aim to sway you towards the merits of travelling light—I saw how much luggage you took off that carousel yesterday. And unless I’m very much mistaken, this is supposed to be a fun experience for you—not an endurance test.’
Kerry felt the skin on her elbow tingling beneath his hand, warmth travelling like an electric current up her arm, over her shoulder and downwards towards her breasts, disconcerting enough for her to feel the need to gently twist free of his touch before it worked its way anywhere else. Then she felt the need to lessen the small rejection with a sidewards glance and a pout of her lower lip.
‘I need all those clothes. It’s a trip through two seasons and half a dozen countries—and that involves a varied wardrobe. And anyway, I only have the absolute necessities with me.’
Ronan sounded unconvinced. ‘Your idea of bare necessities and mine aren’t the same, I’d guess.’
‘That’s because you’re a man and I’m a woman.’
‘No—it’s because I’m a seasoned traveller and you’re a virgin.’
Kerry couldn’t help making a small derisive snort.
And it was enough to make Ronan turn his head to look down at her face, his voice threaded with the cheek of the devil. ‘In travelling terms anyway. Because obviously by your age and looking the way you do…’
Her jaw dropped.
But he merely chuckled and reclaimed her elbow to steer her closer to the kerb. ‘Okay, Kerry, Kerry Doyle, I’m prepared to give a little on the traditional tourist stuff for the first hour or so to give you some quick photo op’s seeing you’re on a tight schedule—plus this is an easy way to get your bearings, so—’
‘What is?’
He quirked his brows at her in barely disguised amusement, then jerked a thumb over his shoulder and added the words slowly as if he were talking to a complete idiot. ‘That is.’
Kerry was a tad bemused, folding her arms across her breasts and blinking up at him before she asked, ‘Mr Great Adventurer is putting me on an open-top bus with the rest of the tourists? My, my, aren’t you the daring one? I’m so glad I have travel insurance.’
‘We can take the subway and boil to death if you prefer. You won’t see as much, mind you…’
Hard as it was to believe that anywhere barring the face of the sun could be any hotter than where she already was, and with him looking at her the way he was, Kerry wasn’t prepared to find out. But she was a little disappointed—she could have found one of the many bus tours on her own. Somehow she’d expected more from Ronan. Had maybe secretly hoped for more? And that some of that sense of adventure might rub off on her?
He stepped closer and bent his knees until he was looking her directly in the eye, his proximity doing things to her pulse rate and breathing that she hadn’t experienced since, well, since the plane, actually…
‘Trust me.’ His voice dropped seductively, the vibration of the deep tone reaching out to interrupt the usual rhythm of her heart. ‘I promise you won’t forget today.’
Kerry swallowed. She believed him—but somehow she knew, deep to the pit of her soul, it wouldn’t just be the sightseeing she’d remember. And that was a strangely scary thought. Especially when she’d spent so long waiting for a time in her life when she finally had her independence; she’d fought long and hard, worked more hours than she cared to think about, had constantly put the needs of others first. Not that she wanted to change that—but the last thing she needed was to get even temporarily attached to someone who was probably as reliable as an Irish summer.
‘Can I ask you a question?’
He stood tall again, towering over her by a good six inches. ‘Depends.’
‘How many women you meet on planes end up asking you to play tour guide for them?’
‘Regretting asking?’
‘Curious.’
He folded his arms across his chest, mirroring her stance, the simple action accenting the muscles in his forearms and biceps. ‘About how often I do this or why you asked me in the first place?’
‘Yes.’
And why he’d agreed, she supposed. Not that she needed her ego stroked, but she was curious as to why he’d said yes as quickly as he had. He had to be in New York for a reason, didn’t he? Meeting with a publisher? More research for a new book maybe? Someone who’d travelled as much as he had didn’t make a trip just for the sake of it, did they? And if that was the case had he dropped whatever he was doing in favour of spending the day with her?
Because she really wouldn’t want him to think that she’d repay him at the end of it with—or that he was onto some kind of a sure thing or—
‘First up, let’s remember you asked me and not the other way round—though I’d have offered if you’d given me five minutes. Or at the very least pointed you in the general direction of some of my favourite places.’
Kerry opened her mouth.
But Ronan wasn’t done. ‘Secondly, I don’t tend to talk to people on planes much—and any I’ve bothered with have never been a beautiful woman travelling alone, more’s the pity. So, yes—you’re the first one for a guided tour. I’m only human.’
Of all the very many things in there she could have picked to ask questions on, Kerry’s brain could only seem to focus on the one thing: he thought she was beautiful. Really? Not pretty or cute but honest-to-goodness beautiful?
It made her positively glow—a guy like him thinking that. So much for not needing her ego stroked.
‘Thirdly—’ he took a measured breath that expanded his wide chest before continuing with an almost reluctant tone in his voice, as if he wasn’t completely comfortable saying the words ‘—I guess the idea of seeing things through your eyes appealed to me. It’ll do me good to see it from a new perspective—who knows? I might even get a chapter of a book out of it. I’ll even promise to give you an acknowledgement if I do.’
He recovered with a wink. ‘You can thank me later…’
‘Ronan—’ But before she could find anything coherent to say there was a loud greeting from the upper floor of the bus.
‘Ro—my man! C’mon up.’
Ronan grinned, tilting his head right back to throw an answer back. ‘Hey, Johnnie boy—you save us the good seats?’
‘Uh-huh. That your friend?’
‘Yup.’
The younger man whistled. ‘She’s way too good-lookin’ for you, old man—bring her up here so I can steal her away.’
Kerry laughed when the words were accompanied with an exaggerated wink and a beckoning index finger. ‘And that is?’
Ronan cupped her elbow again, guiding her onto the bus as he leaned his head down, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
‘Best tour guide in New York City—just don’t go telling him I said so or he’ll be unbearable.’ He stood taller, voice rising a little. ‘These tours are all about the guides; get a local like John and you’ll get more insight about the city and the best places to go than you ever would from a book.’
Kerry lowered her voice to the same conspiratorial level he’d used. ‘Don’t you know someone who could maybe put it in a book?’
‘Ah-h-h, but these stories aren’t mine to tell— they’re his. And no two tours are ever the same with John. There’s always something new to add or a different joke or something that happened the day before. And that’s what travelling is all about—the people as much as the places. Some places you might forget, but you won’t forget the people you met along the way. Memories Kerry, Kerry Doyle—yours, the people you meet’s— that’s what you’ll have at the end of every trip you take. Moments; snapshots in time, if you like.’
They paused at the bottom of narrow metal stairs leading to the upper deck, where Ronan released her arm and Kerry felt the rush of air-conditioned coolness wash over the heated brand of his touch, creating goose-bumps on her skin. But even though she was aware of it, it was the wistfulness in his voice as he painted the romantic picture that captured her attention most, echoing a need inside her for the kind of moments he’d just described.
‘You really love what you do, don’t you?’
The sigh was silent, but she caught it. What was it that suddenly made him frown? Why did he turn away from her and look up the stairs as if he didn’t want to look her in the eye? And why did she suddenly feel so ridiculously—sad somehow? She really wished she could place a mental finger on whatever it was.
He was quite the mystery.
‘I did.’
Kerry wasn’t completely sure she’d heard him say it, but before she could check a pair of feet appeared on the stairs and an upturned palm was offered her way.
‘Come on up, sweet thing. I have a seat saved specially for you—Ro can just stay down there.’
‘And leave her with you? Don’t think so, pal.’
‘Ro?’ Picking on the nickname she’d previously ignored, she shot an amused glance at Ronan.
‘Don’t even think about adopting it. I can leave you stranded somewhere. Or with Johnnie—he’s famous with the ladies, so if you prefer…’
Placing her hand into John’s, she leaned back a little while walking up the steps. ‘I think I’ll stick with the devil I know.’
She’d always been a sucker for a mystery.
Ronan had spent half a day with her and he still didn’t get her. Not that he’d ever felt the need to place people in boxes so he knew where he stood in the world, but normally he was a good judge— he was worldly-wise, after all. But her he just didn’t get.
For starters he found it hard to believe someone like her didn’t have a load of friends who could’ve gone on holiday with her. Not that everyone could take three months off work to travel round the world, but still. That thought process then led him to wonder what she did that allowed her to take three months off work. She was a little mature for a student taking a gap. He put her early thirties maybe—though she could have passed for younger—but she had a maturity and intelligence to the way she spoke and acted that made him believe she had some life experience under her belt. People over the age of thirty were—calmer, he supposed. They knew what they wanted, were less worried about what people thought, more ‘together’.
And as the day progressed he couldn’t help wondering something else: how she’d managed to stay single when she looked the way she did. Because he wasn’t the only one looking at her as if she were the last female left on the planet, was he?
John flirted outrageously with her during the tour and although Kerry didn’t overly play up to it she hadn’t exactly discouraged him either; laughing that husky laugh of hers, her lips parting to draw in the odd gasp at his audacity when he made innuendos over the tannoy and then blushing adoringly straight after, eyes shining. And it had bugged Ronan, frankly. He didn’t want Johnnie-boy to be the one getting all those reactions.
Almost as if somewhere in his mind Ronan had claimed her as his for the day.
She made a small moaning sound beside him and stretched long, slender legs directly into his line of vision, so he turned his head to watch as she stretched the rest of her body. And had to stifle a groan when his body reacted in a very swift, very male way to what he saw—the woman should wear a warning!
She’d clasped the fingers of one hand around the wrist of the other before lifting her arms above her head and had her head tilted back, eyes closed as she let the sun warm her face. And the combined stretching of legs and arms had arched her spine off the bench, her breasts straining against the snug fit of her azure-blue vest-top.
‘I am so hot.’
Ronan couldn’t help but silently agree.
