At the same time, Conor looked over at Olivia and gave her a weak smile. She walked over to the berth and knelt down on the floor, then took his hand. “I was so scared,” she murmured. “I still am.”
“We’ll be fine,” he said, pulling her hand to his lips. “You did good.”
She sat on the floor next to him, holding his hand, until the doctor arrived. Then Brendan drew her out of the cabin up to the deck. Olivia was glad for the fresh air. She was weak and dizzy, and if she had to watch Conor’s pain for a moment longer, she was sure she’d faint.
They stood at the rail and stared out at the dark harbor, listening to the clank of rigging and the soft lap of the water against the hull. “You’ve had quite a night,” Brendan said.
“I thought I had a pretty exciting life before this,” Olivia murmured. “I travelled, I went to fancy parties, I took nice vacations. That was nothing compared to spending time with your brother.”
Brendan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Thanks,” he said.
She glanced up at him. “For what?”
“For saving his life. For caring about him.”
“That’s not hard to do,” she said, a tiny smile quirking her lips. “He’s a good man. Maybe the best man I’ve ever known.”
“But sometimes he makes it hard to like him. He keeps his distance, and when anyone gets too close, he retreats.”
“He told me about your mother,” she said.
Brendan blinked in surprise. “Conor talked about Ma?”
Olivia stretched her arms out over the rail and stared at her hands. “I don’t think he realized what he was talking about. He was just talking to stay awake.”
“I think that’s the reason Conor keeps to himself,” he said. “When she left, he was the one who took the brunt of it. He was a kid raising five other kids. I don’t think he ever wants to be deserted like that again, so he closes himself off to the possibilities and turns his energy into making everyone feel safe.” Brendan sighed. “He still thinks Ma is alive.”
“Do you think she is?”
Brendan shrugged. “I don’t know. When we were little, Con said he would go to find her when he was old enough. Maybe that’s why he became a cop. Or maybe it was because he needed to take care of everyone else’s troubles. He’s kind of codependent that way. But I don’t think he’s ever looked for Ma.”
“Why not?”
“I think he was afraid of what he might find. He was happier believing she was alive somewhere, alive and living a good life.” Brendan pushed back from the rail. “I’ll go see how things are going. Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea? A shot of whiskey?”
Olivia smiled and shook her head. When she was alone, she walked along the deck to the bow of the boat. The shadows from the quay cast the bow in darkness and she sank down, her strength finally giving out and her emotions taking over. A sob tore from her throat and she hugged her knees to her chest and let the tears fall.
They fell for the life that she once had, calm and orderly, and for all her hopes for the future. They fell for her anger at her business partner and at Red Keenan. But mostly, they fell for Conor, for the boy he was and the man he’d become. A man who’d risked his life for her, a man she was fast falling in love with. And a man who might never return that love.
“Olivia?”
She raised her head and quickly wiped away the tears, then stumbled to her feet. Brendan was waiting for her at the entrance to the main cabin. “He’s going to be fine. The doctor stitched him up. The bullet just grazed him.”
A fresh round of tears flooded her eyes and Brendan drew her into his arms. “Come on. It’s all right now. The doc and I moved him into my cabin where he’ll be more comfortable. And I brought your cat in from the car.” He leaned back and gave her a smile. “Why don’t you go see him. I have to hide the car before someone recognizes it. Then I’ll run and get you both something to eat. Do you want anything special?”
“Little Friskies in the can,” she said. “Tuna flavor. And some kitty litter. For Tommy.”
Brendan chuckled. “I’ll get you a burger.” He nodded toward the cabin. “It’s the companionway that leads to the bow of the boat.”
Olivia wiped her cheeks again and ran her fingers through her hair, hoping that she looked at least presentable. Why she bothered to worry about her appearance, she wasn’t sure. Conor had certainly seen her looking worse. But she wanted to be strong for him and looking like she was falling apart didn’t cut it.
When she reached the forward cabin, she knocked on the door, then stepped inside. The soft glow from an oil lamp washed the cabin in flickering shadows. Conor lay on the bed, bare-chested, eyes closed, a bandage taped to his rib cage. His jeans had been cast aside and the waistband of his boxers was visible where the bedsheet was twisted around his waist. Tommy was sitting silently on the end of the bed, keeping guard over the man that had saved them both. Olivia distractedly scratched the cat’s ears as she stared at Conor, her gaze transfixed by the planes and angles of his face.
Awake, he always had a hard edge to him, his gaze intense and his jaw tight. But as he slept, she saw a side of him revealed rarely, only in a fleeting glimpse when he smiled. Olivia tiptoed over to the bed and knelt down beside him. His hair fell over his forehead, just touching the dark slashes of his eyebrows.
She looked closer, surprised that she’d never noticed how long and thick his lashes were. Beautiful, she mused. Not a word one would usually associate with a man like Conor Quinn. Desire welled up inside of her, unbidden but undeniable. She’d always been so careful with men, but with Conor all her resolve seemed to crumble with just one touch.
He was arrogant yet affectionate, dangerous yet vulnerable, contrasts that she found irresistibly intriguing. She’d never felt such an instant connection with a man before. With a hesitant hand, she reached out and tenderly brushed the hair out of his eyes. Her breath stilled and she bent over him and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
Conor’s eyelids fluttered and he awoke.
FOR A MOMENT, he thought he might be dreaming. The light from the oil lamp shimmered around her head, like a halo. And then his vision cleared and he found himself looking at an angel come to earth. Conor smiled sleepily. “Hi,” he murmured.
Olivia leaned forward and gazed into his eyes. “How do you feel?”
“Like hell,” he said. “But the doctor says I’ll be fine. A little sore for a while. And I’m going to have to give up my Olympic dreams in the javelin and shotput.”
She giggled and the sound brought a small measure of relief. Brendan had told him that Olivia had been close to tears when they’d arrived. It was nice to see her smile again. Just looking at her exquisite beauty was the best medicine he could have.
“Brendan went to get us something to eat. Are you hungry?”
He pushed up on his elbow, pain shooting through his side. “I’m starved,” he muttered through clenched teeth.
“Here,” Olivia said. “Let me help you.” She placed her arm around his shoulders and helped him sit. His face nuzzled into her chest as she moved him and he groaned inwardly, trying hard to ignore visions of the warm flesh beneath her sweater. When she had stacked a few pillows behind his back, Conor closed his eyes and leaned back, trying to banish the heat that had shot to his groin. At least he knew the bullet hadn’t injured that part of his anatomy.
“What are we going to do now?” Olivia asked, sitting down on the edge of the berth.
“Bren called my little brother Liam. They’re going to help Brendan take the boat up to Salem. My brothers Sean and Brian will meet us there with another car. After that, we’re going to get lost until the trial.”
“Don’t you think you should call your boss and tell him we’re okay?”
“I’m not playing by the rules anymore. I did, and it almost got us both killed. If they thought I was a rogue cop before, they haven’t seen anything yet.”
“All right,” Olivia said. “Whatever you think is best.”
A soft knock sounded at the door and Olivia walked over and opened it. Brendan stood outside with two paper bags. He handed them to Olivia. “I’ve got cat food. Why don’t you send Tommy out and I’ll feed him.” He looked over to Conor. “Liam’s here. We’re going to be casting off in about a half hour.”
