Keely glanced around the bar. 'I really shouldn't. We're getting pretty busy.'
'What time do you get off?'
'The pub closes at five.'
Rafe nodded. 'I suppose you'll be heading back to New York to spend the holidays with your family.'
'No, I'm spending Christmas here. Alone. Just me, a cup of hot cocoa and a good book.'
'No,' Rafe said. 'You're coming out with me. I'll treat you to dinner. As an apology for my behavior the last time we met.'
'If that's the offer, then we should probably go dutch. I was as much to blame as you were. But you must have plans with your family.'
'No plans.'
Keely considered his invitation for a moment or two, then nodded. 'All right. I'd like that. I'd like that a lot.'
As she went back to work, Keely couldn't keep herself from smiling. Though she'd tried to ignore her attraction to Rafe, seeing him again had only proved how fruitless that effort had been. Maybe it was only a physical thing, but what was wrong with that? There was something to be said for really great sex.
And if, by some chance, it led to something more, then she'd deal with that when it came. Right now, she had plans for Christmas Eve and that was enough.
RAFE SLOWLY SIPPED his Scotch, his gaze fixed on Keely as she moved around the bar from table to table. Every now and then, she'd look over at him and smile and he found himself lost in idle contemplation of her beauty.
In this atmosphere of rather overblown feminine pulchritude-of big hair and red lips and artificially enhanced bosoms-she stood out as something special. She wore very little makeup and her hair was cut short in a tousled style that made it appear as if she'd just crawled out of bed. Rafe couldn't quite figure out her clothes. They were fashionable with a funky edge, causing a few raised eyebrows in the rather conservative atmosphere of the pub.
Tonight, she wore a lime-green sweater and a little black skirt that gave every man in the place a tempting view of her legs. Knee-high boots made the look even sexier. God, he loved black boots, Rafe mused.
A loud shout from the bar drew his attention to Seamus Quinn, and Rafe's mood immediately darkened. Everything was in place. The day after Christmas, Seamus was going to learn that his mortgage on the pub had been sold. A building inspector would visit the day after that and discover the pipes and heating system in the place were covered with asbestos. Quinn's Pub would need to be closed down until the removal was completed. And the day after that, a fisherman who'd been on board the
Ken Yaeger had told the story many years ago. He'd visited Rafe's mother shortly after the funeral and told her how her husband had really died. Rafe had heard the tale from his mother in disjointed pieces, always with Seamus Quinn painted as the villain. Over time, Rafe had managed to figure out the truth of the story. And when he found Yaeger a few months ago, that story was confirmed. Seamus Quinn was responsible for Sam Kendrick's death. He'd gotten away with murder.
If all went as planned, by the start of the New Year, Seamus Quinn would be sitting in jail and there'd be nothing any of the Quinn boys would be able to do to rescue their father from justice. Rafe leaned back and took another sip of his drink. His only regret was that Keely would lose her job. But then, she didn't belong in a place like this. He'd have to find a way to make it up to her, beyond a Christmas Eve dinner.
By the time Rafe finished his Scotch, Seamus had made last call. Keely hurried from table to table to settle tabs, and when she finished, she tossed her apron behind the bar and met him at the door. When they got outside, she looped her arm through his as they walked to Rafe's car.
'Tired?' he asked.
'I've only been working since noon. A five-hour shift isn't so bad.'
'How do you like your new job?'
'It's nice. A little hard on the feet. And when I leave, I smell like cigarette smoke and stale beer. But the customers are nice. Very Irish.'
'And the people you work for?' Rafe probed.
'I don't know them very well,' Keely said offhandedly. 'But I like them so far. Where are we going?'
'I have one stop to make before we get dinner. I have to deliver a Christmas gift. But I should only be a few minutes.'
They spent the rest of the drive chatting, Rafe hardly able to keep his eyes on the road with Keely in the car. He wasn't the kind of guy to believe in fate, but something had brought him to Quinn's that night. He had to believe he was meant to satisfy this craving he'd had for Keely over the past few months.
Now that he knew what she expected, he wasn't going to make the same mistakes twice. She wanted a physical relationship, wild and uninhibited, with no strings attached. Any expectations for a relationship beyond pure pleasure were to be checked at the bedroom door. Hell, that's all he'd ever really wanted from the opposite sex and now he'd found the perfect woman to provide it.
They chatted about her job as Rafe turned off the highway into Cambridge. A few minutes later, he swung the car into the Oak Terrace Convalescent Hospital and pulled into a parking spot near the front door.
'Why are we stopping here?' Keely asked.
'My mom lives here. I won't be long.'
Keely gasped. 'But it's Christmas. You should spend some time with her.'
'Lately she hasn't even recognized me,' Rafe said. 'She has some problems and she kind of drifts in and out. Around the holidays, she always seems to be worse. I think she misses my dad.'
'He's dead?'
Rafe nodded. 'For almost thirty years. But to her it was just yesterday. Emotionally, she's been a little…fragile since he died.' He reached into the back seat for an elaborately wrapped Christmas gift. 'I'll be back in a minute.'
'I'd like to come with you,' Keely said softly. 'I'd like to meet your mother.'
Stunned by her offer, Rafe wasn't sure what to say. His mother was hard enough for him to handle; he couldn't imagine a complete stranger taking that on. But then Keely continually surprised him with the depth of her character. 'All right.'
He hopped out of the car and circled to Keely's door to pull it open for her. She stepped out and gave him a smile. 'I'll have to thank her for teaching you such good manners.'
Though decorated festively, the home was quiet when they entered. Rafe nodded to the nurse at the front desk, then started down the long hall. Keely stayed at his side, unfazed by the residents who stared at her with vacant gazes and expressionless faces. When they reached Lila's room, Rafe turned to her. 'Sometimes she gets a little upset, so feel free to leave if her behavior bothers you.'
'I'll be fine,' Keely assured him.
Rafe wasn't sure where the urge came from, but he leaned forward and kissed her gently, their lips barely touching before he drew away. He couldn't find the words to tell her how sweet she was, so he'd chosen to show his appreciation. He turned and knocked softly on the door.
Lila didn't look up as they entered. She sat in a chair near the window, staring out into the winter darkness with a strange smile on her face. Rafe crossed the room and kissed her on the top of her head. 'Hi, Ma. Merry Christmas.'
'He should be home by now,' Lila said. 'He's never so late.'
'He will be home soon, Ma. Until he gets here, would you like to open this present?'
She finally glanced up at him, her gaze taking in the gift. But then it shifted to Keely and her smile faded slightly. 'Are you my nurse?' she asked.
Keely slowly approached the chair, then bent down until she stood at Lila's level. 'No, I'm not. I'm a friend of Rafe's. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Kendrick.'
Lila stared at Keely for a long time, her expression melting into a frown. 'I know you,' she said.
'No, Ma, you don't.'
'I know you. You have those eyes.'
'You have very pretty eyes,' Keely said, deftly changing the subject. 'And beautiful hair. Would you like me to
