With a chuckle, the woman put it to her cheek before she answered, even though Moira had already figured it out. “No, it’s not permanent.”
After a few minutes of a wet rag on her cheek, Moira hurried to the mirror. This time, excitement lit her curiosity. Deciding she needed more green lipstick, she pulled it from her jeans pocket and reapplied, then laughed.
Luke and Laura went quiet and she wondered what they planned next. Even with her fear of this and that, she’d truly had fun. If only she could take them back to Ireland. Back to where though? She’d surely lost her small flat.
Blinking her eyes back into focus, she saw a head appear in the mirror behind her. She squeaked and jumped back, but not before she witnessed her face in the mirror pale. How did he find her?
“Am I interrupting?”
At the familiar voice, she whirled around and lost her balance. She’d never heard this level of anger coming from the man with the heavy scowl. Her chest tightened with fear and relief at seeing him. “Hi,” she said breathlessly and wished her voice had sounded stronger and less ‘damsel in distress.’
Danny’s brooding look and raised eyebrow didn’t stop Moira from wanting to throw her arms around him, but she refrained. Considering he’d tracked her down, he might not be in a welcoming mood. Concern for that mood set her system on alert.
Glancing to the side of Danny, she noticed another man and smiled. “Hi, I’m Moira.” That smile and twinkle in his eyes told her he was trouble. “Wait, don’t tell me. You’re Cowboy.” She didn’t expect too many of Danny’s friends to wear cowboy hats in Maryland.
“Yes, ma’am. I certainly am. And it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, little darlin’.”
“Oh, Christ,” Danny said in a low sigh.
When Danny’s gaze swung back to her, rapidly coiling tension in her stomach loosened, wreaking havoc on her nervous system. She’d done nothing wrong. She’d followed his instructions, even though she’d questioned her decision, but he hadn’t complained before when she spent time with her friends. Come to think of it, why was he here? Had something happened to her brother since she’d spoken with him? Why hadn’t someone called her? Then again, they could’ve, and she hadn’t heard the ringer. The bands had drowned out smaller sounds.
“Why are you here? Have you heard something from my brother? Is he okay?” She reached in her pocket to check the phone she should’ve looked at sooner.
In answer to her questions, he grunted, “Come on, we’re leaving.”
Realizing Cowboy spoke to Luke and he looked sick to his stomach, she turned back to Danny. “What’s going on here? Why is Cowboy harassing Luke? Now that you’re here, why do I have to go home?”
Laura approached. “I can see you’ve got a ride, but are you still watching Dublin 5 with Luke and me?”
She did still want to listen to the band, but she also wanted to be with Danny. Maybe she could have both. “Can we stay and listen?”
His jaw working but not grinding told her he was considering it.
Looking at his watch and the growing crowd around the stage nearest them, he asked, “What time do they play?”
“Half twelve.” She remembered she’d used an Irish phrase and corrected herself. “Twelve-thirty.”
“No,” he said without hesitation. Actually, he’d barely said no when he clipped, “Grab your purse and let’s go. Oh, you might want to give back some of that green.”
She witnessed a quick quirk of his lips.
Cowboy returned from speaking with Luke, and he and Danny looked at each other and must’ve had some mental telepathy going because when Danny turned back and after Cowboy walked off, he demanded, “Take me to your booth. We’re leaving.”
Chapter Fifteen
At the sight of her booth and the few paintings, the thought of taking her over his knee became more of a probability. He couldn’t decide if she’d been defiant or didn’t understand what would happen if she was found by the wrong people.
He wanted to kick something. “Dammit, Moira. They have your signature on them. I thought we discussed you’d have to use something else.”
“Those are paintings I brought with me. I couldn’t change my signature.”
His head dropped while his thumb and forefinger held the bridge of his nose, reminding himself she might not understand. Dropping his hand and looking up, he willed himself to be patient. “Not everyone that attends are locals. Those who bought your paintings might show friends, display them prominently in their home or office, or even send them to a friend in Ireland.” To prevent the rebuttal he saw building in her, he raised his hands to cut her off. “Don’t try to interrupt me and say those things don’t matter, because any of them might post their new acquisition on social media, along with the painter’s name.”
Hell. He’d made her eyes water, which was one step away from crying. “My intent wasn’t to upset you, Moira. I just need you to be more careful.” Wanting to give her comfort, he stepped close, then at the last moment, he slid his hands up and down her arms. They stood so close that her green-colored lips called to him. Transfixed, it took a moment for Cowboy to break their searching gazes. Searching for what, he wasn’t sure.
“Let’s get this together and go,” Cowboy insisted, trying to collect all of her paintings under one arm. “We didn’t get to eat.”
That snapped her attention back to her work. “Nay. Nay. Don’t carry those like that.”
As he watched Moira and Cowboy argue about everything, he pulled Luke aside.
“Look,” Luke said, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t know she shouldn’t leave the area where we live.”
It appeared Cowboy had had a nice chat with Luke. “She’s not on a lockdown, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’m asking if you saw anyone paying her special attention or always coming to her with crowds, or anything like that? Think good before you
