Page 35 of A Promise Through Time

“I was thinking…that is…I wondered if ye’d like to walk with me to the village.”

Tina felt her smile spread across her face and down to her toes. “I’d love to,” she said.

“You would?” He seemed surprised, but caught himself and said, “It is nae too far and the weather is quite fine.” He took her hand and tucked it under his arm, smiling down at her with the most beautiful smile. She stared at his lips for a moment before raising her eyes to meet his. She saw there what she imagined was the same thing she was feeling. She licked her lips and gazed at the dirt path in front of them.

They passed others as they walked and Donal nodded a greeting to them. Tina felt she was in a bubble that muted the sights and sounds around her, leaving her fully aware of the man beside her. With every brush of his arm on hers, a tingle of excitement passed through her.

Chapter 8

“Are ye hungry?” Donal asked. They’d been walking for a while now. He’d shown her around the village where he’d purchased a small doll for Elena and some ribbons for Tina’s hair. She’d protested, but he could see she was touched by his gesture.

“I am,” she replied.

He took her hand and led her into the village inn. Finding an empty table in a back corner, he pulled out a chair for Tina and then sat next to her.

“I’ve really had a nice day. Thank you, Donal.”

“’Tis been a pleasure to be at yer side.” A bit of pink tinged Tina’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’ve embarrassed ye.”

“You’ve been so sweet to me today. I can’t remember the last time someone thought it was a pleasure to be with me.”

“I don’t believe it. A lass as lovely as yerself? Ye must have many men vying for yer attentions.”

“I don’t,” she replied, and when his expression told her he didn’t believe her, “Really.”

“The men where yer from must all be daft then.” That earned him a smile and he felt ten feet tall.

“Donal, we haven’t seen ye of late,” Tess said as she approached the table. “Where have ye been?”

Donal wanted to shrink into nothing. Tess had been one of his many conquests. He hadn’t thought of that when he’d chosen to bring Tina here. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea. It seemed no matter where he went he ran into someone who knew all his secrets. He was going to have to get better at not revealing them. He hoped Tess would keep her mouth shut. “I’ve been busy,” he heard the gruffness in his voice, but there was naught to do about that.

“He’s usually here most nights,” she said to Tina, who didn’t reply.

“Well, I won’t be from now on. I’ve other things to occupy my time,” Donal stated.

“This one?” she said, nodding towards Tina. “She looks to be too good for ye.” Tina was staring at the table, avoiding him and Tess, pretending she couldn’t hear a word they were saying. Just when he was making progress. He had even picked flowers for her. Tess was going to wreck everything, he had to get rid of her.

“We’d like some food if ye dinnae mind,” he said.

“Of course,” she said, turning to walk away.

“And ale,” he called after her. “I’m sorry about that,” he said to Tina.

“Why?” she asked.

“She’s a bit troublesome, if ye ken my meaning.” With any luck, he could keep Tess from ruining the rest of his day with Tina.

“She was trying to make you look bad,” she said.

“Aye. That’s it. She was.” Luckily Tina didn’t know him well enough to understand that she wasn’t trying to make him look bad. He simply was bad. He’d brought many a lass to this verytavern and now he’d brought Tina to this place where everyone knew him and knew his womanizing ways. Why hadn’t he thought of that? It would have been better to take her back to Breaghacraig instead.

“Maybe she thinks it odd that you’re spending time with me so soon after your wife passed.” She reached for his arm with a comforting touch.

“That could be it.” He was going to have to tell her the truth sooner or later, but she was looking at him with such sympathy in her eyes that he thought much later would be best. “Yer beauty is only surpassed by yer kindness,” he said, wishing to see if he could pinken those cheeks once again.

Her eyes misted over as she looked down at her hands. He had touched her heart. He could see it. The strange thing was that he found he truly meant it. He’d never met a lass like her and doubted he ever would again. He‘d never taken much time to get to know them, except for what would get them into his bed.

Tina could be so strong and sure, like when she yelled at him during practice yesterday. But now she seemed so delicate, like the wildflowers that were wilting in her pocket. He wanted to know everything about her.