My mother grinned. “With all this charm, I’m surprised you haven’t decided to settle down, too. Maybe I’ll ask around and see if any of my friends have a daughter who’s single.”
I shot her a warning look. “Mother. If you value your friendships, I would suggest that you don’t try fixing me up with their daughters.”
“They’d be lucky to have you as a husband,” she said proudly.
“But I’m not looking for a wife,” I said. I already know the woman I want. I just can’t have her.
“You say that now, but I see something in your eyes. You’re longing for more. I think it’s time for you to…”
“Mother, if you’re through lecturing Liam, Reesa and I would love to have a photo of you and father with us,” Finn interrupted. He shot me a grin, and I knew he had come over to save me.
Thank you.
I knew my time alone was limited, because of the small group in attendance. Pulling out my cell phone, I snapped a photo and sent it to Kyleigh. It was the perfect excuse for me to reach out to her.
AND IT’S OFFICIAL.
She responded immediately. PRESIDENT FLORRAZ LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
NO COMMENT ABOUT FINN’S KILT?
I could picture her laughing as she typed her response. NICE KNEES.
I loved her sense of humor.
I was laughing to myself when my father approached. I didn’t want to stop chatting with Kyleigh, because this was the first time we’d communicated since I returned to Tabiq. And since she was responding to me, I hated to leave her hanging. With any luck, this meant she hadn’t totally cut me off like she said she would.
Slipping my phone into my pocket I said, “I thought you’d be taking pictures longer than that.”
“Don’t give them any ideas. Who were you chatting with?” he asked.
I looked at him surprised. He never asked me questions like that. “A friend.”
“Girlfriend?” he asked.
“Don’t start. I just got mother off the topic,” I stated.
“But she is thinking that you need a woman in your life,” he said.
“And you’re not?” I asked.
“I think you already have one, and haven’t told us, or anyone, about her. Am I right?” he asked.
Damn it.How did he figure that out? “I may be talking with someone.”
“Just talking? Because I saw your expression when you were looking at your phone.”
“She said something funny, that’s all,” I said.
“Does this mystery woman have a name?”
None that I can say.“I’d rather not talk about her, if you don’t mind.”
“You’re not talking to your mother here. It’s me. You know I am not going to spread it all over Ireland,” he stated.
“Her name is Kyleigh,” I stated.
“And is she from Tabiq?”