Wild Irish Soul (16 page)

"You're family," Keelin said simply and they crowded around Aislinn to give their well wishes before they clattered down the steps, chattering about what they were going to wear in Dublin.

Aislinn shook her head in surprise at herself. Sometimes she was so caught up in her art and managing her shop and her life on her own that she forgot to look to her support system. It had been stupid of her not to invite everyone to the show. She should've known that they would come anyway.

It felt good knowing people had her back.

Stretching, she walked to her paintings and finished with the final tape up.

"Morgan? Can you come help me?"

Together, they brought the wrapped canvases down to the main floor. Aislinn turned and surveyed the rows of wrapped paintings, amazed at how much she had produced in such a short time.

"I'll be ready with my van first thing in the morning," Morgan promised.

"Thanks, Morgan. Um, Baird wants to drive up with us, but he may take his own car."

"Go with him. I'll follow right behind you." Morgan waved a hand at her.

"Are you sure? That's a long drive on your own."

"I'm used to being alone," Morgan said and slipped out of the back door.

Aislinn understood that. She was used to being on her own and doing stuff for herself. But it was nice, wasn't it, to know that people were there when she needed it most? Smiling, she shut the lights off in her shop and hightailed it upstairs. She still needed to pack for the weekend.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Aislinn barely slept
a wink.

On her third cup of coffee, she grunted out orders as Morgan arrived at the shop, right on time.

"We need to do this by size," Aislinn said, desperately wishing that she had let Baird come over the night before. He probably would have calmed her enough to sleep. Or kept her mind off the show with other activities. Instead, she'd pushed him away, assuring him that she needed to sleep.

Ha, she thought.

Aislinn brought her hand to the back of her neck to work out a tense muscle as she surveyed her canvases, trying to determine which way to start.

"Good morning," Baird's voice called through the back door.

"We're in the shop," Aislinn called and then stopped when Baird rounded the corner with his hands full of bright red poppies.

Poppies.

Who would even think to pick that flower? It was one of her favorites, as she loved the bright red of the flowers juxtaposed against the green of the landscape. They'd always been a favorite of hers to paint. She didn't even know where one could get poppies in the small town of Grace's Cove.

"For my famous artist girlfriend." Baird smiled at her, handing her the bouquet. She swore that part of her wanted to squeal like a teenaged girl at him calling her his girlfriend, so she buried her face in the flowers before bringing her hand up to touch his cheek. Baird leaned down to brush his lips over hers, lingering for a moment.

"Thank you," Aislinn breathed against his mouth.

"Enough kissing, let's load up." Patrick's voice startled her and Aislinn craned her neck around Baird's arm to see Patrick standing in the back door, a broad smile stretching his handsome face.

Morgan immediately turned her back and began to shuffle through the canvases.

"Patrick! What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help, Aislinn. I'm coming to the show if you don't mind." Patrick words were for Aislinn but his eyes tracked Morgan.

Aislinn leaned back and met Baird's eyes.

"Let them work it out," he breathed against her lips.

"Sounds great, Patrick. We are just going to step upstairs so Baird can help me with my luggage," Aislinn decided on the spot and pulled Baird's hand to drag him past a smiling Patrick up the stairs to her apartment.

Once there, she gasped as Baird lifted her and swung her around the room, planting kisses all over her face.

"You look tired. Trouble sleeping?"

"Aye. I should have had you come over. I'm sorry," Aislinn said, feeling bad that she had pushed Baird away when she had needed him.

"Next time," Baird said simply and put her down. He turned to look for her luggage.

"That's it?"

A hanging dress bag and one small duffle sat on the bed.

Aislinn shrugged. "Well, it's only a weekend, isn't it?"

"I'm surprised. Typically girls have five more bags, one just for shoes and makeup."

"I've an editorial eye," Aislinn said stiffly and Baird laughed at her.

"It's not a bad trait to have, Ash."

She smiled at him as he picked up her bags.

"Think they've talked long enough to get over the awkwardness?"

"I certainly hope so as he is riding with her in the van to Dublin." Baird grinned widely at her as Aislinn gasped. She wagged her finger in front of his face.

"You're naughty."

"Me?" Baird raised his eyebrows mischievously and they laughed on their way down the stairs. A rush of adrenalin hit Aislinn and suddenly she felt energized and ready to take on the task. Stepping into the courtyard, she found Patrick instructing Morgan on the best way to load the paintings in her big conversion van.

"I want the last three, the biggest ones, on top," Aislinn called.

Patrick turned and nodded. "Aye, I figured they were special ones of sorts. We'll get it taken care of."

And take care of it they did. In under an hour they had the van packed and her little store looked barren. Aislinn looked around briefly before blowing a forlorn kiss to the empty walls. "I'll put something lovely up after I'm back, promise," she whispered to her shop and headed out to the courtyard, locking the door behind her.

Baird's neat sedan was parked in front of Morgan's gray conversion van. The three stood talking easily as Aislinn approached.

"All set?" Baird asked.

"Aye." Aislinn nodded and moved towards his sedan.

"See you two in Dublin," Baird called over his shoulder.

Aislinn bit her lip and tried not to laugh at Morgan's stricken expression.

"You're coming?" Morgan asked Patrick.

"Aye, want me to drive the first leg?" he asked easily.

"No, I've got it," Morgan said stiffly and hopped in the front seat of the van. Patrick turned and gave Aislinn and Baird the thumbs up and they both laughed at him before he swung into the passenger seat of the van, a huge grin on his face.

"Whoo, boy, wouldn’t I pay to be in that van right now," Aislinn laughed as she buckled herself into the car. Reaching over to run her hand down Baird's arm, she smiled at him.

"Thank you for coming with me. It means a lot," she said.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Baird smiled down at her and a warm glow filled her body and soothed the nerves that ate at her stomach. 

H
ours later, Aislinn couldn't believe how quickly time had flown for her. Baird managed the curvy roads of the countryside with ease and conversation had never once waned for them. They laughed, argued, and challenged each other over pretty much every topic. Aislinn had never had so much fun on a road trip before.

The landscape coming out of Grace's Cove had been dreamy, but as they drew closer to Dublin, they stayed on the main thoroughfare and cars whipped past them as more city life began to crop up amongst the green landscape common to Ireland.

"What's the plan for when we get there?" Baird asked.

"We'll take the paintings straight to the gallery so they can unload and set up the show to their liking. We'll have almost the full day free tomorrow."

"And what do you have planned for that?"

Aislinn shrugged her shoulders and bit her lip, looking at the buildings streaming past her window.

"I don't know. Probably pace myself into a ball of nerves."

"Want to see where I went to school? I have to stop and pick up a manuscript from a colleague anyways. I've promised to edit a study he wants to publish."

"Sure, that would be nice. We can walk around the city and I'll play tourist while you show me your favorite college haunts." Aislinn smiled at him and tried to keep her mind from her show.

"You know, Green on Red Gallery is quite famous," Baird said smoothly, glancing over at her.

Aislinn only nodded in response, her mouth having suddenly gone dry.

"I can brag about my famous girlfriend now," Baird laughed. "As long as it doesn't start going to your head."

Aislinn mock punched him in the arm, her grin stretching her face wide. She felt like she could burst from happiness and nerves, all the emotions cluttering around inside her stomach.

"I wonder how Morgan and Patrick are doing." Aislinn twisted to see that the van was right behind them. She could see Patrick talking animatedly but couldn't make out much from Morgan.

"They'll be fine. They'll find their way…one way or the other," Baird said.

Aislinn settled back in her seat as they neared Dublin.

"Are we in the same hotel?" Aislinn asked, realizing that she had completely forgotten to book accommodations for Baird.

Baird only smiled at her.

"I've booked us a room at the Westbury."

"Oh, sounds lovely. Is it?"

Baird laughed. "Yes, the perfect hotel for an up-and-coming hot new artist."

"I'll have to call and cancel my room then. Oh, and ring the girls to see where they are staying."

"I've got them all in the same hotel," Baird said.

Aislinn whipped her head around to look at him in surprise.

"You're paying for all of them?"

Baird laughed. "Like their men would let me pay. No. But I am paying for Morgan, Patrick, and Fiona's rooms. As is my pleasure."

"Gosh, Baird. Thank you!"

"Of course." Baird smiled and then focused as the streets became more crowded. "I've got to slow down a bit to make sure that I don't lose Morgan on these city streets."

Aislinn quieted down and watched the buildings of Dublin pass by her window. She loved coming to the city but would never want to live there. Give her the ocean and small-town shops any day. She smiled at the mix of old and new that populated Dublin. Ancient churches crowded next to banks and pubs, each jostling for a position amongst the crowds that flowed through the streets. Baird flowed into the city center and allowed the traffic to funnel him around Trinity College towards the gallery.

"Do you know where the gallery is?"

"Aye, it's near a pub that I used to frequent," Baird said. He turned down a narrow back street and began to slow the car. "I'm pulling up in back as I assume that's where they will want you to unload."

Aislinn could only nod as he pulled to a stop behind a building that looked like a large warehouse with huge windows that ran the length of the building, allowing the natural light to seep into the rooms within. Her heart fluttered in her chest and Aislinn found that for a moment, she struggled to breathe.

"Shh, your work is magnificent. You'll be the talk of the town," Baird assured her and climbed out of the car. She watched him walk to the man standing by the back door and dug her clammy hands into her jeans.

"Okay. You've got this. And if nobody likes it…so what? You've got a fine business back home that you can barely keep up with," Aislinn said to herself and then pushed the door open to go meet with the man standing with Baird.

The man he spoke to turned and beamed at Aislinn. Tall, rail thin, and wearing a tweed smoking jacket with an honest-to-God monocle perched on his eye, he was fascinating and eccentric all in one package.

"You must be Aislinn. I'm Martin O'Hennesey, the art director.

"Martin, lovely to meet you in person finally," Aislinn said, grinning up at him, grateful that he wasn't some stiff and reserved art snob.

"We're ready to receive your work. Would you like to stay for a bit and help us to set up the show?"

Aislinn almost said no and then thought about how well Morgan had arranged her shop. She gestured to the van. "Can my assistant work with us? She's a great eye."

"Of course," Martins said smoothly and then turned to call into the building, where several men emerged to help. Aislinn turned to Baird.

"We may be a while."

"No problem, I'll steal Patrick for a pint," Baird assured. He leaned over and brushed a kiss over her lips, lingering for just a moment as the city sounds swirled around them.

"I'll call you later," Aislinn said, holding up her cell phone clutched in her hand.

"Do you need anything else from the car?"

"Just my pocket book."

Baird retrieved it while she went to talk to Morgan. Without any shame at all, Aislinn reached out and scanned Morgan and Patrick with her mind. She didn't even care when Morgan glared at her and gave her a mental shove back. Instead, she grinned widely at the girl, hooking her arm through Morgan's. She was happy to read that they seemed to have come to an uneasy truce. She wondered when they would admit their attraction for each other. Shrugging it off, she pointed a finger at Patrick.

"You, go with Baird. You'll receive a pint or two in reward for your service," Aislinn ordered. Patrick grinned at her and waved to them both as he ran to Baird's idling car.

"So?" Aislinn demanded.

"So, what? Where are they going?" Morgan said, stepping neatly around Aislinn's question.

"They are going to the pub. You and I are going to help set up the show."

Morgan squealed and bounced on her heels. "Really? I get to help?"

"I insisted."

Aislinn's breath whooshed out of her as Morgan flung her arms around Aislinn.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Aislinn untangled herself from Morgan and patted the girl on her arm. "You've got a good eye. You're an asset to my shop. Now, what do you think about setting it up by moods?"

"Let's take a look at the space and see," Morgan said, all business.

Turning, they walked into the gallery.