Kiernan, page 2
part #4 of Sea Dragon Shifters Series
“Get forty hats,” he mouthed secretly, then he added aloud, “Ms. Sorrel and I get first choice, then pass the rest out to any hatless folks in our group, including yourself and Lily.” He gave the young man a wink. “Go.”
“Lily?” Kiernan said in a low voice. “You know Ms. O’Brien? Marching in the last row?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I need you to relay a message to her.”
Lily moved forward to walk on his other side and leaned in, tipping her head close to his.
“Tell her Kiernan is requesting plan B, and it’s on me. Add extra ginger ale, Tylenol, and ice packs. Bonus points if she can make it happen before we get halfway down Bay Street.”
“I understand,” Lily whispered. Her eyes twinkled and she was grinning like crazy. “I’ll deliver the message, then be right back with the Tylenol and water.”
As Lily threaded her way back through the group, Delia glowered at him. “What are you up to?”
“It’s all good,” he insisted. She continued to frown and on her poor, bruised face the expression looked painful. “I’m okay,” she insisted. “You don’t need to walk right beside me.”
“Try to see this from my point of view,” he said. “I can’t go back and wreak vengeance on that dangerously aggressive light pole. However, I believe I might be able to make you a little more comfortable for the rest of the parade.”
“Wreak vengeance? You’re a weird man.”
He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I’m afraid you might be right, Ms. Sorrel.” Quietly drawing in a deep breath, he filled himself with her scent.
His dragon jerked his head up. She’s our mate, he roared. Then the beast fought and clawed, again demanding to get out. She’s the one. Just for us. Ours.
Kiernan fought to hold back his other nature, finally managing to subdue him.
Where’ve you been? he teased with an inner chuckle. About time you caught on.
The sea dragon vibrated with impatience. Give her a gift. Claim her.
Whoa, slow down my friend. Remember, she’s a human. We need to take this a step at a time. Plus, it appears she’s a human with a violent enemy. Let’s show her how helpful we can be. Convince her she can trust us.
Half a block later, Lily appeared at his side with a packet of Tylenol tablets and a travel tumbler of cold water.
“For you Delia,” she announced, “compliments of Ms. O’Brien.” Taking charge, Lily ripped open the packet, dropped the tablets in Delia’s palm and held up the water.
“Oh, thank you,” Delia murmured. While she was busy trying to drink the water without using her jaw, Lily whispered to Kiernan.
“Ms. O’Brien says plan B is a go. The regular golf cart is waiting to join us at Emmet Park, right up ahead. She radioed her back up cart, Plan B, and he’ll join our unit before we make the turn onto Bull.”
Lily raised her voice. “Delia, one of Ms. O’Brien’s feisty senior couples is insisting they’ll march to the end of Bay Street. She’s asking if you could take charge of the first cart and those two riders. She’ll keep an eye on the other three seniors, make sure they catch the second golf cart at the end of Bay.”
Delia raised an eyebrow at Kiernan. “Is this your doing? In lieu of violent lamppost vengeance?”
“Actually,” he said with his most charming grin. “I have a side bet with a Benedictine senior, based on the number of kisses we each get. The decorated golf cart always draws lots of extra attention. Two carts equal twice the attention. Since I could use the twenty bucks, I’d be grateful if you’d ride and allow me to march alongside.”
“Collecting kisses?”
“Exactly, and a twenty at the end.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake—”
“Ms. Sorrel, here’s your shade hat,” Beau announced. He was covered in hats. A variety of multi-colored top hats stacked on his head, sun bonnets, fishing hats, baseball caps were clipped to each other and draped over both his shoulders. The straw shade hat he held out to Delia had a large floppy brim wide enough to please Scarlett O’Hara. It was decorated with long green ribbons and clusters of shamrocks and green flowers.
“Oh, that one’s beautiful,” Lily gushed.
Beau handed Kiernan a green fishing hat, then the young man pantomimed how Kiernan should secure Delia’s hat by tying the ribbons into a bow under her chin.
“Got it,” Kiernan said, taking charge of the flowered hat. “Good job, Beau.”
“Would you help me hand these out?” Beau asked Lily, as he took her hand to lead her away. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, “I looked for a pretty hat for you too, but there was only one. I got us matching baseball caps instead.”
Kiernan tied the hat on Delia just as the festooned double-long golf cart rolled into the group near the back. He offered Delia his arm and escorted her toward the vehicle as two seniors were helped aboard by Parade officials. “Welcome, ladies,” he greeted the silver-haired passengers. “What a fine day for a parade.”
With Delia settled in the front passenger seat, he said to all of them, “Is everyone comfortable? I’m Kiernan, I’ll be your attendant for the remainder of this parade. Your driver today is Mick. We’ll be serving light snacks and cold beverages—”
“Beer?” one of the seniors piped up.
“No, Miss Bessie. You know it’s against our club policy to drink alcohol during the parade. Now, at the Muirdris after-party I can guarantee all the beer you can handle. And I’ll throw in a complimentary ride home if any of the three of you ladies or Mick overestimates.”
Delia smiled up at him and his heart flipped in his chest. He stepped back as the cart sped up slightly, then dug into the small first aid bin tucked in the golf bag holder behind the second row seats. Working the ice pack to activate it, he strode up to Delia.
“Trade me for the old one?”
“Thanks.”
He continued to walk alongside the cart, waving to the crowds, and quickly discovered that between her wide brim hat and the golf cart’s shade cover, he couldn’t see Delia’s face. Damn. However, he’d been correct about the golf cart attracting attention. By the time they marched around Johnson Square, he’d doubled the number of kisses on his face.
And he knew there were more to come. Several groups of locals, including Rachel, his administrative assistant and her cronies, watched the start of the parade—and began bestowing kisses—from the steps of the Cathedral. After the last person they knew had walked by and been kissed, they ran across to Bull Street and joined the crowd opposite Chippewa Square to give out second kisses.
When the parade slowed for a moment, he leaned to Delia and asked, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m better. I appreciate you arranging this ride for me. I’ve been wanting to do this for years and hated the thought of missing my first time marching in the parade.”
“If you feel up to it, perhaps you could join us at Muirdris for the after-party? Our offices are right behind the Garden City terminal.”
“I’ll try but can’t make any promises.”
He handed her one of his cards. “Here are my contact numbers. Please text or call me? Let me know how you’re doing. Or if you need anything.”
She took his card and tucked it into a pocket. Watching her, his heart ached. He had a bad feeling about his chances of seeing her that evening.
Delia Sorrel was his mate. He couldn’t lose her.
Chapter 4
Cordelia
April 8
Three weeks later, her head down, teeth gritted, Delia pedaled like crazy along the designated bike path next to the Georgia Southern University library parking lot. She only slowed when she reached the front of the large building and the rows of bike racks installed on strips of concrete. Struggling to take a deep breath, she left the bike unlocked, hefted her backpack over one shoulder, and dashed for the front entrance.
She’d been lying low for the past several weeks. Changing her hiding place frequently. Ever since St. Patrick’s weekend when she’d returned home from the parade to find her late grandmother’s cottage in Savannah trashed. Aching and nauseous, the entire side of her face swollen and throbbing, Delia had taken one look inside, at the slashed and broken antique furniture, her few personal belongings—keepsakes mostly—scattered and broken, and she’d collapsed in sobbing tears.
By the time she’d run dry, left with gritty eyes and hiccups, she’d reached a decision. After the story of the dueling wills broke, she’d mostly hidden in Savannah, in plain sight. She’d cut and colored her hair and transferred to SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design. Dressing to blend in, she’d quietly attended classes in historic restoration. She’d avoided her cottage, choosing to couch-surf with friends until the night before the parade.
After she’d been attacked at the parade and her cottage ruined, she needed a deeper hole to hide in. When she couldn’t find a semi-permanent one, she’d gone back to people’s couches. Only this time, she stayed away from Savannah, and by moving from town to town, she’d managed to avoid Leopold and his attorney’s enforcers.
Until yesterday, when a terrific opportunity had come her way. Now, she was taking a chance appearing at a favorite spot, the GSU library, but she needed her bestie Barb’s help.
Inside the library vestibule Delia pulled out her laptop and stuffed the now-foldable pack into one of the floor-level cubbies. Passing through the inner doors, she faced the library’s TSA-airport-worthy security.
Her long-time best friend and favorite research librarian, Barb waited on the other side of the scanner. “Hurry up,” Barb hissed, reaching around the metal detector for the laptop. “And lose the hat.”
The minute they were locked inside the rare documents room, Barb turned on Delia. “What the hell happened? Where have you been? And don’t leave anything out.”
Delia looked closely at her best friend, the one person in the world she’d regretted cutting off from all communications. Barb was only two years older, yet she’d accomplished so much.
At the beginning of Delia’s sophomore year at Georgia Southern University, her mom got married for the fourth time. The groom was much like the first three, wealthy, powerful; ruthless. The difference this time? Husband number four, Tucker Watson, had a greedy and suspicious son and heir, Leopold.
Devastated by her mom’s sudden, surprise elopement, Delia had missed classes. The first letter from the new Mrs. Watson urged Delia to keep going after her degree and to maintain her grades. Tucked inside the envelope with the letter was a bank check for all of Delia’s university expenses for the next year. Exactly why grandmother’s trust had been set up.
She’d dared to hope that maybe this husband was different. Numbers two and three despite their wealth, couldn’t wait to get their hands on her mom’s settlement money. And both men had tried to get to the education trust.
Maybe the newest pre-nuptial agreement would protect her mother. And by extension, Delia’s education. But it was a topic her mom refused to discuss with her. Then, just before finals of her junior year, Delia was notified her mother and Tucker had died together in a plane crash.
Barb’s warm hand on her arm brought Delia out of the dark memories.
“I promise, I’ll tell you everything,” Delia said, “but could I get a hug first?”
Barb’s green eyes misted, and she squeezed Delia breathless. “It’s so good to see you,” Barb whispered. “I’ve been worried sick. Now, what the hell’s going on?”
Delia described the assault during the parade and the damage to the cottage.
“Is this about the possibility of you inheriting the Watson empire? The dueling wills?”
“Afraid so,” Delia said, shivering. God, she hated that expression, dueling wills, coined by a cable news anchor. “Leopold’s hired jerk, the one who slugged me at the parade, issued an ultimatum as well as a deadline. Sign away all of it, including my actual inheritance, by that Monday, March 18th or he’d make an example of me—”
“Someone’s been reading too much Mario Puzo.”
“Reading? Him? You can’t be serious.”
“Sorry. The goombah has watched The Godfather too many times.”
“You know I don’t give a damn about Tucker’s companies, or his money. I only want what mom went into that marriage with. Grandma’s few pieces of family jewelry and whatever is left of the two little trust funds she set up: Mom’s and my education money. I’ll never sign that away. So, after the parade I seriously went into hiding.”
“You did a great job of disappearing. I asked everybody and no one knew where you’d gone.”
“Good. I’m sick of constantly relocating and still having to look over my shoulder. I decided to take a chance, made a phone call to a teen in Savannah to ask if the coast was finally clear.”
“Is it?”
“No. My young observer tells me men in cheap suits are still asking about me. The same ones who were snooping around in March. She spotted one guy lurking outside the front house and the cottage last weekend.”
“Damn. That’s creepy.”
“Thankfully, right after the dueling wills story hit, after I got myself together and did my research on how to disappear, I scrubbed a lot of my history, and lots of the connections to me.”
She took a deep breath, tried to calm her rising fear. She missed the reassuring sound of her mother’s voice.
“Anyway, recently, my top priority has been to find a longer-term place to hide. Last night I struck gold.”
“Do you want to tell me?”
Her chest ached at the tone of doubt in Barb’s voice.
“Oh, bestie, I’ve always trusted you,” she whispered. “You have to believe the only reason I’m keeping away from you and keeping secrets is to prevent the monsters who attacked me from finding and coming after you.”
“I know that, but we never used to have secrets from each other, so it takes getting used to.” Barb shook her head and long curly auburn hair danced across her shoulders. “What can I do to help?”
“I need you to meet a student and accept her dorm room key. Then hide it somewhere and tell me where to find it.”
“Of course, I’ll do anything. A student’s key? You do realize it’s April, don’t you? The dorms are full. Classes don’t end until May. Who are you kicking out?”
“No need to evict anyone. I know of a SCAD student who knows a Georgia Southern student who has the grade point average to skip her finals. Ms. Smarty-Pants is registering for fall semester today, then she’s flying home. And she’s willing to give me, via you, the room key instead of turning it in. If I can live in her dorm room, I don’t have to move out until noon on May 10th. And there’s no connection between her and me.”
“And you’re protecting me by not telling me her name or which dorm?”
“Exactly.”
“It’s still risky.”
“The story of my new life. And may I remind you, you did just ask to be included.”
Chapter 5
Kiernan
May 9th
Kiernan stomped down the steps of Murphy’s corporate jet, a new Gulfstream, into the humid May afternoon at Savannah airport. A swarm of gnats engulfed him.
“What the hell?” He batted the tiny, vicious bugs away from his face. “You bastards don’t want me. Besides you should be gone by now.”
Spotting his personal assistant Rachel, standing with the uniformed driver beside a limo, he hurried toward her.
“Welcome home, Kiernan.” The driver took his suitcase while Rachel waited until the last minute to open the back door. After they’d both piled into the vehicle, she slammed the door.
He frowned at her smiling face. “I was hoping I’d missed the gnats.”
“They’ll thin out as soon as it gets a little hotter.” She opened the built-in refrigerator cabinet and raised an eyebrow. “Cold drink?”
“No thanks.”
“How was Boston?”
He wrinkled his forehead in a frown. “They didn’t need me there. It was a total waste of time.”
“Who all went on the trip to Ireland?” As far as Rachel knew, as well as the rest of the worldwide Muirdris Shipping staff, Murphy had invited several of the company directors to the family property in Ireland for multi-day business meetings. Actually, they’d travelled to a nearby island, an invisible Celtic Druid sanctuary, to fulfill the clan’s guardian obligation, as well as hosting the island’s annual Bealtaine celebration.
Since he’d been unwilling to travel that far from Savannah, and chance missing his mate if she returned or was located, Kiernan had declined the invite.
Instead, he’d been assigned to Boston headquarters for a week to cover for his twin cousins, Murphy and Murdoch.
He deepened the frown. “Murphy went, of course, with Murdoch and Annalisa. Liam was already close by, and Devlin took Portia.”
“Wow, your cousin Devlin travelled all the way from Tokyo with his new fiancé?”
“I imagine he wanted to show her off.”
“How romantic.”
He squirmed in the leather seat. “Have we finished with the chit-chat? I want to talk about the search for Delia. Has there been any progress?”
Rachel’s eyes softened and she gave him a sympathetic smile that made him cringe. Damn it. The big problem with long-term staff? Except for the sea dragon shifter part, they knew everything about your personal business. At the evening party after the March 16th parade, when he’d realized Delia wasn’t coming, he’d slipped into his private office to make a couple of frantic phone calls. Rachel had caught him on the phone. And had demanded details. She’d proceeded to weasel all the events of the day out of him. Not the fact that Delia was his mate, just his deep interest in her and everything else.
“Kiernan,” she said, “There’ve been no developments in the search for Delia since fifteen minutes ago when you called me from Murphy’s plane.” She straightened her shoulders. A sure sign she was moving on to a new topic.
“Per your request, the realtor found three private islands for sale and made appointments to show them to you.” She pursed her lips. Another sure sign that she disapproved. What did she care if he splurged on a secluded place?
