now.” His father’s tone was patient but firm. “We don’t want to hold everyone in the shop up.”
Aisling blushed again. “Sorry,” she said blusteringly, “I shouldn’t be holding you up like this.”
Again, Jameson Carroll said nothing. Instantly, Aisling decided that even if the weird man returned, she would definitely not ask this boorish man for help.
She bent now, and quickly sorted out her packages, and in her rush as she stood up again, she dropped one of the smaller bags which had been inside a larger one. She bent to pick it up at the same time as the tall American, and her self-consciousness was increased when their heads collided. Aisling could not bear to look at his face this time. She muttered a ‘thank you’ as he handed her the small bag bearing the name of the ladies’ lingerie shop.
Oh, the embarrassment! Could it possibly get worse ? Aisling thought. A strange man aware that she had bought underwear from a sexy lingerie shop. Thank God she was in America! If this had been one of the men from the village back home, she would have been the butt of suggestive remarks in the local pubs for the next month.
Thomas turned towards her, as they headed out of the shop. “Will you come and see . . . my medals?”
“Pardon?” Aisling stuttered, her mind still cringing from the underwear incident.
“Swimming.” He arms moved in breast-stroke fashion.
“Oh, yes . . . but I’ll have to see Jean,” she said, “when I get back to Lake Savannah. I’ll have to see what plans the others have made.” She gripped her bags tightly. “I’m just not sure . . .”
“That’s okay.” Jameson Carroll’s voice had an icy edge. “I’m sure you have a real busy schedule while you’re over here. Thomas won’t take up your time.” He guided his son firmly through the door. Plainly, he thought that Aisling was giving his son the brush-off.
“I’ll know better tomorrow, Thomas,” she called quickly, “when I’ve had time to check what’s happening.”
But the tall, long-haired American hadn’t heard or wasn’t in the least interested in her explanations. Thomas struggled from under his father’s arm to give her his ‘thumbs-up’ sign, before being propelled down the street.
Aisling wondered what on earth had she done that had made this man so defensive. Surely there was nothing that he could have misconstrued? They had hardly spoken at all. She shook her head now, vaguely deciding which direction to take. She took a few steps into the street when someone moved out from a doorway and stood directly in front of her. It was the man in the Hawaiian shirt.
“Hi,” he said, with a dazzling smile. “Can I take some of the weight from your pretty little arms?” He reached his hands out towards her parcels.
“Don’t touch me,” Aisling heard herself say in a threatening hiss. “Go away!”
She turned around, expecting a crowd to have gathered to see what was going on – but apart from the odd curious glance, nobody paid any attention. Aisling pushed past him, expecting him to be shocked – but he actually laughed.
“OK, OK!” he said, holding his hands in the air. “I guess I used the wrong tactics . . .”
Aisling started to move away.
“I’m sorry,” he called, coming after her. “Give me another chance . . . please! I just wanna get to know you.”
Aisling could hear him, but she kept going. Her heart thudding so hard it felt as though it were going to come up into her throat. She kept going, past all the shops and the other people, who were either oblivious as to what was going on – or just simply didn’t care. They were moving down into a busier, more crowded area. Aisling scanned the crowds, silently praying for the familiar faces of her parents or Jean and Bruce. But all the people were strangers, and she was still sure that the man was behind her.
If he didn’t leave her alone soon, she knew that she would have no option but to hit him. She knew that it
Aisling blushed again. “Sorry,” she said blusteringly, “I shouldn’t be holding you up like this.”
Again, Jameson Carroll said nothing. Instantly, Aisling decided that even if the weird man returned, she would definitely not ask this boorish man for help.
She bent now, and quickly sorted out her packages, and in her rush as she stood up again, she dropped one of the smaller bags which had been inside a larger one. She bent to pick it up at the same time as the tall American, and her self-consciousness was increased when their heads collided. Aisling could not bear to look at his face this time. She muttered a ‘thank you’ as he handed her the small bag bearing the name of the ladies’ lingerie shop.
Oh, the embarrassment! Could it possibly get worse ? Aisling thought. A strange man aware that she had bought underwear from a sexy lingerie shop. Thank God she was in America! If this had been one of the men from the village back home, she would have been the butt of suggestive remarks in the local pubs for the next month.
Thomas turned towards her, as they headed out of the shop. “Will you come and see . . . my medals?”
“Pardon?” Aisling stuttered, her mind still cringing from the underwear incident.
“Swimming.” He arms moved in breast-stroke fashion.
“Oh, yes . . . but I’ll have to see Jean,” she said, “when I get back to Lake Savannah. I’ll have to see what plans the others have made.” She gripped her bags tightly. “I’m just not sure . . .”
“That’s okay.” Jameson Carroll’s voice had an icy edge. “I’m sure you have a real busy schedule while you’re over here. Thomas won’t take up your time.” He guided his son firmly through the door. Plainly, he thought that Aisling was giving his son the brush-off.
“I’ll know better tomorrow, Thomas,” she called quickly, “when I’ve had time to check what’s happening.”
But the tall, long-haired American hadn’t heard or wasn’t in the least interested in her explanations. Thomas struggled from under his father’s arm to give her his ‘thumbs-up’ sign, before being propelled down the street.
Aisling wondered what on earth had she done that had made this man so defensive. Surely there was nothing that he could have misconstrued? They had hardly spoken at all. She shook her head now, vaguely deciding which direction to take. She took a few steps into the street when someone moved out from a doorway and stood directly in front of her. It was the man in the Hawaiian shirt.
“Hi,” he said, with a dazzling smile. “Can I take some of the weight from your pretty little arms?” He reached his hands out towards her parcels.
“Don’t touch me,” Aisling heard herself say in a threatening hiss. “Go away!”
She turned around, expecting a crowd to have gathered to see what was going on – but apart from the odd curious glance, nobody paid any attention. Aisling pushed past him, expecting him to be shocked – but he actually laughed.
“OK, OK!” he said, holding his hands in the air. “I guess I used the wrong tactics . . .”
Aisling started to move away.
“I’m sorry,” he called, coming after her. “Give me another chance . . . please! I just wanna get to know you.”
Aisling could hear him, but she kept going. Her heart thudding so hard it felt as though it were going to come up into her throat. She kept going, past all the shops and the other people, who were either oblivious as to what was going on – or just simply didn’t care. They were moving down into a busier, more crowded area. Aisling scanned the crowds, silently praying for the familiar faces of her parents or Jean and Bruce. But all the people were strangers, and she was still sure that the man was behind her.
If he didn’t leave her alone soon, she knew that she would have no option but to hit him. She knew that it
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