To Tempt an Irish Rogue by Kaitlin O'Riley Page B

again. Instinctively she felt that Declan Reeves was not a murderer. Perhaps there had been some sort of accident and he was inadvertently responsible. He could not have killed a woman on purpose. Knowingly. She was sure of that.
    At least she hoped she was.
    A gentle tapping on the shop door caught her attention. Glancing at the door she saw that she had flipped the sign to “Closed” but had not drawn the shade. As if she had conjured him up by her thoughts alone, standing outside the door was Declan Reeves.
    Suddenly Paulette’s legs were shaking so much she could barely stand. She stumbled to the door to let him in, feeling dizzy with giddiness at his sudden appearance.
    “Hello,” she said as she stepped back to allow him to enter.
    “Hello, Paulette,” he said, and her heart raced at the sound of her name on his lips. They were most definitely alone in the shop. “These are for you.”
    He handed her a small bouquet of lily of the valley.
    “Oh my!” She accepted the flowers with a delighted squeal, breathing in their sweet scent. “They are my favorite. Thank you!”
    “I thought I should bring you something by way of an apology for kissing you.”
    “Oh.” She moved behind the counter again, feeling much safer behind it.
    There was a moment of awkward silence.
    “After I left this morning I got to thinking that it really was not well done of me,” he said, shaking his head. “Kissing you like that . . . Well, it is not something I usually do.”
    “Nor I,” Paulette said softly, placing the fragrant bouquet into ajar of water.
    “Of course, I didn’t mean to insinuate that you did,” he began. He sighed heavily. “I just thought I ought to tell you that I apologize for my behavior.”
    “Thank you. I accept your apology.”
    He made a move toward the door. “Well, then, I wish you a good—”
    “Did Mara like the book of nursery rhymes?” Paulette asked hurriedly before he had a chance to leave.
    Declan paused, then stepped back. “Yes, she did. Thank you for selecting it. She hasn’t put it down. She’s fascinated by the pictures.”
    “Mara seems like a sweet girl.” Paulette slowly sat on the high stool.
    “Ah, that she is.”
    “How long has it been since she’s spoken?” Paulette found herself asking.
    A dark shadow passed across his features. “It’s almost been a year. A very long year.”
    “She misses her mother very much, doesn’t she?”
    “Yes.”
    Never one to hide what she was thinking, Paulette decided since they were on the subject, she would ask him straight out. “How did your wife die?”
    “There was a terrible fire.”
    Now was the time. She held her breath and asked him the question that had haunted her all day long. “Is it as the rumors say? Did you cause her death?”
    A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth and his eyes glittered. With careful steps he came around to her side of the counter. His tall form loomed over her. “I have the oddest feeling you would be disappointed if I said no, Paulette.”
    “I beg your pardon?” Her voice squeaked a little in spite of herself.
    “Do you find it exciting to think you were kissed by a murderer?”
    “Heavens no!” she gasped, panic racing through her. “How can you ask such a question?”
    “Well, what do you think, Paulette?” His voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “You have obviously read the accusations in the papers that people are casting upon me. Do you think I killed my wife?”
    Her heart hammering, Paulette did not pause in the slightest in answering him. “No, I don’t believe you could do such a terrible thing.”
    Declan seemed a bit surprised. And then very relieved. He moved to sit on one of the stools beside her. “Thank you for that.”
    “You still didn’t answer the question though,” she pointed out. Her nerves tingled at his nearness to her.
    His eyes met hers with a steady gaze. “No, Paulette. I did not kill my wife nor did I have anything to do with her