'We'll be delighted to accommodate you.' Anna said brightly.
'We certainly don't want to cause any trouble.' Jeremy replied, with a quick glance in Declan's direction which indicated quite the opposite.
'I'm sure you don't.' The Irishman muttered under his breath. Out loud he asked innocently. 'Will it be a double or two single rooms you'll be wanting?'
'Two singles please.' Belinda said, holding Declan's gaze a little too long.
Declan raised an eyebrow. 'Two singles it is, and very admirable if I may say so in these decadent times.' He said with an exaggerated accent. 'Why, we've known those who'll share a bed within a few days of meeting, haven't we love?' When Anna glared back in reproach, he muttered 'Diddley ei' and winked in her direction before going to collect the keys.
'He won't be long.' Anna said to fill the silence. She was suddenly very aware how dishevelled she must look, especially in comparison to her sleek countrymen. The overalls and paint splatter must look awful, not to mention meeting your ex fiancé with no makeup and make out hair. She couldn't help the blush rushing to her cheeks. 'Have you known each other long?' She asked to cover her embarrassment.
Her ex fiancé glared out of the window at the pouring rain. Anna wondered if he'd caught Declan's jibe.
'Jeremy and I work together at the hospital.' Belinda said with contained smile.
'Yes, Belinda has been a great comfort.' Jeremy added, shaking himself from his reverie. He moved to place a hand on her shoulder. 'A great comfort.'
Yes, he'd definitely heard. She could crown Declan sometimes.
The man in question, returning to the room, noticed the slight discomfort from Belinda at Jeremy's touch, and the frosty expression on his wife's face, best to make himself scarce. 'I'll show you to your rooms.' Declan said, 'This way.' He picked up Belinda's bag and strode towards the main staircase.
'Shall I book you a table for dinner at eight?' Anna asked as Jeremy collected his own bags. 'Declan really is an excellent chef; his food is to die for.' She enthused. Even if the insufferable man wouldn't understand tact if it punched him in the face, she thought privately.
Jeremy merely nodded. 'That would be nice thank you.' Bags in situ, he made his way towards the staircase before turning back to her. 'And Anna, it really is nice to see you.'
'You too.' She said with a smile.
'I've put you two next to each other,' Declan said, opening the first of the newly refurbished rooms. 'But don't be getting up to any hanky panky now.' He added, putting down Belinda's bag and waggling a finger at her.
'I don't think there will be any er hanky or panky.' Belinda said primly.
'Oh, I don't know, two people, thrown together in unfamiliar circumstances, all sorts of strange things can happen.' He said with a sly grin.
'Jeremy and I are friends.' Belinda supplied.
'Ack, that's the worst kind, all sorts of feelings under the surface.' Declan teased with some glee.
'I can assure you…' Belinda insisted until she was interrupted by Jeremy bustling down the hall with his luggage.
'Can I give you a hand there?' Declan asked.
'I can manage.' Jeremy snapped back.
'Suit yourself.' He replied as he opened the second door for the American to enter. 'See you at dinner.'
'What on earth were you thinking?' Anna demanded, storming into the kitchen. Now showered and in a pretty summer dress, she stood with her hands on her hips and fury in her eyes.
Declan continued to chop onions and refused to be cowed. 'I have no idea what you mean.' He said innocently.
She stamped a foot. 'Declan O'Callaghan, you know exactly what I mean, that crack about sharing a bed.'
'Ack, that. So, I never said anything happened now did I?' He said waiving the knife at her.
'You didn't say anything didn't either!' She cried in frustration.
He looked affronted, placing his hand on his heart. 'Why I happen to believe the things that happen between a couple in the sanctity of the bedroom are private.'
Anna opened her mouth and closed it again momentarily stumped what to say. Bloody infuriating man. 'But… but… but…'
'But… but… but…' He mimicked, 'Is a bus reversing?'
'Aaaargh!' She screamed before turning and storming out of the kitchen.
'Declan one, Americans nil.' He said with satisfaction, before resuming his preparations.
Having time to cool down, Declan began to feel a slight pang of guilt at his teasing. Well, what did she expect if she insisted on putting the cardiologist under the same roof as him, he was only human after all. Leaving Alec in charge, he wandered along to the bar area which also doubled as a reception of sorts, picking up one of the evening confectionaries on the way, the one he knew she couldn't resist. Anna was reading something behind the counter. Walking up behind her he reached over her shoulder and placed the sweet in her eye-line. She viewed it suspiciously.
'What's this?' She said coolly, not turning around.
'Rum, date and pecan cheesecake with dark chocolate shaving... your favourite, and a peace offering.' He replied. 'Am I forgiven?'
She turned to face him, blue eyes flashing. 'You're not sorry, are you? So absolutely not.'
He shrugged. 'Fair enough.' And moved to take the cake away.
'I don't think so.' She said, placing her hand over his.
'He just… you know.' Declan said awkwardly.
'I know, I know, but could you just try to be a little less… you around him?' She asked.
'Who da hell would you like me to be, Jeremy?' He snapped, pulling his hand away in annoyance.
'No, of course not.' Anna said quietly, 'It's just, I do feel a bit bad about it all.' She put her arms around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder. Almost as a reflex, Declan returned the embrace.
'I know Bob, I'm not sure I feel great about it either, but, it wasn't as if we planned it. The heart wants what the heart wants.' He said, kissing the top of her head. 'I never really understood that before, you know with Ryan and Kaleigh, but I think I do now.'
Anna looked up, their gazes locked. 'You do?'
'I do.' He confirmed, before bending to press his lips to hers.
A noise from the stairwell broke the spell.
'Here comes your man now.' Declan said, his eyes widening as he stepped reluctantly away.
Anna turned to see Jeremy and Belinda approaching. They had obviously made some effort to be casual. Jeremy in some chino's, a polo shirt, socks and deck shoes, Belinda in a maxi dress and sandals.
'Good evening.' Jeremy said, with exaggerated humour.
Declan looked at his watch, but, with great effort, declined to say anything about it being only six in the afternoon.
'Good evening.' Anna said, deliberately.
'The rain appears to have stopped, for the time being at least, so we thought we'd take a walk around the village before dinner.' Belinda said, smiling.
'Perfect.' Anna said, 'It's beautiful once the rain has washed everything clean. I'd take an umbrella though, just in case, you'll find one in the hallway.'
The four of them stood in an uncomfortable silence until Belinda gave a small cough, spurring Jeremy into action. 'We wondered,' He began, with an uncertain glance at the brunette, 'If to say thank you, you'd consider joining us for dinner?'
'No.' Declan said quickly as the last word left Jeremy's lips.
Anna glared briefly at her husband before explaining. 'Declan will need to be in the kitchen, obviously, it's the busiest time for him. We tend to eat together once the rush has gone, but thank you so much for the invitation.' She smiled mischievously. 'However, we'd be happy to join you for breakfast?'
Declan was about to comment when Anna's elbow make sharp contact with his rib. He let out a small oof. She continued before he could recover himself. 'Alec will be doing the morning shift and he makes a fine full Irish breakfast so we'd love to.'
'We would?' Declan said doubtfully.
'We would.' Anna responded firmly.
'Breakfast?' Glances were exchanged between Jeremy and Belinda. 'Yes of course, that's fine.'
'Don't you have to be at Ashling's in the morning petal?' Declan said, careful to avoid any more assaults on his ribs.
'Oh that's not until ten, I'll have plenty of time. In fact, I may give her a call and put it back an hour, she won't mind.' Anna said waving a hand dismissively. Noticing the two guests' interest, she leant forward conspiratorially. 'Ashling is teaching me horseback riding.'
'Horseback riding?' Jeremy coughed. 'You're terrified of horses!'
'There's nothing to it, as kids we used to muck about on ponies all the time for the craic. But this one.' Declan pointed a thumb at his wife. 'She wants to learn to do it properly. I say if you get from one end of the ride to the other still on the horse, job done, am I right?'
'That's terribly dangerous Anna, people really hurt themselves, what if you should fall?' Jeremy said, shocked.
'Ah the fallin' off is the easy part, it's the hittin the ground that troubles ya.' Anna said laughingly with a plausible Irish accent. She smiled up at Declan.
'That's ma girl.' He replied with a grin at his own words repeated back to him.
Jeremy was still reeling.
'You're right,' Anna explained, noticing Jeremy's dismay. 'I was quite scared as first when Declan arranged for us to go riding on our honeymoon as a surprise, but my pony was so sweet, and it was so much fun, I couldn't help but want to go again.'
Jeremy choked, the blood rushing to his face, his eyes bulging. 'Honey…moon?' He gasped.
'Yes?' Anna looked from Belinda's ashen face to Jeremy's purple one. 'Are you alright?' Before realisation dawned. 'Oh my god, you didn't know?' She said, her hand flying to her mouth.
'You've known him six months and you're married!' Jeremy wheezed.
'Technically it was two months before we married but…' Declan was cut short by a nudge from Anna.
'Not helping.' She said from the side of her mouth.
'Two… TWO!' Jeremy said before he began to hyperventilate.
Belinda took a brown paper bag from her purse and handed it to Jeremy, who began to breathe heavily into it.
'I'm sorry, I thought Libby had told you?' Anna said, mortified.
Jeremy came up from his bag. 'Libby knew?'
'She was at the wedding, along with my Dad.' Anna added.
Jeremy's eyes bulged even more.
'But… but… Ron wasn't there.' Anna said hurriedly.
Declan placed a hand on each of his wife's shoulders and steered her away. 'Now who's not helping.' He said quietly as they left Belinda to deal with things. 'See you for breakfast.'