Tick Tock: Four (continued)

Ireland was everything Kelli hoped it would be.  On a marine biologist’s salary, it would have been a few years before she would be able to afford even the air fare to get there.

There was ivy everywhere on the house.  Something Paddy said he needed to trim next week. Living in Kinsale, near Summercove in County Cork was essentially a fishing village. It’s on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, and sits at the mouth of the River Bandon.  Irish knit sweaters are a stock item, warm and attractive.  Paddy made sure Kelli had one for cool evenings.

It took a few days for Kelli to feel comfortable there.  Paddy made sure she had a room next to his with a pass-through door just in case.  The days found her working on her laptop, sending and receiving e-mails and meeting the time requirements of her job as a marine biologist. 

Paddy was always near by.  Never more than ten feet from where ever Kelli was.  Then one evening it happened.

Kelli had just gotten out of the shower rounding the corner when she bumped into Paddy.  She couldn’t stop laughing.  Their eyes met and he pulled her close.  She didn’t blink once.

“I didn’t expect this to happen.  Not at this point in my life.  I really thought romance was over for me.  Meeting you was the best thing, Kelli.”

“Same here.  Your warmth resonates in every bone of my body.  It just feels right.  Ya know?”

“I do know.  But we gotta keep you safe.  And that we shall.”