Finding Ellie (Complete)

Chapter 4

Brenna O’Keefe had been singing at Dunne’s almost every night for the past two years. The reason she had taken the job in the first place was because of Aidan Dunne. The brooding, handsome and reclusive Aidan was everything she wanted. As far as she was concerned they were perfect for each other. She knew she was beautiful and took full advantage of it. Why shouldn’t she? Her looks allowed her the luxury to have any man she wanted wrapped around her little finger. The only man seemingly immune to her was Aidan. No matter, even he could be broken eventually. After all she always gets what she wants sooner or later. In this case, it seemed like it was going to be later.

For two years she watched him take exactly three women to his bed. For reasons she could not explain she was now seeing red as she watched him interact with the cute – at best – petite blonde sitting with Colm and Carrick. Brenna had never seen her before so, she guessed, a tourist and an American from the sounds of it. Her wretched accent could be heard all the way from the stage. Brenna knew of Aidan’s past, she knew he cut them all loose before anything got serious. This one, however, somewhat worried her. Brenna saw it even if neither of them could. Their war of words didn’t match their body language or how they stole glances when they thought the other wasn’t looking. What did she have that Brenna didn’t? She’d have to make sure this ditzy, little, blonde American didn’t wind up in his bed.

Should be easy enough, she looked like a pushover, Brenna decided.

Finishing up her set she slithered behind the bar and into Aidan’s tiny office unannounced. He was leaning back in his chair, feet up on the desk and talking on the phone. She took a moment to appreciate the man he was.

She loved the sound of his voice, a bit gruff and growly. She had fantasized how he would say her name as they lay in bed together. But it wasn’t just his voice. As a taller woman, she loved that she still had to tilt her head up to look at him and had again fantasized many times over how his strong arms would wrap around her, how she’d hitch her legs up and around his waist. Brenna was convinced that once he had her he would be ruined for any other woman. She would be the one he’d seek in the middle of the night even if there was already a woman in his bed.

No, this little thing wouldn’t get between her and what she wanted.

                                                                                            ***

Aidan was just about to hang up when Brenna walked in. He rolled his eyes and prepared himself but she didn’t see it or she didn’t care. It was no secret Brenna fancied him and he had made it clear he wanted no part of it or her. The woman was relentless and threw herself at him every chance she had; not that it made him feel special, she threw herself at any man really. He had gotten multiple complaints from other patrons, girlfriends and wives regarding her behavior and very much wanted to get rid of her but he had to find a suitable replacement to sing in his pub first. As much as he and his staff, and most patrons of the pub wanted her gone, no one could deny that she had the voice of an angel. He couldn’t just let her go and not have any other form of entertainment. Dunne’s was known for its music as much as for its food and he wanted to keep it that way.

Feeling a little foolish, as the person on the other end of the line was long gone, but he didn’t let on and kept talking. There was no reason for her to be in his office other than trying to get him to come to her place after work. No shame. She made no qualm about why she wanted him there. Aidan watched her out of the corner of his eye. She sashayed over to a grungy mirror hanging on the wall and played with her hair. Then she generously applied some of that god-awful, cherry lip gloss she was so fond of. He couldn’t imagine any man wanting to put his lips on that. She was beautiful, he couldn’t deny that either, but she didn’t need all that makeup in his opinion.

Take Ellie for example, he thought. At the moment she was sitting in his pub with Colm and Carrick, sipping on a Guinness. Every now and then he could hear her cheerful laughter, no doubt from something Carrick had said to her. Her cheeks had been rosy again, just as they had been the first time they met, her lashes impossibly long, lips bare. She wasn’t dressed particularly seductively but he had seen the looks of appreciation some of the men had given her. And, damn it, she smelled of sweet honey. He hadn’t meant to get that close to her but oh, he had and now he couldn’t get that scent out of his mind. So he did the only thing any sane man would have done and barricaded himself in his office, away from the temptation. How can only a few minutes around this woman have his world and resolve turned upside down and tested to its limit?

            Finally, when he couldn’t pretend any longer he hung up the phone and drummed his fingers on his desk.    “What can I do for you Brenna?”

            “Aidan, you make it sound like I’m here for something.” Brenna sat on the corner of the desk and tossed her hair back, her too short skirt hiking up when she crossed her legs and leaned over.

            Compared to Ellie, Brenna smelled like a bouquet of roses sprayed heavily with wild flowers. It was too much and had his head spinning as the pungent scent filled the room.

            “You’re always here for something.” Aidan sat up and gave her a pointed look. “Isn’t it time for your last set?”

            Brenna huffed and turned on her heel. “We’ll talk when the pub closes.”

            Not if he could help it, he thought, passing a hand over his face. Leaving the office, he heard Brenna singing an old, Irish ballad. He glanced over to his left and his heart stopped. Carrick, it seemed, had managed to talk Ellie into a dance. They swayed slowly to the music in the middle of the dance floor. Ellie smiling softly as she looked into her partner’s face. Old Carrick was in a dream. He loved his wife dearly but couldn’t pass up a chance to dance with the pretty blonde. Oh what a sight they made. Ellie, who was so petite and delicate, swaying to the music with the old Irishman couldn’t hide the twinkle in his eye.

            Always the professional, Brenna didn’t skip a beat when she saw Aidan stop. She knew who he was looking at; saw the look on his face just before he strode through the pub and out the front door.