The Mighty Quinns: Kieran. Kate Hoffmann

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      Kieran looked at the sandwich and soda. At this rate, he wouldn’t have enough to feed himself until he got to Bitney. He could wait until breakfast. “Never mind,” he muttered.

      “I’ll get it,” a soft voice said.

      Kieran looked at the person standing behind him in line. There wasn’t much he could see. She wore a baggy sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over her hair. Dark sunglasses hid her eyes. But when he glanced at her hands, he saw perfectly manicured nails and long, slender fingers clutching an armful of junk food. “That’s not necessary,” he said. “I have cash. I’m just not as hungry as I thought.”

      “No, take it,” she replied. “I insist.” When he refused, she sighed impatiently and gathered up his purchases then ordered a soda for herself, before giving the cashier two twenties. “That should cover it. Keep the change.”

      She turned and handed him the sandwich and Coke. “Thanks,” Kieran said. “I can pay you back.”

      “No problem.”

      “No, I mean it. I have the cash.” He followed after her and when she sat down in the lobby, he took a spot nearby, setting the sandwich and soda between them.

      He watched as she unwrapped one of her candy bars and took a bite. She chewed thoughtfully, then shook her head, setting it aside. “Those used to taste so much better.” She ripped open a bag of BBQ potato chips and plucked one out. “I haven’t had these in years.”

      She held out the bag and he shook his head. “No, thanks.”

      “Eat your sandwich,” she said.

      Kieran picked it up and started unwrapping it. “So, are you some kind of health-food nut?” he teased as she picked through the purchases on her lap.

      “What?”

      “Breakfast of champions,” he said, pointing to the pile of candy.

      She shook her head. “I can never decide what to eat. I usually just get anything that strikes my fancy and then nibble through it until I find something satisfying.”

      “That’s kind of a waste of money, don’t you think?”

      She held out a candy bar. “You can have this. I don’t know why I bought it.”

      “You don’t want it?” he asked, taking it from her.

      “No, I’ve already lost interest. Oh, peanut butter. That sounds really good.” She opened the candy bar and took a bite, then wrinkled her nose. “Nope, that’s not it either.” She wrapped the candy up and handed it to him. “I don’t have any communicable diseases. Don’t worry.”

      Kieran took a bite of his sandwich, not quite believing this stranger. “So, where are you headed?”

      “Don’t know yet. I haven’t bought a ticket. I thought I would think about it while I ate.”

      “With all that sugar, you won’t need a ticket. You’ll be able to run wherever you want to go.”

      She giggled. “Very funny. Where are you going?”

      “Bitney, Kentucky,” he said.

      “Kentucky? Really? That’s where I was thinking about going. I love Kentucky. My grandparents live there.”

      Kieran watched her suspiciously. Who was this woman? And why had she chosen to entertain him with her presence? Could he really believe her story? “What’s your name?”

      “What’s yours?” she asked.

      “Kieran,” he said. “Kieran Quinn.”

      “Hmm. Strange name.” She held out her hand, the fingertips stained with melted chocolate. Noticing, she wiped her hand on her sweatshirt. “Maddie. I’m Maddie.” She paused. “Maddie Smith.”

      He took her hand in his and the moment they touched, Kieran felt an odd sensation race through his body. “Nice to meet you,” he murmured, “Maddie Smith.”

      He grabbed his sandwich and took another bite. She had a beautiful voice, strangely melodic with just a tinge of whiskey rasp in it. Though he couldn’t see her eyes, her mouth more than made up for that. It was a perfect Cupid’s bow, lush and kissable, stained a deep berry color. He imagined that she’d taste of cherries if he kissed her.

      A strand of hair teased at her temple—a warm blond color, like honey. Well, she was intriguing, that much he’d give her. But after twenty-four hours on a bus, almost anyone with a personality would be intriguing.

      “I noticed that you were a little short of money,” she said. “I was wondering if you’d like to make a little more?”

      “How?” Kieran asked.

      “I need you to go to the counter and buy me a ticket. If you do that, I’ll give you a hundred dollars.”

      He gasped. “Just to buy a ticket? Why don’t you want to buy your own ticket?”

      “Because I need to get out of town without being noticed,” she explained. “And I’m not sure if they’re going to ask me for I.D.”

      “Hmm. You’ve done your best to hide your appearance, you want to get out of town unnoticed and you have a lot of cash. Please don’t tell me you pulled a bank job.”

      She laughed a little too loudly, which caused some of the passengers around her to turn and stare. “No. I’ve been putting aside some cash for a while. And I need to get out of town unnoticed because I’m running away and I don’t want anyone to follow me.”

      “Oh, well, that makes much more sense. How old are you?”

      “A gentleman never asks a lady that,” she said.

      “Take off your glasses and let me see your face,” he said. “I’m not going to be responsible for helping some teenager escape a silly fight with her parents.”

      She took off her sunglasses and tipped her chin up. “I’m twenty-four,” she said.

      His breath caught in his throat as his gaze took in the details of her face. She was no teenager. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, exactly as she claimed. Her eyes, a beautiful caramel color, were ringed with dark lashes, but he only caught a quick glimpse before she put the sunglasses back on.

      Why anyone so beautiful would hide behind dark glasses and a baggy hooded sweatshirt was beyond him. He found himself mentally undressing her, slowly discovering the treasure beneath.

      “Satisfied?” she asked.

      “Not entirely,” he said, swallowing hard.

      Maddie reached into the pocket of her hoodie and withdrew a handful of crumpled cash. “Here. Just go get a ticket.”

      “To where?”

      “Kentucky.”

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