They were teasing him and he clearly didn’t like it. “I’m going to hang up now. Soircha, I’ll see you soon.”

“We love you,” Clare said. “Goodbye, Antonia.”

Before he hung up, she heard Soircha whisper, “Why would he take her on a boat?”

He slipped the phone back in his pocket and looked down at her. “Are you happy?”

Antonia widen her eyes in feigned surprise. “I didn’t know they were going to be that curious. Perhaps I should go with you to Galway,” she teased. “I can meet the family.”

Something flickered in Aiden’s eyes as he stared at her. “I’d love to take you back to Galway. Hanging out with my mother and niece is not something to put on the list,” he said with a half smile. “Lord, have you never talked to any Irish mother? Detectives, they are. When they get to a certain age, their only purpose is to make sure sons are married and grandchildren are produced.”

“You’re overreacting,” Antonia said. “Please sit down, you’re making me nervous.”

Aiden went back to his bench at the stern. “You don’t know my mother,” he warned. His accent seemed to thicken as he got riled up. “She pesters all of us like this. But me especially since I’m the last to get married.”

“Why has it taken you so long?” she asked innocently. He pulled the motor and got them moving again.

“You really wanna talk about that?” he asked.

She didn’t know why she was asking. Part of her wanted to know more about him, even at the risk of prying into their unknown future. “Sure,” she said lightly. “I’m the one who almost got married. Do you think you’d like to get married in the future?”

“Of course,” he said. “I wish I could have what my brothers have: a good woman to come home to after a long day of work. Instead of playing fun uncle to Soircha, I wouldn’t mind being a decent father to my own brood.”

“Mmh.” Antonia took a moment to watch the water lap at the sides of the currach.

“What about you?” he asked. “You think you could try it again?”

There was a quiet hesitance in his voice that made her look up. “Sure,” she said. Her tone was light. “I’d try it again. It would have to be small, no frills, just us.” She cringed as the words flew out of her mouth. Antonia immediately regretted how she phrased it.

Aiden’s green eyes fastened upon hers. Oh god, stop talking. “That sounds hopeful,” he said. He looked away, but she could see his mouth twitch again. “Good luck to the man who tries to take your coat again.”

Chapter Twenty-One

After safely docking the currach and returning to dry land, Antonia and Aiden walked through downtown Clifden where the streets were much less busy than when she first landed in West Ireland. Antonia finally felt the buoyancy of a woman on vacation. She hadn’t realized she was holding hands with Aiden until she stopped in her tracks before a pharmacy. His grip loosened as he slowed down. “You need to pop in?”