I was totally self-conscious of my laugh, but some things just couldn’t be helped. And now that McKale knew I was okay, he let himself laugh as well, and patted my back.
When we finally began to calm, Rock said the line again with a big smile, and Cassidy and I went into another fit. I thought I’d pass out from lack of breath. And it didn’t help when Cass sang, “They’re magically delicious!” Her laugh was loud and adorable. I practically made no noise except sucking air as I doubled over, smacking the door rest and shaking my head.
Cassidy tried to explain to them about the cereal commercial, but she wasn’t making much sense through her laughter. Besides, the terminology completely confounded them. Television. Marshmallows.
“Never mind,” I said, able to breathe again at last. “We’ll get you a box of it someday.”
Cassidy turned on the radio, but static filled the reception. After a few minutes of trying, she found a station playing folk music. McKale sat up straighter.
“How’d ye do that? Where’s it coming from?”
We explained radio signals as best as we could, and spent the next half hour showing the guys different gadgets on the car and telling them about the different technologies available. Although they asked a lot of questions, I didn’t think they really believed such things were possible—human magic. The irony was not lost on me, given that they were magical Leprechauns who most humans didn’t believe in.
My face and abs were hurting from smiling and laughing so much. Without thinking, I found McKale’s hand resting on his knee. I let my hand lay on his a second before taking it back. He watched my hand move back to my lap and then reached for it, twining our fingers together and looking at me. A mingling of hope and excitement surged through my body.
Cass and Rock chatted in front of us. McKale leaned down and his warm cheek brushed against mine on his way to whisper in my ear, “Is this a date then?”
“Yes.” I motioned toward the two in the front seats and told him, “It’s a double date.”
I squeezed his hand and felt his thumb move back and forth over my hand and wrist. That single, small movement did big things to me. I snuggled closer to his side, and unlike my family’s trip to the village, this time I was happy to be in a compact car.
The drive into town seemed infinitely faster than it had taken to get to the Chaun land on the first day. It was really late when we found ourselves in the busiest part of Sligo, but plenty of people still milled about. We passed a pub with a live band playing, but it wasn’t what Cassidy wanted. She found a spot and parked the car before flinging her purse across her shoulder.
“I’m guessing there aren’t any stores open, so sit tight. I’ll be right back,” she told us.
“Don’t go where I can’t see you,” I said.
“Yes, Mommy.” She got out and walked up to three men standing on the nearby corner.
“Wha’s she doing, then?” McKale asked.
“Working her magic,” I answered.
“Blazes, would you look what those blokes are wearin’?” Rock pointed at the men talking to Cass. They wore jeans with sandals. One had on a plaid button-up shirt and the others wore collared polo shirts. They looked completely normal.
Within minutes those guys were stripping off pieces of their clothing and being rewarded with laughter and kisses on the cheeks from Cassidy. She skipped back to the car, getting in and tossing a shirt and pair of shoes to both of the guys.
“Sorry, they wouldn’t part with their pants, but this is better than nothing. You can glamour if you want to.”
Rock stared at the plaid shirt in horror. McKale lucked out with a navy blue polo.
“If I had me way I’d magic meself small and ride in yer shirt,” Rock said.
“Not happening,” I told him before Cassidy had time to consider it. “That shirt is fine, I promise. You’ll fit right in. Where we going, Cass?”
“They told me there’s a dance club at the next corner. Get dressed and let’s go!”
She clapped her hands and the guys pulled off their shirts. I planned to play it cool with McKale being half-naked, but I accidentally opted to stare. He’d ogled my boobs that day at the waterfall, so it was only fair.
McKale’s appearance in clothes was misleading. I’d expected him to be too thin underneath, but he wasn’t. I mean, he was definitely lean, but there was small definition around those muscles, especially his arms from the tanning crank. And a very small patch of red hair right in the middle of his chest. And—
“Stare a little harder, why don’tcha,” Cassidy said from the front seat as she watched me.
“Wha…? Shut-up.” I reached across and punched her shoulder, but she was already laughing. She deserved a strangling. McKale slung the shirt over his head and ruffled his hair. The collar was up on one side and down on the other. I straightened it for him while he fixed me with a staredown that made me hot all the way to my feet.