Read Online The Mighty Quinns: Kellan by Kate Hoffmann - Free Book Online

go?”
    “Back to the cottage.”
    Gelsey shook her head. “No, I want to go into town.”
    “But I have lunch right here. It’s going to get cold.”
    “I’m not hungry. I need to look for a job.”
    Kellan frowned, taken aback by her request. “A job? What exactly is a mermaid qualified to do?”
    “I don’t know. I’m very good with people, I’m clever and I’m a fast learner. I expect I could do any number of jobs. Do you need a waitress at the pub? I could do that. And I can also cook. I’m a very good cook.”
    “You cook?”
    She stared out the windscreen and nodded, her attention now absorbed with learning to drive. “I am very good with fish. It’s my specialty.” She looked at him and grinned. “Really. I’ll cook you dinner sometime.” Gelsey grabbed the gearshift and put it into Drive. “Ready?”
    “Buckle your safety belt,” he warned.
    She did as she was told, then clutching the wheel, she slowly pressed on the accelerator. To Kellan’s surprise, the car glided smoothly forward. After only a few minutes, he had reason to suspect that she’d driven before. Though she appeared a bit tense, she knew exactly what she was doing.
    They came to a crossroad north of Ballykirk and she stopped and looked at him. “Which way?”
    “You’re in charge,” he said. “You choose. Who taught you how to drive? Because I don’t believe you’ve never driven before.”
    “A very nice octopus taught me when I was just a tadpole.” She turned left, heading along the coast and for a moment, she drove on the wrong side of the road. But then, before he could speak, she corrected herself. “Sorry,” she murmured. “We usually drive on the other side in…the ocean.”
    “You’re doing well,” he said.
    “I’m going to need a car,” she said. “How much does a car cost? I’ve never bought one.”
    “Varies,” he said. “But before you get a car, you need a license. You’ll have to take a test. In truth, you should have a permit now. The garda probably could stop you and—”
    She slammed on the brakes and the car skidded to a stop. “That’s enough for now,” she said, putting the gearshift back into Park. Gelsey shoved the door open and hopped out. Kellan got out and they exchanged places.
    “I didn’t mean you had to stop,” he said. “The garda usually doesn’t patrol these roads during the day.”
    “I don’t want to cause any trouble,” she said. “I’m already in…” She paused, then pointed out the window. “Drive on.”
    They continued their drive along the coast and when they passed by Castle Cnoc, Kellan slowed the car and stopped at the gate. He pointed up the driveway. “That’s one of my projects,” he said. “Just finished last month. Jordan was the project manager.”
    “It’s lovely,” she said. “Do you like your job, then?”
    “Sure. I’ve always loved historical properties. It’s like mixing history with architecture. New buildings just don’t have the same appeal to me.”
    “I wish I knew what I was meant to do,” she murmured. “I’ve never had to choose a path for my life. It was chosen for me. How do you pick?”
    “I didn’t,” he said. “It just always seemed like the right thing. You’ll figure it out.”
    “I’m twenty-seven years old,” she said.
    “Is that in fish years or human years?” he teased.
    “Human,” she said. “Sometimes, I feel like I’m just starting my life. Like a baby taking her first steps.”
    An odd expression crossed her face and Kellan could only read it as regret. He knew nothing of her past or what she was running away from. But he knew that he cared enough to give her a safe place to stay for a while. “You won’t need to buy a car,” he said. “My family has a little Fiat that we lend out to tourists who rent the cottage. It’s parked behind Danny’s smithy. You can use it for as long as you like.”
    She glanced over at him, her expression shifting suddenly. “Thank you,” she