She’sdressed in dark gray slacks and a light purple blouse, and she looks amazing.WhenIfirst laid eyes onZoeat a café inMoldovawhen our missions overlapped,Iwas so awestruck thatIforgot my cover name and story.Ialmost forgot my actual name.Beforethat point in my life,Ihadn’t really thought about what the “perfect woman” looked like.Seeingher was allIneeded to know that she was exactly it.Fromher honey-colored hair to her lean muscles, right down to the way her ankles looked when she was wearing heels.Yep,Ieven noticed the ankles.
Andthat is part of what makesZoeSteeleso maddeningly dangerous.Becausea part of me always whispers,but she’s just whatIwant.Physically, she is.Shealso has a job and a set of skills and interests that are so in line with mine.Nearlyeverything about her is, on paper, exactly whatImost want in a woman.
ButI’vebeen around her enough to know thatIcan be attracted to her, yet also want nothing to do withher.Gettingyour heart targeted by a precision strike only to be left in the blast radius of a bomb can do that to you.Now, allIhave to do is divert my mind anytimeI’maccidentally attracted to her.I’mnot normally around her for such a long period of time, though.I’mgoing to have to be very vigilant on this mission.
AsIwalk over toZoe, the ambassador, and the other man,Zoesmiles welcomingly and says, “Oh,Ledger.I’mglad you’re joining us.”
No, she isn’t.
“Theambassador was just telling me about a sport they have inIrelandcalled hurling.Itsounds like it’s a mix between football and soccer—and maybe hockey?” she says, glancing at the ambassador for confirmation— “but played with a ball the size of a baseball.Oh, and all the players on the field have bats.”
Theambassador gives a hearty laugh at her description. “You’refunny.Ilike you.”
I’msadIdidn’t arrive earlier soIcould’ve heard all about this glorious sport. “Wow.Isthat for real?Andthey all have bats?Howmany players are on the field at once?”
“Fifteenfor each team,” the younger man says.
“Thatsounds like my kind of game.Hi,I’mLedgerLancaster.”Ihold out my hand to the older gentleman first, and he shakes it.
“Niceto meet you,Ledger.I’mOdhránConnolly,IrishAmbassadorto theUnitedStates.”Hedoesn’t have much of an accent, but he’s still unmistakablyIrish.Hemotions to the younger man and then the three other people on the plane. “Thisis my aide,EvanO’Brien.Andthat’s our flightattendant,Saoirse, and our security officers,RonanandPatrick.”
Inod to each person as he says them, committing their names to memory.
Evanasks me, “Howlong are you going to be inDublin?” and after hearing the ambassador speak,I’msurprised at how strong his aide’s accent is.Idon’t thinkI’veever seen aTVshow or movie with anIrishcharacter who sounds so…Irish.Itmakes me wonder ifTVgot it wrong or ifEvanis the exception.
“Lessthan twelve hours.”
“That’sminus craic,”Evansays. “It’smy pet hate to go somewhere new and not be able to check it out.We’remostly up to ninety here for six days, what with the wedding and a host of meetings, then we’ll be back in theStates.Whenyou’ve got some free time and it isn’t manky out, give me a ring or a text.”Heholds out a business card, andItake it. “We’llgather some fellas and get a game of hurling together.”
Therewere a lot of words in thereIdidn’t understand.Butcalling the embassy to get together for a game of hurlingIdounderstand, and a smile spreads across my face. “Iwill for sure take you up on that.”AndIwill.MaybeI’lleven talk my brothers into joining us.
“Congratulationson your daughter’s upcoming marriage,”Zoesays. “That’svery exciting.”
Theambassador smiles widely. “Itis.She’smy youngest.I’vegot my kilt all ready to go.”
“Wait,”Isay, not entirely sure whether he’stelling the truth or trying to pull something over on me. “Areyou really wearing a kilt at the wedding?”
“Inever miss a chance to show off these legs.”
Aswe are all laughing,I’mthinking about how gladIam that we are hitching a ride with someone easygoing and with a sense of humor instead of someone pretentious or stuffy.AndI’mextra glad thatI’mnot currently trying to squeeze my knees into a coach space as an attendant pushes a cart down the aisle.SoIgive him a very genuine thank you, especially since he didn’t have to offer.
“Thiswill be my first time inIreland,”Zoesays, “andIthink it will be forLedger, too.Doyou have any advice for us?”
That’sa good question—IwishIwould’ve asked it.Notonly because it’s a good way to get some great advice, but also because it’s one people love to answer.Evan’sface immediately lights up. “Ido.Don’tbe a chancer and get your takeaway at a kip.Findyourself a deadly chipper and have some craic.”
Iswear the man is speakingEnglish, yetIhave zero idea what he said, and judging by the lookZoegives me, she doesn’t, either.Ina stage whisper, she says, “Craic?Isthat some kind of food?Adeadlyfood?I’mguessing it’s crispy lamb tongue.”
Istage-whisper back, “Orgoat kidneys.”
Theambassador does that hearty laugh again, andEvanchuckles as well.Neitherof them seem to have any clue how muchZoeandIdon’t actually want to be standing next to each other, let alone being on the sameplane.Orin the same state.Sokudos to us for being able to fake it so well.
“He’ssaying to not take a risk and get your takeout at a dive,” theAmbassadorsays. “Findyourself a fantastic restaurant and have some fun.”
Evannods. “Oh, but if you really want a treat, try black and white pudding.”
See?Sometimesyou get great advice when you ask for it.
Wecontinue to chat with the group until the attendant announces that we are ready for takeoff, which is about the time that bothZoe’sand my secure phones ping with the mission briefing.Theambassador says that they need to have a thirty-minute meeting and will have it at the front of the plane, and that he knows that me andZoeneed to meet also, and that we can do it at the back of the plane.
