Once in a Blue Moon

By Mica Rossi

Irish spitfire Caighleen Mulrunnen is no stranger to ghosts, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night. Her job exposing paranormal scams makes sure of that. When she chances across Finn McHail under a moon-soaked sky, his touch sends fire racing along her nerves and has her daydreaming about his ice-blue eyes. Until, that is, she finds his picture on an internet dating site, his ears as pointed as a one of Santa’s elves. Despite the magic that sings between them, Caighleen sets out to prove he’s a fraud. But love has a way of making a believer out of anyone. In the end, Caighleen must choose. Will she keep her heart closed, or will she succumb to the magic of Finn’s love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Satin Romance
• Release date: May 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781612358857

Mica Rossi

Mica Rossi was born in New York. Her first story was a stapled-together book entitled "The Snow Day," 'published' in her 2nd grade classroom and illustrated entirely in blue crayon. Since then, she has written three novels and countless short stories, most of which have not been published. "It's good practice," she says when asked about what she's written so far. "These will probably never be seen by the public, but each one taught me a little more about my craft." An avid reader, Mica never read a romance novel until she worked the graveyard shift as a maternity ward nursing assistant, when she picked up a copy of "Sweet, Savage Love" by Rosemary Rogers and was hooked. Eventually, she discovered paranormal love stories. In the paranormal world, she found her home. "I love the juxtaposition of urban settings against elements of magick or supernatural creatures, those pockets of our universe where the laws of physics can be ignored, or at least trifled with." Mica hopes someday to make writing her full-time career. "The Sweet Life," a novella included in "sex, lies and scandal in Two Rivers," (2013 by Two Rivers Romance Authors) is her first published work. Although not a paranormal romance, it is definitely romantic. Her short story, "The Wish Your Heart Makes", included in the anthology "Eight 'til Christmas," (December 2013), is set in true fairy tale fashion in a non-existent castle on a non-existent island in the middle of the Niagara River. With her first full-length novel, "Once in a Blue Moon," (May 2014 by Satin Romance, an imprint of Melange Books, LLC) Mica has come full circle back to the genre she loves the most. "I'm comfortable writing here," she says. "I just may stay a while." Website: http://www.micarossi.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mica.rossi.author

Book preview

Once in a Blue Moon

by Mica Rossi

Published by

Satin Romance

An Imprint of Melange Books, LLC

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

www.satinromance.com

Once in a Blue Moon, Copyright 2014 Mica Rossi

ISBN: 978-1-61235-885-7

Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States of America.

Cover Design by Becca Barnes

For dragons and warriors

And for my safe haven no matter what

Because you believe

This book is dedicated to you

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

by Mica Rossi

Irish spitfire Caighleen Mulrunnen is no stranger to ghosts, ghoulies and things that go bump in the night. Her job exposing paranormal scams makes sure of that. When she chances across Finn McHail under a moon-soaked sky, his touch sends fire racing along her nerves and has her daydreaming about his ice-blue eyes. Until, that is, she finds his picture on an internet dating site, his ears as pointed as a one of Santa’s elves. Despite the magic that sings between them, Caighleen sets out to prove he’s a fraud. But love has a way of making a believer out of anyone. In the end, Caighleen must choose. Will she keep her heart closed, or will she succumb to the magic of Finn’s love?

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Interlude One

Chapter Two

Interlude Two

Chapter Three

Interlude Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Interlude Four

Chapter Six

Interlude Five

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Interlude Six

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Acknowledgement

About the Author

Previews

Chapter One

The dusky July evening sparkled with lights from the north shore of the Charles River. A cooling breeze floated in from distant Boston Harbor, bringing with it the smell of the sea. When the music started, Caighleen Mulrunnen closed her eyes and let it wash over her. She was glad she’d let Kevin wheedle her into coming tonight, glad she hadn’t let the anniversary of her sister’s death keep her from enjoying the evening. Relaxing into the love theme from Romeo and Juliet, she tried to suppress the mental images that thoughts of Brigid’s last days always brought.

The music finally soothed her and the bad moment passed. She laid back and closed her eyes, listening to Julie and Abe banter with Kevin about his classic car, a 1963 Dodge Dart convertible. The white canvas top was as cracked as the body’s yellow paint, but Kevin defended his ride like a knight defended a damsel in distress.

Which is exactly what that car is, she thought with a smile. The last strains of the song drifted out from the huge band shell and floated above the people gathered on the Esplanade to listen to the Pops. When her stomach growled in disharmony with the music, Caighleen pushed up on one elbow and lightly punched Kevin’s arm.

Hey, she said, you gave your word you’d feed me.

Look, it lives and breathes, Julie joked. I thought you’d gone to sleep.

No, just thinking, Caighleen said.

Julie lifted her head from Abe’s lap and tilted it to one side as she studied Caighleen’s face. Aw, honey, I’m sorry. Today’s...

Yeah. It’s okay.

An awkward silence fell on the four friends before Kevin asked Caighleen, Fries with lots of vinegar and a lemonade, right?

What more could a girl possibly want? she responded, smiling her thanks to him for lightening up the mood.

I don’t know how you can eat those things. He gave an exaggerated shudder as he stood up.

"What can I say? I have this thing for malt-vinegar fries. And you did promise."

Your wish is my command, Kevin teased, bowing low with an exaggerated salaam. Anybody else want anything? How about you, Julie? Want some pop?

"You know I don’t drink the stuff out of anything but glass bottles. At least they can be recycled."

Yeah, and you’ve never recycled one, Caighleen said, laughing. They’re all in the back of my car.

When Julie and Abe asked for hot dogs with everything, Kevin grumbled in a good-natured way that he’d need a waitress to carry all their orders. Caighleen sat up and watched him walk away.

So when are you two going to finally get serious about each other? Julie asked, laying her head back against Abe’s thigh.

Jeez, Julie, Abe said. Into their business much?

What? I’m just saying.

Yeah, right. Abe rose to his feet, dumping Julie’s head onto the blanket. I’m going to help Kevin, he said.

Undaunted, Julie rolled over onto her stomach and propped her chin on her folded arms. So spill, Caighleen. Any wedding bells in the air yet?

Squirming a bit, Caighleen babbled, It’s too soon—he’s really nice—I just don’t think we’re ready.

You guys have been dating for more than two years. I knew Abe was the one after two months.

Caighleen thought about how just-plain-nice Kevin was. He was always willing to fetch and carry or do the driving, and never complained about doing things other men hated. Most women would consider him a real catch, with his open expression, dark brown hair, and green eyes.

Even her overprotective brothers liked Kevin. They had pretty much scared away anyone she wanted to date since Brigid had died, but they would talk with Kevin about their cars and their girls for hours. Her whole family had taken to Kevin with enthusiasm, except for her grandmother. I’m not sure about him, she’d said. And until I can put my finger on the reason, I’ll not be adopting him, so to speak.

Earth to Caighleen, Julie said. Remember me? Conversation? Kevin?

I just don’t know. Caighleen sighed and picked at a loose thread on the blanket. Sometimes, he seems more like another brother. Other times, well, I guess I could be content with Kevin as a husband. He’s comfortable.

And safe, Julie added.

Do you blame me?

No, not really, after Brigid. But safe can be awfully boring.

I know, Jules, but it’s hard for me to believe in ‘happily ever afters’ anymore, Caighleen said, making air quotes. Sometimes I wish I still did. And as long as I’m wishing, I’ll wish Brigid back alive, too.

The pause lengthened before she continued, Kevin may not give me shivers, but I care about him, and I think we’d do okay together. I’m just not ready to make that commitment yet.

I’d commit to Abe in a heartbeat if he’d ask me.

The objects of their discussion reappeared, their arms piled high with drinks and food. Julie popped up to accept her hot dog from Abe. Kevin handed Caighleen her food. She looked inside the paper cone of fries and frowned.

Not enough vinegar.

Sorry, Kevin said. I dumped most of it while I juggled all this stuff. My hands smell like a salad.

Not to worry, she told him. I’ll go this time.

She rose from her cross-legged position and made her way to the vendor’s stand. The owner frowned at the amount of malt-vinegar she dumped on her cooling fries, but she ignored him. Finally satisfied, she smiled at him sweetly and strolled back toward their spot.

Caighleen loved the Esplanade, especially on clear nights like this one, when the stars rivaled the city lights and the moonlight frosted everything it touched. She wandered past blankets filled with people, oblivious to their voices, her eyes on the sky.

An elbow against her arm was quickly followed by wetness down the front of her tank top. The reek of vinegar overpowered the night scents of the park. Plucking her soggy shirt away from her body, she stared at the stranger in front of her.

The moonlight accentuated the angles and planes of his features. His square chin and sculpted mouth led to a slim, straight nose and high cheekbones. The sweatband hugging his ears rode low on his forehead but didn’t completely obscure the upward slant of his brows.

Icy blue eyes the color of a mountain lake captured Caighleen’s for a moment that stretched on and on, as the sounds around them seemed to disappear. Caught in the spell of his gaze, she stood rigid, her heart beating a rapid cadence against her ribs.

A shouting child raced by and broke the magical bubble that held Caighleen and the stranger.

Begging your pardon. His light Irish tenor slid like silk along her spine. With a mental shake, she flapped the front of her wet top, trying to keep the clammy fabric away from her skin. She had to clear her throat before she could actually speak.

No harm done, she said. Accidents happen.

You’re very gracious. From the band shell, the last strains of the Pops rendition of Blue Moon reached them.

I love the old songs. Don’t you? Caighleen asked.

I’m likin’ all kinds of music. One side of the man’s mouth crooked up, crinkling the corners of his eyes in a way that caused fluttering wings beneath Caighleen’s breastbone.

Blue Moon is one of my favorites, she said. Over the man’s shoulder, she glimpsed Kevin wandering among the groups of people dotting the park.

I’d better try to wash this off, she said, looking down at her ruined tank top.

It’s sorry I am, lass.

Don’t worry about it. She turned away to head for the ladies’ room, but stopped short when a gentle hand caught her wrist. A small jolt of electricity ran up her arm from the long fingers touching her skin. She thought she heard the sound of crystal bells, although the orchestra had fallen silent between songs. The man’s eyes sparked with moon glow, increasing the current sizzling through her body, making her shiver. Then his fingers loosed her, and the feeling passed. He flashed that crooked grin again, and a heartbeat later slipped away.

Are you all right? Kevin asked when he found her. She ignored him for a long moment while she searched the swirling crowd for a last glimpse of the mysterious man, but he had vanished. The whole encounter might have been a dream.

Someone bumped into me and spilled vinegar all over... Her voice faltered when she realized the fabric she held out for Kevin’s inspection was bone dry.

Looks like you were lucky it missed you, he said, and drew her back toward the blanket.

~ * ~

With a rueful smile, Finn hailed a taxi. The small expenditure of magic he’d used to dry the girl’s shirt had left him drained, but he didn’t begrudge the cost. The cabby droned on, his chatter merely a background against which Finn heard the soft, silvery tones of the girl’s voice as she forgave him for dousing her.

He closed his eyes, picturing her face in the moonlight, her skin luminous in its glow, her eyes dark and deep. His fingers still felt the crackle of electricity that had passed between them. They itched to bury themselves in her hair, so black under the moonlight it had been almost blue.

Hey, mister, you okay? At the cabby’s anxious question, Finn realized the taxi had stopped at his front door. He paid the man and dug his keys from his pocket, then tilted his head to the July night before entering his apartment. Against the backdrop of a rich purple sky, the few stars he could see in the glimmer of Boston’s streetlights spread out like the tiny freckles that had graced the girl’s nose and cheeks.

She’s not for me, he thought. She’ll never be for me. Not here. Not now. The pang of regret surprised him. But he had a purpose here, and getting involved with a human could only end up badly.

Finn reached up, scratching beneath the spandex band encircling his head. Ready to snatch it off, he took a quick look around to see that no one lurked nearby. A furtive shifting of the shadows across the street stilled his hand. He muttered an oath, wondering how long it would be before the reporters left him alone.

With a last, long look at the jeweled lights in the sky, he let himself into the side door.

~ * ~

Did you see my note? Julie’s brown eyes sparkled with mischief as she