Page 22 of Enemy Kisses

“I’d like to say white, but white will probably get too dirty.”

“Will he be wearing an apron?”

“Yeah, probably.”

I shrug. “That’ll probably help keep the shirt clean.”

She smiles at me and my insides flip. “True.”

We grab a couple of white polo shirts in Matthew’s size, then grab a couple of women’s shirts and head straight to the checkout. I take Harry’s hand in mine again, enjoying the feel of her small fingers entwined between mine and study her as she makes a beeline for the front of the store.

She glances up at me. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?” I grin at her with a wink.

“I don’t know. Like you’ve never seen a woman before.” She chuckles, and it hits me right in the solar plexus. “Oh, maybe we should get him some non-slip shoes, too.”

“Smart.”

I have to guess his size when we divert to the men’s shoe section. We settle on a pair that may be slightly too big, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, then head to the front of the store. We arrive at the checkout and Harry’s attention diverts to the lady behind the register. I have my credit card ready to scan as soon as the last item is processed. “What are you doing?”

“Paying. I thought that was obvious.”

“He’s going to bemyemployee. I can do this.”

I guide Harry out of the store with my hand on the back of her neck. “I know you can, but I wanted to help. It’s the least I can do.”

Thankfully, she drops it and I slide my hand down her arm to take her hand again. I like this. The simplicity of holding her hand. We head to the embroidery kiosk and Harry leaves the clothes to be embroidered with her café’s logo.

“The man said it’ll take about an hour.” Perfect.

“We can wander while we wait.”

“Don’t you need to get back to the pub? I can find my way back to the café.”

“No way. I have time.” I spot a sushi bar and my stomach growls.

Harry chuckles and raises her brows. “Hungry?”

“Yeah. Mind if we stop for something to eat?”

“Can’t you eat at work?”

“When I eat at work, I get interrupted. It’d be nice to eat a meal in peace for once.”

Her shoulders drop and the stiffness disappears from across her shoulders. “I didn’t think about what it must be like to run a pub. We can eat here. I’m a little hungry myself.”

I feel as though I’ve just made a monumental step forward with Harry. Without wasting a second, I tug her forward and ask the hostess for a table. I want to speak with Harry about her parents and the things they said on Monday, but I don’t want to send her running in the opposite direction when I feel like she’s beginning to soften toward me.

We take our seats and each of us takes a plate of sushi from the conveyor belt. We’re both quiet as we take our first bites of food. I rarely have a problem striking up a conversation. I am a publican after all so I’ll talk to anyone. It’s part of my DNA. But I don’t know how to start the conversation I want to have with Harry.

Harry swallows the last bite of her chicken teriyaki roll, then locks her gaze on me. “What’s it like to own a pub?”

I’m relieved she’s the one who broke the ice. “I’m the second generation to own Brady’s and before that, my seanathair owned a pub back in Ireland.”

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