Page 21 of Trying Sophie

“We view those years in Ballycurra quite differently,” I said by way of explanation. “To my grandparents, your teasing was a case of boys being boys, but to me … not so much.” I shrugged.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” he mumbled. “When Maureen told me you were coming for a visit I was worried you’d remember all the names we’d called you and instead of shaking my hand, you’d punch me in the face.”

He took an exaggerated step backward in case his suggestion sparked sudden violence on my part.

Snickering, I said, “Yes, well … maybe some other time.”

“I won’t hold you to it,” he answered on a laugh.

I laughed as well because during those dreams of vengeance, punching someone had been exactly what I wanted to do. Cian was safe though; it had been Declan who’d always been my main target for retribution.

“No, I’m sure you won’t.”

Cian glanced around the room. “Well, I better get back to it. Busy day. Talk to you later, yeah?”

“Sure thing,” I replied, heading behind the bar for my own prep work.

We worked side-by-side the rest of the day, engaging in short conversations when there was a lull in customers. By closing, we’d hit it off pretty well and I was happy to have someone my own age to keep me company.

“You want a beer or cider or something?” Cian asked, pulling himself a pint.

“Bulmers?”

He nodded, grabbing the glass from under the counter.

Normally at the end of the night I’d go upstairs to shower and then spend some time reading up on restaurant management, but I’d done that every night for the past week and was no closer to figuring out how to save Fitzgerald’s than I was before I’d started. I figured taking a night off might do me some good and I was looking forward to not thinking about profit and loss statements, food ordering, and employee management and retention systems.

“So, do you always stay after hours drinking free beer?” I asked jokingly.

Cian smiled as he continued pouring his Guinness. “Don’t worry about your inheritance. I always pay for everything I drink.” He notched his chin my way. “What about you? I didn’t see you laying down any cash for that cider.”

“In case you haven’t heard, mister, I drink for free at Fitzgerald’s.”

“Oh yeah?” He rested his forearms on the bar and leaned forward. “That’s some perk.”

“The only perk,” I confirmed with a smirk.

I stretched to work out some of the kinks and knots in my back and felt the muscles pull and loosen. I wasn’t used to being on my feet all day. When I’d woken up, my lower back had seized up in protest at the constant lifting and bending that went hand-in-hand with working behind a bar. When I felt a few achingly wonderful pops along my spine, I let out a low moan, dropped my arms, and opened my eyes to find Cian staring at me. His gaze traveled over my body appreciatively before coming to rest on my face. Unashamed to have been caught staring, he didn’t bother hiding his obvious perusal.

Suddenly the room felt much warmer and I didn’t know if it was embarrassment or because I liked him looking at me. I wasn’t sexually attracted to Cian, but when a hot guy stared at you like that, your brain could go a little haywire.

Which made me remember how I’d reacted when Declan had looked at me with such open, naked desire. My heart had beat loudly in my ears, a steady whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, while my neck had grown moist with a light sheen of sweat. I hadn’t heard from him after our text exchange the other night but I was itching to see him again. I needed to know if my reaction had been a fluke … or if it was something more.

“Thanks for the drink,” I said, sliding off my stool. “I’m going to head up now. See you later.”

I didn’t look back, not even when I heard him laughing at my quick retreat. I probably should have clarified that I wasn’t rushing off because of him, but what did it matter? He wouldn’t have believed me anyhow.

“Goodnight Sophie. See you tomorrow.”

Lying in bed in the dark, I got to thinking more about my primal reaction to Declan and what it would be like to explore that attraction. As my fingers trailed down my body, past my curls to flutter over my clit, I pictured how it would feel for him to run his strong, rough hands over me, how I’d quake and shiver as he licked and kissed my neck, how intense I’d come when he flipped me over and took me hard from behind.

I didn’t know if it was simply the idea of having sex with Declan or if it was because I’d had to remain completely silent while I pleasured myself lest my grandparents hear me from down the hall, but when my orgasm hit, stars erupted behind my eyelids, my toes curled, and my flesh broke out in a wave of goose bumps.

When I finally came down, I stifled a happy, euphoric laugh. The rush I’d had fantasizing about Declan had been more intense than anything I’d felt with that sexy Spaniard in San Sebastian.

* * *

“That’s a lovely blushyou’ve got going,” Cian whispered as he swept past me.

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