Page 16 of Her Bossy Daddy

Chapter Four

Lacey

I survived the longest week of my life without further incident. Liam and I still had points we needed to discuss in both our professional and personal relationships, but Friday was my fun night. The group of women I hung out with unanimously decided to go to an Irish pub. My Irish pub. One of them heard Liam frequented the place, and they wanted to see him outside of the office. This week was my turn to play designated driver, so I was stuck with the place they wanted. I hadn’t asked Liam if he would be there tonight, which meant it could get awkward but none of my friends would understand the real reason. Sarah, Tori, Jamie, Vicki, and Diana talked back and forth about the pub until their voices mingled.

“I love going to The Bull and Cup. I get so many likes when I update my social media status.”

“You’ve never been there, Sarah.”

“We went there a few months ago!”

“You know why I want to go.”

“Like we aren’t all thinking that!”

“Maybe you were.”

“Did Liam O’Connell catch you at work?” Tori stopped arguing and directed her attention to me. “I mean, really?”

“I passed out at our first meeting.” I glanced up in the rearview mirror to see wide eyes shining at me. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Does he smell as good as he looks?” Jamie questioned, her voice soft in admiration.

“I was too embarrassed to smell him,” I lied.

“Says the worst liar in history. The Irishman tickles your fancy, huh?” Vicki, who sat shotgun, teased. The two of us have worked together for about five years or so.

“Stop! I’ll pull this car right over.” I mimicked my best parenting voice, and the women dissolved into giggles. “He’s my boss. I don’t have time for a relationship.”

“Who said anything about a relationship? All those late night meetings that fade into early mornings. That sounds like a perfect setup for a fling,” Sarah said a little too knowingly.

“I’m not looking for a fling either.” I pulled the car into the parking lot and then turned off the ignition.

“So just let him fuck you!” Sarah and Tori clamored in agreement.

“Is that all you can think about?” I shot pleading eyes to Diana, the most level-headed of the bunch, via my rearview mirror.

“Don’t look at me, Lacey. I wouldn’t fuck him no matter what he smells like.” Diana shrugged.

Fine, it’s going to be one of those agree to disagree conversations.We simultaneously checked our hair in the rearview mirror and then exited the car.

* * *

Liam

I’d run into one of my neighbors, Patrick Finley a few nights after I moved in and he’d dragged me out to The Bull and Cup, a local pub. We lived down the road from one another growing up, but it shocked the hell out of me when I’d bumped into him so far away from Ireland. We’d only been out to the pub a few times, but tonight I’d really needed to relax. Patrick heartily agreed to go out and challenged me to darts. I tipped back a few pints, relieved at the distraction.

“Jesus! My blind uncle can hit a bullseye better than you!”

“Yeah? I bet my mother can hit it better than you,” Patrick retorted with a lewd motion. His dart arced through the air and hit the target with a solid thunk. “Oh! Look at that shit!”

“Fuck,” I muttered. “Using weighted darts or some shit. Next round on me.”

“You accusing an Irish man of cheating at darts?” Patrick chest-bumped me but he was almost seven inches shorter. It was comical.

“Next two rounds on me,” I chuckled. “I’ve never accused you of nothing.”

“Wanker,” he muttered and then drained the rest of his pint.

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