Page 53 of Pints & Potions

“Wait,what? This is O’Malley land?” She couldn’t believe her ears. He’d taken her to his family’s estate the first day without ever telling her the truth?

“Yeah. We were interrupted before I could give you the full history.” He grinned and urged her toward the front door. “Nowyoucan givemethe tour.”

Her heart ached every single time she witnessed that wicked smile of his. He employed it so effortlessly with such devastating effect, all the while he was oblivious to the ravages his careless charm caused her.

“You go ahead. I…” What could she say? That she couldn’t stand to be around him and not beg him to love her? How pathetic could one woman be?

Once again, she had the urge to run, but he caught her arm and drew her close. “It’s all right, Piper. It’s all going to be all right.”

“I don’t want your pity, Cian,” she snapped as she struggled to pull free.

His arms tightened, and he heaved an exasperated sigh. “And you won’t get it from me.” He tilted up her chin and forced her to meet his steady stare. “I care about you and your wee battered feelings, Piper. Ido,” he insisted when she would’ve objected. “I’ll do whatever is necessary to protect you, like I promised your da. That means against my own cold heart. And I’ll give you your baby, if that’s what you need. But I want you to think more on it. I want you to be okay with only that small part of me and nothing more before the point of no return.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. Cian had just offered her heart’s deepest desire—minus his love. All without the insistence she marry him and remain in a one-sided relationship. To clarify, she asked, “With no stipulations? No marriage?”

His expression turned sour, but he nodded all the same. “No marriage. And should you meet the guy you want to spend your life with, I only ask that you introduce us. I’ll need to judge the character of the man who’ll be father to my child.”

He sounded like he’d rather eat razor blades than meet any future husband of hers, but she’d agree, because she needed a baby more than she needed her next breath of air.

“Now, show me your future home, darlin’. I can’t wait to see what you did with the old place.”

She pulled him back as he started to move away, and flung her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Cian.”

“Well, like I said, you need to be sure. Talk to your da or to Liz. Weigh the pros and cons. O’Malleys are stubborn feckers with a powerful desire to fight the world. You’ll be signing up for a headache of epic proportions with any child of mine.”

She laughed, happier than she’d been in days. “Duly noted.”

20

That night in the pub, as Cian played each of the songs in his set, his heart wasn’t in it. His attention continued to stray to the door, but he doubted Piper would show after the emotionally charged conversations they’d shared that day.

Tonight, for the first time, dissatisfaction made him restless. Nothing had changed but the meeting of one sexy witch and a handful of her family. He told himself he was the same man he’d been a week ago. But essential parts of him had changed.

Knowing what he did of the O’Malley riddle, he wondered if he was resisting the inevitable. Had Piper already pricked the heart ofthe Frozen? Or did the line indicate and require more than any of them imagined?

During the first break, he headed to the bar. A few adventurous females worked hard to grab his notice, but he paid them no mind. His thoughts were consumed with Piper and the first part of the prophecy. More and more, he felt like he was fighting a losing battle.

“Why are ye in the dumps, Cian?” Seamus asked then took a long guzzle of his brew.

“I’m not,” he snapped. “Mind your business.”

“Got to be a woman,” Ruairí said. As Bridget passed by, his morose gaze trailed her and he lifted his glass in a silent toast. “Only a woman can bring a man so low.”

“What woman? The American?” Seamus grimaced. “Heard they were all evil and always out to break a poor man’s heart. Most likely they want to bust his bollocks in the process.”

“It’s not the American,” Cian growled the lie as he stomped around the end of the bar and poured himself a drink. Odd, how Seamus had pretty much quoted him without being privy to the conversation Cian had exchanged with Piper, her first morning at the inn.

“Sure, and you’re going to be a surly sod and kick us out if we call you a fecking liar. But you are, Cian,” Ruairí said with a snort.

“Leave off, Ruairí O’Connor.” Bridget smacked him upside his head. “Or I’ll throw you out myself.”

“Bridg, I’ve a right to be powerful angry about the blow to my head, but since the blow you gave to my heart hurts more, I’ll let this one go.” He spun in his seat to face her. “But don’t interfere with one broken man counselin’ another. I’ve a mind to help Cian so he don’t make the mistakes I did and suffer a lifetime for it.”

As Cian watched in amazed horror, Bridget’s eyes filled with tears.

“You’re a fucking arse!” she shouted in Ruairí’s face. “A complete and utter arse!”

The pub was silent for a full ten seconds after her departure, before finally returning to the normal roar of a crowd. Ruairí remained staring at the door long after Bridget’s jaw-dropping exit.

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