Page 7 of Pints & Potions

He started from where he’d been staring at the empty staircase. “Yeah. Just woolgathering.”

“I like her.” Bridget nodded to the stairs. “She doesn’t put on airs. Not like the last one.”

He dismissed her comment with a shrug and helped finish cleaning the kitchen. “If you need a night off, I can call in Ruairí to help me at the pub tonight.”

“It’s shameful you’d believe for one moment that I would allow him to run my business. He’s the enemy, Cian, and don’t you forget it.”

“Oh, give over, Bridg. That bloody war has been done for decades. You’re the only one still holding on to it.”

“Someone has to remember why the O’Malleys lost their power, brother. You and the others may be fine without, but I’m not.”

“All I’m saying—”

“I know what you’re saying. I just don’t happen to agree with you. An O’Connor will never be welcome behind my counter or within my home. It’s bad enough I have to serve him.”

“Business is business. We can’t afford to be picky. Our finances are nearly non-existent, Bridg,” Cian said grimly.

She grimaced. “We used the last batch of Granny O’Malley’s potion when we made the new brew. We’re likely to lose everything when this last store of beer is gone.”

“We’ll have to become like normal folk, but we’ll make it work.”

“Normal,” she sneered. “We’re meant to be great witches who rule our island, you bloody eejit.”

Cian cast a nervous glance toward the stairs. “Shhh. Do you want to let the whole of America know what we are? ‘Cause that’s what’ll happen if our guests overhear you.”

“She’s our only boarder until Wednesday, and if you haven’t figured out by now that she’s a witch, you’ve not the sense the Goddess graced a mule.” She shoved by him and grabbed a light jacket from the hook. “Find Carrick and tell him to get his lazy arse over to the pub. You’ll have to trade shifts for the day.”

“I knew last night Piper was a witch. For the record, you get bossier with every year that passes.”

“Shut your mouth or I’ll serve over bossy.”

He ignored her threat. Not that Bridget wouldn’t carry through, but she had a soft spot for Cian and he wasn’t opposed to exploiting it now and again. “Carrick might have a problem. He won’t want to leave Aedan alone with a sitter tonight.”

His sister stopped on her way to the door. “What’s wrong with Aedan?”

“He’s having the terrors during the day now.”

Cian’s young nephew had been experiencing paralyzing night terrors in the eight months since he’d witnessed his mother’s death. He swore evil monsters were trying to steal his soul. No amount of therapy had helped him conquer his fear that someone was after him or that his father might die in a fiery car crash like his mother had. More recently, the boy had started seeing his demons during the daylight hours.

“Carrick said just yesterday Aedan ran inside, terrified out of his wee mind. Said it took him a good hour to get the boy to calm.”

Bridget’s worried gaze met his. “Then Carrick needs to stay home and take care of his own. I suppose you’ll have to call Ruairí and have him cover. I’ll have no choice but to put up with him for a day.”

Color crept into her cheeks and she avoided his questioning look. For sure, the relationship between Bridget and Ruairí was volatile, but Cian was at a loss as to why. His sister avoided being alone with their neighbor for reasons other than what she pretended, but she refused to divulge the real truth. Cian knew her personal grievance with Ruairí went back at least fifteen years or more.

“Ma might come if I call her,” he said softly.

“I want her less than I want an O’Connor in my place.”

“When are you going to tell me what happened?”

“Never, because it’s ancient history on all accounts. Our mother is an evil person, Cian. You know this. Why would you ever think of bringing her back here?”

“She’s not, Bridg. She was good to us once.”

“Right. When Da was alive. After he disappeared, she became a miserable feckin’ bitch. No thanks, she can stay in whatever hole she crawled into.” Bridget shot a quick glance toward the stairs before turning her attention on him. She had a wary look. “If you insist on playing tour-guide today, be careful. You still have powerful enemies wandering about.”

3

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