Page 27 of Pints & Potions

“How was she supposed to turn him?”

“Seduce him. Get in his head and make him feel bitter about the loss of magic. Use it to make him a double agent.”

Piper’s stomach felt queasy. The idea of converting a powerless warlock was ingenious. Had Zhu Lin succeeded, he’d have had access to quite a bit of information to use against those he despised the most: the witch community.

“When did Cian discover the truth?”

“Not until after he was head over heels in love.” The words were solemn, indicating Moira had done a number on Cian with her betrayal.

“And he’s vowed to never become involved again, I’m assuming?”

“Something like that. Of course, he can be a stubborn bastard at times, but I don’t think it’s hopeless.”

But Piper would beg to differ, because Cian had already told her it was. She didn’t bother to say as much to the ever-optimistic Ryker. Let him believe his friend would find love one day.

“I think I’ll head up and write tomorrow’s must-see schedule. There are a lot of places I’d like to visit before I leave the area.” Also, she needed to find another B&B as soon as she could. Obviously, she wouldn’t stay here with temptation just a stone’s throw away.

10

For the entirety of the night, Cian had kept a watch on the door. Piper hadn’t shown up. Not that he expected her to, but the evening dragged on endlessly with one customer after another annoying the ever-loving bejeezus out of him. He refused to admit he was still peevish by her declaration about wanting a home and family—orthat he was also a little saddened by it.

Once upon a time, he wanted those exact things, but Moira cured him of his fanciful dreams. He was intelligent enough to know not all women were the same, but his instincts had failed him once, and he daren’t risk it again.

“Cian, man, did ya not hear me?”

Seamus had continued to rabbit on about some ridiculous subject or another all night, boring Cian near to tears. He was about to strangle the man just to get some peace and quiet.

“Sure, and I did, Seamus,” Cian lied. “Right fun, that.”

The ginger-haired man narrowed his eyes but didn’t call him out on the obvious falsehood. “So where be yer light-o’-love, Cian?”

He shut off the tap and straightened up tall in his anger, with a glare for the much smaller Seamus. “Watch yourself. It’s not like that. Piper deserves respect.”

“For thebuille?”

“In general,” he said, dodging the question about whether she was the one to deliver the blow to his nose.

“Ya sweet on her, Cian?” Seamus’s interest was anything but casual.

Cian idly wondered if the other man intended to make a play for Piper. It wouldn’t be the first time the man went after his leftovers. Pasting on a smile he didn’t feel, Cian resumed pouring the Guinness. “I’m not sweet on anyone, Seamus. You know that. Life is too short to settle for one comely colleen.”

He’d just handed off the pint to their part-time server, Sorcha, and was leaning against the bar to take an order from the busty Shelly O’Neal when he feltherenter the room. His insides vibrated, and he fought the urge to turn toward Piper like a divining rod seeking water. The last thing he needed was to prove Seamus right.

And although his senses constricted to tune out everything but her, Cian barely spared her a passing glance as he absently flirted with Shelly. If asked, he’d be unable to recall what was said.

No one was more surprised than he when Piper approached Ruairí with her drink request rather than him, and she studiously avoided looking at Cian the entire time the cocktail was being mixed. When she finally had the glass in hand, she turned her back to the bar and surveyed the rowdy crowd before taking a careful sip of her drink.

Surly and out of sorts by her cold shoulder, Cian gestured for Ruairí to take over with Shelly, then proceeded to the other side of the bar. He only stopped when he was blocking Piper’s line of sight. Yes, he was being a contrary arse, but her pointed avoidance rankled.

She lifted disinterested eyes to him, and the lack of warmth caused his stomach to flip. He felt an odd sense of nervousness. Firmly tamping down the foreign sensation, he gave her his most endearing grin. “You couldn’t stay away?”

“I was bored sitting in my room, and I didn’t want to drive the country roads in the dark to find another place to have a drink. I’m afraid Lucky O’Malley’s is the only one for miles. Sorry if I’m cramping your style.” She flicked her thumb sideways toward the curvy Shelly. “Feel free to carry on as if I’m not here.”

As if he could ever fail to notice her!

“Shelly’s married to Titan O’Neal. Named because he’s roughly the size of a small barn. I’ll not be stepping on his toes, to be sure.”

Piper’s delicious mouth firmed and she shrugged as she looked away, but not before he caught the flash of humor in her eyes. “Well, there must be another poor unsuspecting female for you to seduce.”

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