Page 28 of Pints & Potions

“None other than you at the present. Care to reconsider your stance on a meaningless fling?”

Color crept up her neck and into her cheeks. The sight made him wonder if she was an all-over body blusher. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to find out—other than his heart and a gold ring.

“No. Sorry. It looks like it’s just you and your hand tonight, Cian.”

He chuckled because she didn’t look sorry at all. She appeared downright gleeful. “Once again, ya’ve proved my point that all women are heartless.”

“Oh really? And what does it say about you who refuses to consider anything but a quick ‘shag’ and a pat on the ass for goodbye?”

“In truth, all I can think about is shagging you and patting your ass,” he said in a low voice next to her ear. He yelped when she twisted his nipple. “You have violent tendencies, Piper me love,” he growled as he rubbed his abused chest.

“And don’t you forget it.” With a mock toast, she stalked across the room and found an abandoned table. Immediately, a few brave regulars gathered around her, and Cian had little doubt those plonkers were trying to charm her into their respective beds.

Like a dog on a leash, he followed and was quick to shove aside a few of Piper’s admirers to sit down. “What are your plans for tomorrow, darlin’?”

“To explore another town and find a new B&B.”

His heart hiccupped. “But you’re not done seeing what we have to offer here.”

Her black brows shot up, and she insolently raked his body with her seemingly bored gaze. “I believe I have, and I’m not interested in anything else.”

“Now you’re just being ornery,” he charged. A furious look at those lingering to witness their conversation sent the men scurrying. “Bloody vultures! Always trying to score.”

Piper snorted into her drink. “Must be something in the water that makes you all a bunch of horny bastards.”

Cian leaned halfway across the table to emphasize his point. As expected, she hastily backed away with tell-tale pink tinting her cheeks. “You act like you didn’t enjoy the kisses we shared when I know damned well you did.”

“I won’t lie. You’re the best kisser I’ve ever met to date. But that doesn’t mean I intend to drop my panties for you with one come-hither look, Cian.”

He went rock hard at the thought of her dropped panties. In his mind, he could clearly imagine every area of the delectable body he’d caressed during their mind-drugging kisses. Shifting in his seat to allow for the tightness in his jeans, he snatched up her drink and took a sip.

“Hey!”

“The next one is on the house,” he retorted. “I’m trying to wash away the fantasy of you pantyless,cailín.”

A grim sortof pleasure filled Piper at his testy response. Cian wasn’t as unaffected as he wished he was. However, she wouldn’t push. Chasing a man wasn’t her style. If he wanted to have an open, honest, and mutually exclusive relationship, she was game. Hell, she’d probably do backflips. But he’d have to make the first move now. She’d shown her interest and told him what she wanted for the future. Either he was onboard and wanted to work toward the same goals or he didn’t. Either way, she wasn’t budging. How long her resolve would last was in question. Better to bail sooner than compromise herself.

Liz would’ve called her a fool for not having hot and sweaty, headboard-banging sex with him, but Piper knew her heart was at stake. She already liked Cian too much and was physically more attracted to him than to all her previous lovers combined. It didn’t bode well for her future-husband search, not if she compared all men to the one across from her.

Idly, she let her attention wander over the building crowd. Her gaze swept the bar, stopping short on Seamus. The man watched her from the bar mirror with something close to dislike.Why?She’d only met him last night, and he seemed friendly enough at the time.

Leaning forward and lowering her voice for Cian’s hearing alone, she asked, “Did you tell anyone who I really am?”

He frowned and shook his head. “No. I know the way of it for your family. I’d not put you in danger, darlin’.”

“Thank you.”

Cian gave her a brisk nod and scanned the pub with the practiced eye of the secret agent he used to be. “What has your nerves dancing a jig, Piper?”

“Nothing. I’m probably paranoid. My cousin Liz and her husband cautioned me before I flew to Ireland. I suppose I’m jumpy for no real reason.”

His sharp-eyed stare settled on her. “No. There’s always a reason, and I suspect you have good instincts.”

She scoffed lightly. “There you would be wrong. Take, for example, the worst of the worst man here. Within five minutes, I’d unknowingly have a date with him.”

“What does it say that you and I had an excursion today?” he teased.

“That I had to find the most emotionally stunted man here in town?”

---