Page 6 of Pints & Potions

Piper eyed him; irritated he looked so well rested and gorgeous this early while she was a complete mess. Maybe she should rethink shunning magic long enough to utilize a glamour spell.

A cup of coffee appeared before her. “Cut the girl a break, Cian. We don’t want her running for the closest airport,” Bridget scolded.

Piper took a huge sniff of the coffee and groaned her appreciation for Bridget’s thoughtfulness. “Besides, I’m in love with your sister.”

Cian, in the process of drinking his own morning brew, spit it out in a perfect imitation of her reaction to Seamus’s comment last night.

Bridget’s laughter triggered her own.

He scowled and caught the hand towel his sister threw in his direction. “You’re proving what I’ve long known to be true,” he muttered.

“Oh? And what’s that?” Piper asked as she followed the delectable smells the rest of the way into the kitchen.

“That all women are evil and out to break my poor wee heart,” he hollered after her retreating back.

She took a seat at the counter and, to hide her grin, she bit into the toast Bridget had placed in front of her. Piper loved their verbal judo. Cian challenged her in a way she’d never been before, and it was fun. Although she only just met the man, he had a warm, flirty quality about him that made her feel she’d known him a lifetime. His easy, uncomplicated manner attracted her on every level. Life was much easier with a drama-free man.

The thought brought her up short. She shouldn’t be thinking about long term with Cian. He lived an ocean away and, according to his sister, he had a wandering eye.

Speaking of his eyes, she couldn’t seem to look away and was drowning in those sparkling emerald depths.

“What do you have planned today, Piper?” Bridget’s voice had a slight edge, and it was enough to break the staring contest between Cian and Piper.

“Since this is my first trip to Ireland, I thought I’d hit all the touristy places.” Piper started devouring the scrumptious meal. “Do you have any suggestions? Any must-sees?”

Cian leaned around her and snatched a piece of toast from her plate. “I happen to be a brilliant tour guide.”

“You have work to do today, you feckin’ skiver. Don’t even dream of leaving it all on my shoulders.” His sister shot him a dark look.

“Bridg, we can’t neglect our guest now, can we?”

Piper’s lips twitched as she observed Bridget’s irate reaction. It seemed her hostess’s temperament was as fiery as her red hair. If looks could kill, her brother would be dead and buried in the family cemetery.

“I’m not going to be your excuse to get out of work, Cian.” Piper finished off the last of her breakfast and put her empty plate by the sink.

“But you have to see the real Ireland, love. You won’t find that in some tourist’s book.” Cian put an arm around her and steered her toward the stairs. “Now go get dressed, and I’ll soothe my sister’s ruffled feathers.”

A glance back showed Bridget wasn’t as put out as she’d first appeared.

Cian’s wide shoulders blocked Piper’s view of the kitchen as he closed the distance between them. With his lips pressed to the shell of her ear, he said, “Or if you’d rather see something native, you don’t need to get dressed. I can join you in your room, and we can have a grand time here, to be sure.”

“Keep it in your pants, player. I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

“You aren’t doing anything to make me believe you aren’t a cruel woman, Piper me love.”

“And you aren’t doing anything to make me believe you aren’t a horny man out to score, Cianme love,” she mocked and headed upstairs.

“I never said I wasn’t a horny man,” he called up after her.

“Lay offbefore you scare her, you eejit,” Bridget scolded when Piper was out of earshot.

“Do you really need my help today?” Cian asked over his shoulder, all kidding aside.

“No, I’m just having powerful fun watching you get shot down.” She smiled and patted his cheek. “Make sure you bring some johnnies with you. The woman doesn’t need to end up with a babe for your carelessness.”

Oddly enough, the idea of impregnating the lovely Piper didn’t upset him. Instead, the image of her cradling a dark-haired babe to her breast spread warmth through his chest. With any other woman, he’d already be breaking out in a fine sweat. Perhaps he should utilize Bridget’s excuse and leave Piper to her own devices. He’d known the woman less than twelve hours, for St. Peter’s sake! Why was he picturing her with his child?

“You okay?”

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