Page 19 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

“Do I?” She didn’t mean for her question to come out as sullen as it did, but she hadn’t had any true friends in years. Now and again acquaintances of Aunt Odessa were kind to her, but mostly they looked at her with pity in their eyes.

Eoin never had.

Kindness and compassion, yes. But not pity, and that was exactly why she adored him.

He scowled. “Now, why would ya be sayin’ it like that? Of course you do!”

A broken chuckle escaped her, and it turned into a full laugh when he looked even more put out. “Thank you for saying so, Eoin.”

“Not just sayin’.Meaning, too.”

Her heart swelled with love.

“Meaning, too,” she dutifully parroted with a compressed smile.

As he returned to scone making, Brenna became fascinated with the process. Or rather, with how his hands worked the dough. Those artist’s fingers expertly blended the butter with the flour, creating a breadcrumb-like consistency, and other than painting, she wondered what things he excelled at with those talented hands. She awkwardly shifted on the stool, belatedly realizing her fixation had turned her on to the point of uncomfortable. Here she’d been, daydreaming about how he’d touch her, when his full concentration was on creating the perfect scone.

She wished she had a magazine or fan to cool her hot face, and she prayed he didn’t look her way, or her stupid complexion would give her away. Of course her prayers went unanswered, and he happened to glance up at that moment. He paused in rolling the dough as his sharp gaze swept her face. His easy smile turned wolfish, and he wiped his hands on his apron as he stalked around the counter to where she stood.

“I’ve a mind to be kissin’ ya, Brenna. If you don’t want me to, speak now, love, or forever hold your peace.”

She lifted her face as he wove the fingers of one hand into the hair at the base of her neck and wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her against him.

“I’ll take that as a yes, then, yeah?” he said on a soft growl. He lowered his mouth to hers after her jerky nod.

“If you’re messing up Bridget’s kitchen, she’s going to be sooooo mad!” a female voice declared from behind him.

Eoin released Brenna like he’d been scalded by hot water, and spun around to face the newcomer. It provided her time to finger comb her hair, straighten her shirt, and send a silentthank youskyward to whoever’s timely interruption had saved her from making a colossal mistake.

CHAPTER 8

“Jaysus, Piper! You nearly gave me a fecking heart attack, ya did. What are ya doin’ up at this hour?”

Piper shrugged, peered around his shoulder, and smiled at Brenna. “I couldn’t sleep. This one’s kicking because she’s hungry.” She rubbed her extended belly. “Anyway, I was on the phone with my cousin GiGi, and she said to keep an eye out for Brenna. Said she might need a friend.”

“She has a friend.Me!” Eoin growled, beginning to get seriously irritated no one considered him friend material. Sure, he could be a bit absentminded in his pursuits, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be available should someone he cared about need him.

He felt Brenna place her hand on the small of his back and rub. It was as if she sensed his inner turmoil—just as he’d sensed hers earlier—and her touch immediately calmed him. It troubled him that she’d ever experienced even a moment of loneliness but he wasn’t surprised she did. She’d not been allowed to socialize for more than a few minutes at a time, always needing to be at her aunt’s disposal.

“Eoin was making me a bite to eat,” Brenna said as she stepped around him and held out a hand. “As you guessed, I’mBrenna Sullivan. And I’m not sure why your cousin would care one way or the other, to be honest.”

Piper looked at the offered hand with surprise for a second before she grasped it and drew Brenna in for a hug instead. “Because GiGi has the biggest heart on the planet, and she saw in you someone she likes.”

Disbelief and skepticism were heavy on Brenna’s countenance, and it hurt Eoin’s heart that she had so little faith in herself that she couldn’t accept a ready friendship. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and protect her from the world, and because that urge was as strong as it was, it shocked him into taking a step back, resorting to teasing as was his like.

“Sure, and if GiGi likes you, she’ll meddle in your life until you don’t know what’s up or down. Beware, Brenna, me love,” he said with a flaring of his eyes. “You’re about to have your world turned on its ear.”

“I think it already was,” Piper said dryly. With a commiserating look for Brenna, she walked farther into the kitchen and put on the kettle. “The moment you decided to throw in with the O’Malleys was the day you turned your own world on its ear, girlfriend.”

“Now don’t be trying to scare our darlin’ Brenna, Piper. She’s workin’ for me, and nothing you can say will change her mind,” Eoin warned, oddly fearful shecouldchange Brenna’s mind with a few unintended comments. It was suddenly very important that she stay.

“Who said anything about scaring her? I’m just warning her what she’s in for. The O’Malleys are a lot to take in at once.”

“Sure, and the Thornes aren’t?” he countered with a scowl.

“Don’t take umbrage, Eoin.” Placing her arms over and under her belly, she gave him a twinkling smile. “Our families are one now. And when are you going to finish making those scones? I hope it’s a double batch.”

His ire faded, and he found himself ruefully shaking his head. Piper Thorne-O’Malley loved to tease and was the perfect foil for his brother Cian. The two were a match made by the Goddess herself. “Look, and how did you know that’s what I was makin’?”

---