Page 23 of Surrender
“Then I’ll have the salad as a starter—and the game pie.”
That perked Sophie right up. A Guinness woman who eats. God bless.
“Of course! Coming right up. I’m Sophie, by the way.”
“Ruby. Pleasure to meet you.”
Sophie passed through the kitchen door and handed the order ticket to Keefe, who was leaning against the counter drinking a glass of water.
“Is this the name and phone number of my future wife?” he teased, because teasing his sister was what got him out of bed in the morning.
Sophie opened her mouth for a comeback—but paused.
Ruby was polished but not pretentious. Long red hair that said “don’t mess with me” in the best way. Flawless minimal makeup. Sea-green eyes you could get lost in and forget your name. Add in a killer smile and an actual appetite?
Keefe was doomed.
“Soph? What is it?”
“Ah-ah-ah.” She held up a hand like a traffic cop. She needed a moment.
Ruby seemed genuine, down to earth, maybe a smidge nervous, but in an endearing way.
Not too young, not too old.
A Dublin girl, yes—but that was Keefe’s problem, not hers.
Oh no. This was really happening.
She’d found her brother’s dream girl.
God help them all.
“Just a minute. I’ll be right back.”
First, she needed to have a quick chat with her best friend: Powers whiskey.
Sophie slipped into the office, opened the drawer, and pulled out the blue bottle.
Unscrewed the cap. Took a swig.
Then another.
Nope—still not emotionally prepared. One more.
Okay. Now she had Dutch courage running through her veins. She squared her shoulders. Time to play Cupid.
Wait. Ew. Now she needed another drink. One last swig.
Right. Now she was ready.
She pushed the kitchen door open, stepped inside—and then immediately regretted it.
This was weird. Right? Totally weird.
But didn’t she want her brother to be happy?
Of course she did.
