Page 82 of One Chance to Stay
“Are you sure?”
“Your fairy godmother has come to your rescue. Be free, gorgeous.”
For the last hour, Mabel dazzled the residents of Firefly. While I entertained the parents with my bartending tricks, she entertained the children before spraying whipped cream directly in their mouths. She’d take all the credit for our success. I’d gladly give it.
She gave me a shove toward the door. “Go to your Prince Charming. I’ll be scouting the local talent for a rugged suitor.” Now that she mentioned it, I had never seen her at the club with arm candy. Next time she stopped by the bar, I’d have to ask if she had a special someone.
I zipped up my jacket and stepped out of the shack into the biting cold. Seamus continued standing by himself, watching the surrounding events. He might be at the bonfire, but he wasn’t part of it. It reminded me of those awkward middle school dances where I stood on the side, unsure of how to approach girls.
For him, I’d do the approaching. Whether or not he liked it, I’d pull him from his solitude. If this was going to be our dynamic, I’d use my powers for good… mostly.
I snuck up behind him.
“What brings you here?”
“Mostly threats.”
Had he cracked a joke? Seamus could act gruff all he wanted, but he had a dry playfulness.
When he turned, I lifted my arms to give him a hug, and he raised a hand as if we were about to shake. With a gentle slap, I pushed it away, wrapping my arms around his torso. He stiffened as I gave him a tight squeeze. When I lifted him off his feet, he grumbled until I set him down.
“I’m glad you came.” Oh, I had almost forgotten. Holding up a finger, I reachedinto the breast pocket of my jacket. “I got you a gift.”
I held the flask out, letting the light from the bonfire sparkle in the rhinestones. He stared without taking it. “It seemed only fitting since bourbon started this whole thing.”
“I thought you trying to best Mother Nature started this?”
“We’ll skip that when we tell the story.”
“The story?”
He still hadn’t taken the flask. “Our story. You know, the crazy way we met. I’ll tell them all about how you nearly shot me, and you can tell how I drank from the bottle like a heathen. Everybody will laugh when I include the part of showing up to breakfast in my birthday suit.”
He flashed a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The time for subtlety had vanished. Boundaries, be damned. I grabbed his flannel, tugging hard enough that he stumbled. I held firm, leaning forward, kissing him. It took a moment until his body relaxed. In the winter night, his lips were like a furnace, and I let them warm my blood.
I stayed close, forehead pressed against his. “Don’t push me away, Seamus.”
“I’m—” He stuttered as he spoke. “I’m trying.”
“We both know I have a habit of filling the silence. It seems to work with handsome men who like to safeguard their words. I can listen, too.”
Seamus took a steadying breath, filling the space between us with steam. Even when he spoke, I almost didn’t hear him over the enthusiastic quilters. “Is this the end?”
“Of what?”
“Us.”
His head dipped, and he returned to his downward gaze. I pinched his chin, pushing his head up until our eyes met. They were filled with the same yearning I encountered our first night together. They held a lifetime of longing. The importance of my next words wasn’t lost on me.
“That’ll make it awkward when you meet my parents.”
“Your parents?”
“Or when you visit me at work? You walk into Spectrum, and those daddy-chasers will eat you alive. Then, there’s Grace. It’ll be really uncomfortable having drinks with her and you brooding in the corner.”
I couldn’t tell if his neutral face was from disbelief or annoyance. If he thought I’d leave it there, he hadn’t been paying attention.
“Abraham invited me back to shoot again. Do you really want us unsupervised on the farm? And at the rate the bears are going, I’ll be back here for half a dozen weddings. Can you really resist me in my?—”
