Page 5 of After Indigo Irish Nights
“Brady and my brother can’t take offense atthatanswer,” she said with a laugh. “One thing is for sure. I plan to do my own form of study. I can already taste my Guinness. Before we get to that, I have to tell you again—your window, babe, is a real wicked pissah.”
“I think so too.”
Kathleen glanced down the small main street of Caisleán, with its brightly colored stores and shining windows. The town was downright cute but tiny as hell. It didn’t even boast a stoplight, only one of those roundabouts filled with a large circular planter overflowing with red tulips and yellow daffodils. “There’s no garbage on the street like there is back home.”
“Or broken glass. You don’t need to clutch your purse or make a beeline down the street.”
“No bad boys congregating on the corners…”
She broke off as she caught sight of one particular bad boy exiting a shop across the street.
Declan McGrath.
Her body instantly sizzled with heat as she watched him stride purposefully toward them. His edge, his reserve, and his flat-out hotness rocked her back. Their eyes locked, and she swore his mouth curved to the right.
“Oh, boy, here we go.” Ellie waved him over like they were in junior high. “Hey, Declan! Look who I’ve got.”
“Cut it out,” she hissed. “You’re going to make this weird.”
“I can’t help it,” her friend whispered back. “I saw how he looked at you and then how you looked at him and… Whoa! You two! I’m going inside. You’ll do better without me.”
Kathleen couldn’t agree more—her friend’s face was blushing three shades of red. “Go.”
“Tell him I had to pee after the trip from Dublin,” Ellie said in an undertone as she ran to the front door.
“Why are you still standing here?” Declan called out as he came closer. “Didn’t you want to run inside too? I’ve never seen Ellie run away like that. Looks like she was getting out of the way.”
Busted.
Her skin turned hot under her clothes despite the spring breeze as he took her in from head to toe. She planted her feet, knowing she’d need her balance as she gave him the same treatment.
Lordy, his looks should be illegal. Midnight black hair. Blow-torch-blue-flame eyes. A rock-solid jaw. Hell, everything he sported was rock solid—from his shoulders to his hips to his legs. Declan was built and tall and as tough as they came.
She cocked her hip, knowing how to handle boys like this. “I wanted to admire my best friend’s window a little more. Ellie raced inside to tell everyone we’d arrived. I hope no one’s jumping out of a cake.”
His brows slammed together. “Cake?”
“Apparently there’s a party brewing,” she explained.
“To welcome you, yes.” He ate up the remaining distance between them, all badass male in a brown leather bomber jacket, faded jeans, and workman boots nicked with wear.
Come to mama.
He touched her short brown curls the moment he was near, sending off a shower of invisible sparks along her skin. “Your hair looks even shorter than last time.”
She made herself knock his hand away. “I just got it cut. You got some problem with my head, Ace?”
God, they might as well be kids back in her neighborhood. No one passed notes asking if someone liked you with a box to check. When you had it bad for a boy, you kicked him in the shin or threw a rock at him on the playground to get his attention. He pulled your hair and chased you around the school. Then you teased each other until he grabbed you in kiss tag and planted one on you. After that, you went steady.
“No problem. Only commenting.” Declan’s wicked mouth curved as he raked her with another lusty gaze.
She cocked her hip, bringing his amused eyes back to hers. Yes, he was as delighted with their game as she was. Her belly went liquid with heat. “What’s got you working so late on a Friday night?”
“Ordering, Kathleen. My boss has turned that task over to me and ruined my life.”
She had to lock her knees at the way he said her name in his Irish accent. He might as well have lit a trail of gunpowder inside her. “Ruined your life, huh?” She tried and failed to contain her smile. “If it’s ruined, fix it. Only you can, you know.”
He snorted. “I already live with Yoda, in the way of Liam O’Hanlon, who has turned the dungeon at Summercrest Manor into a meditation room, God help me.”
