Page 24 of Against Ebony Irish Seas

He pulled out his phone, making Jamie lunge for it. “No, for the love of God, don’t—”

Carrick turned his back and quickly made the call. “Angie,” he said when his wife picked up on speakerphone. “Jamie wants to know if a woman might think he’d asked her out only to discuss work stuff if he asks her about said work stuff.”

Jamie started to walk off, but his brother snagged his arm.

“Tell him to balance the conversation,” his sister-in-law responded. “It’s important for him to seem interested in her work. Only don’t get too technical—”

“Got it. Thanks, Yank. I’ll be home soon.”

He clicked off and proceeded to dial another number. “Clear as mud. We need another point of view. From an expert, I’d be thinking.”

Jamie was too dazed to try and stop him, and within seconds a man’s voice answered on speaker. Liam’s!

“Hiya, Carrick. What are you up to on this fine day?”

“Helping alleviate Jamie’s dating nerves,” he said with a snort. “Here’s the question.”

Jamie stared off into the distance as his brother relayed his conundrum, wishing a sheep would escape the far-off fencing so he could take off at a run and look like a hero and not the bumbling idiot he felt like.

“I see what we’re talking about here,” Liam replied. “I would start by asking her about herself. Let her do the talking. A woman will tell you what’s important to her. All you have to do is sit back and listen. Jamie’s good at that.”

Carrick nudged him. “That he is. He’s just nervous, you know. It’s been ages since he’s been on a date, making this a monumental occasion.”

“For sure,” Liam agreed, making Jamie wish the earth would open and swallow him whole.

“Mary Magowan was the last girl, wasn’t she?” Carrick asked.

Jamie couldn’t believe he remembered.

“Sorcha told all of us it was a bad idea, if I recall,” Liam said with a laugh. “We should have listened. Another girl who didn’t think he was good enough in the end, being a teacher.”

His brother put his hand on his shoulder. “Sorcha always had a matchmaking sense, didn’t she? Well, I’ll let you go. Thanks, Liam.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Jamie muttered.

Carrick clicked off and stuffed the phone back in his pocket. “There you have it, Jamie, but here’s my advice. Don’t be overthinking it. I know when I was first with the Yank, all I wanted to do was listen to her speak in that sexy Yank accent, enjoy her droll sense of humor, and watch the sun play with the highlights in her hair. Sometimes I didn’t even hear what she said the first time, and do you know what? If I missed it, she’d just smile at me like she knew why and say it again. Trust me, if Sorcha is on your side, you have nothing to worry about.”

Jamie nudged his brother back. “You know, sometimes I’m really glad Mother didn’t leave you in the forest for the fairies to raise.”

Carrick barked out a laugh. “Speaking of babies, do you need me to buy you condoms? I could get away with buying some with a new baby in the house, and Angie would back me.”

Jamie walked off, giving his brother the bird, which only made him laugh harder.

“Remember, I’m on speed dial for you if you need any more advice.”

He left the building and got in his car to leave, yelping when Sorcha appeared in the passenger seat next to him.

“He really is a good man, isn’t he?” she said with a trace of softness in her voice before disappearing as quickly as she’d arrived.

Yeah, he really was, and so were the rest of his friends, even Liam with the condoms.

There was nothing to be nervous about, right?

CHAPTERSIX

Why was she so nervous?

Sophie fussed with the apple green cashmere scarf she’d chosen to keep warm on her date, but she doubted it would do any good. Ireland’s weather service had all but issueda date warning. Go out at your own risk. It was August the thirtieth, and it was eight degrees Celsius—forty-six degrees—and pouring cats and dogs outside!

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