Page 120 of Illicit Heir

Tynan gives her his dazzling smile. "Oh, couple hours south, nowhere interesting. What's in this town besides your pretty face?"

I groan inside. My brother's the cheesiest person at times.

Still, she takes the bait like most lasses, and her face brightens. She bats her eyes, replying, "Well, thanks. What's your name?"

"Tyler," he says.

"Tyler. That's a nice name. I don't hear that much. And yours?" she asks.

"That's Danny boy," my brother states.

I refrain from smacking him. I hate that name. He does it to get under my skin. I state, "It's Danny only." Then I look around again. "Ya working here on your own, lass?"

Her eyes widen. "No, our cook's in the back."

"Oh, are ya the only barmaid?"

Her eyes turn to slits. "Why do ya want to know that?"

Tynan interjects, "He's just wondering how a beautiful lass like yourself manages to keep all the men off of ya if you're in here alone. That's all."

She relaxes, and her face blushes. "Oh, you're very sweet to say that."

"Well, you're a stunner. Definitely an eleven out of ten," he praises.

Her cheeks turn even redder. "Well, thank ya."

My brother's lines are old, yet they always work.

He glances at the pub staircase door. "Ya live above here?"

She shakes her head. "No, I still live with my parents."

He leans closer, lowers his voice, and puts his hand over hers.

She inhales slightly and glances at their hands.

He states, "Shame. I'd love to see your place."

"Who else works here?" I inquire, tired of his antics.

She looks back at me again. "There's a couple other barmaids."

"But you're here on your own?" I repeat.

She hesitates then announces, "You're the second person to ask that today."

Alarm bells ring in my head, and the hairs on my arms rise. "Am I?"

She steps back, and her eyes dart between Tynan and me. "Why would two different groups of men ask me that same question?"

I take a sip of my Guinness, swallow it, and answer, "I'll be honest with ya, lass. I'm looking for a girl."

Her face darkens. "So were they."

"Okay, and what did ya tell them?"

She crosses her arms. "Why is that your business?" She glances back at the kitchen door. I assume she's trying to decipher if she needs to get the cook to help her, in case we're dangerous.

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