AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why did you?”
“You were a stranger. What if you decided to go back home and get married? What if you were a con artist? What if you sued me for sexual harassment?” His accent is driving me wild.
“None of those things will happen.”
“And thank Christ for it.”
Chapter 5
~Keegan~
Now that I’ve started kissing her, I never want to stop. I didn’t lie before. It was hell staying away from her all these weeks, telling myself that helping her out was enough.
But it wasn’t nearly enough.
Listening to her laugh, watching her silly dance when she’s eating something delicious, and being near her all the time, day in and day out, slowly killed me inside. I thought it would be easier on me when she moved in with Maggie. That I might start to lose interest. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.
I was wrong. I’ve missed having her in the flat, and I still see her almost every day. There is no out of sight, out of mind.
And tonight, when she stood in my pub and was strong enough to stand up to her mother, it only intensified my attraction to her.
No, she has nothing at all to be embarrassed about.
“I guess we should go back to work,” she murmurs. For the first time in as long as I can remember, work is the last thing on my mind.
But she’s right. I have a pub full of customers to see to.
“Before we go,”—I brush my knuckles down her soft cheek—“I’d like to take you out. On a real date. Tomorrow.”
“I happen to have tomorrow night off,” she says. “But you—”
“My da’s in town, remember? He’ll love nothing more than to be in charge for an evening.”
“Well then, you have yourself a date.”
She grins, and I can’t help myself. I kiss her again, softer and gentler this time until my brain buzzes, and my cock gets hard.
“Spaghetti,” I whisper.
“Are you hungry?” she asks.
“I need to think of things to calm down before I say fuck the pub and carry you into my bedroom to have my way with you.”
Her blue eyes dance with awareness. “I like spaghetti. I think tacos are my favorite, though.”
“Hard or soft shell?”
“Hard.” She grins. “With extra cilantro.”
“I hate cilantro. It tastes like soap.”
“Oh, you’re one of those unfortunate souls with weird tastebuds.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Come on. We have work to do. Unless you’d rather go home for the night.”
“No.” She squares her shoulders. “Like you said, we have work to do. My mother doesn’t have the privilege of interfering in my life anymore.”
I follow her down to the pub, relieved when no one stands to make a big deal out of the earlier scene. We easily slip back into our roles, me pulling taps, and Izzy seeing to her tables. My da offers me a wink as he pulls the handle for the Guinness.
“Everything okay, then?”
“It is.”
And that’s all that’s said about it for the rest of the evening.
* * *
“Good morning, my love,” Ma says as she and Da walk into the pub the next morning. Despite a long workday yesterday, they’re both fresh as can be and look ready to start another busy day.
“And a good morning to you.” I kiss Ma’s cheek and then hug my father. “You do know that you don’t have to come in every single day. You can enjoy your time here on the island without working it away.”
“We enjoy it,” Ma replies. “And I want to get a batch of apple muffins into the oven this morning for you.”
“I don’t want you to work too hard.”
She pats my cheek and then saunters off to the kitchen. “Don’t you worry about me, Keegan. I’m doing exactly what I want to do.”
“And she always does,” Da says with a smile as he watches her walk away. “I’m going to Shawn’s in a bit to help him with a project at the house. But your mother wanted to come in and get some baking done and start on the stew and meat pies.”
“There’s nothing like having Ma in the kitchen,” I admit. “Maggie’s wonderful, and her stew is delicious, but it isn’t the same. Don’t ever tell her I said that.”
Da laughs and pats me on the shoulder. “I understand your meaning, son. Fiona has a way with food. I think it’s the love she pours into it. She’s been looking forward to being here for weeks, just so she can spend her days back there. But don’t worry, I’m keeping an eye on her. If I think she’s overextending herself, I’ll say so.”
“I know. And now I’ll sound like a hypocrite because I need to ask you a favor.”
“Anything, if it’s in my power. You know that.”
“I need you to cover the bar for me tonight.”
His brow furrows in surprise. “Is everything okay?”
