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I don’t know that I’ve ever been angrier with my sisters, even when, at sixteen, they cut my hair when I was asleep.
I had to shave my head.
But this is worse.
I park my truck and walk up to Maeve’s door. She answers before I knock.
“What is it with my sisters hovering by the front door?”
“You literally just texted four minutes ago and said you were on your way,” she reminds me and leads me back to her huge kitchen that looks out to the sea.
We’re all ocean-lovers. It’s the Irish in us. We come from a small village on the cliffs of Ireland’s west coast, and we long for the sea.
“I have a few things to say.” I lean on the counter and watch as Maggie shoves a muffin into her mouth. “You’re such a lady.”
“I know.” Her mouth is full when she smiles.
“Why did you tell Izzy that I’m afraid of commitment?”
They look at each other and then both look at their muffins.
“Hungry?” Maggie asks, holding one up for me.
“Answer me, Mary Margaret.”
“It wasn’t a lie,” Maeve says. “You’ve never been the kind to date anyone for long, Keegan, and that’s the truth of it.”
“You don’t know the reasons behind that. I’ve never told you that I don’t want to meet someone and be with them for the long haul. I’ve also never said that I broke up with girls, mostly because they were too clingy, or went back to an ex-boyfriend, or thought that owning a pub was beneath them.”
“Who was that snobby bitch?” Maggie demands.
“Just because I’m in my mid-thirties and unmarried doesn’t make me a confirmed bachelor. And I would hope that before you warn a woman off me, you’d ask me about my intentions.”
“You’re right,” Maeve says, holding up her hand. “We spoke out of turn. But Keegan, Izzy is just so nice, and she’s been through a lot. We didn’t want her to get hurt.”
“You may have had her best interests at heart, but you almost cost me the best thing that’s walked into my bar in a long damn time.”
“Wait a minute.” Maggie stands and walks around the breakfast bar to stand in front of me then narrows her eyes. “You’re in love with her.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You wouldn’t be giving us a tongue-lashing if she were just another tumble, Keegan.”
“Maeve,” I say without answering Maggie, “I need you to cover Izzy’s shifts for a couple of days.”
“When?”
“Starting today.”
“Today?”
I nod. “Yeah, sorry for the short notice. Is it not a good fit for you?”
“I can make it work. But I’m so intrigued right now, I don’t even know where to begin.”
“You can begin by minding your own damn business.”
Maggie shakes her head. “I live with her.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t mind yours, Mary Margaret. You didn’t act this way with Kane and Shawn. What’s gotten into you?”
She blows out a breath and then shrugs as she picks at her muffin. “Maybe I see myself in her. She did what I didn’t have the guts to do when I married Joey. I knew marrying him was a bad idea, but I didn’t have the strength to call it off. She’s badass, and I feel a little protective of her.”
I immediately soften toward my baby sister. She went through a lot with an abusive husband and then dealing with his death not long ago.
“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, lass. And it’s glad I am that you like her and want her to be safe. I won’t intentionally hurt her.”
“I know,” Maggie says.
“Well, I’m happy for you. Where are you taking her?” Maeve asks.
“Just to the cabin. I want to spend some uninterrupted time with her, and that’s hard to do when we’re both tied to the pub.”
“That’s so romantic,” Maggie says.
“I’m glad you think so because I need you to run home and pack her a bag. I’m surprising her.”
“I can do that. When are you picking her up?”
“As soon as I go check on Ma. Is she upstairs?”
“Oh, no. She and Da went to see Shawn and Lexi today.” Maeve smiles.
“Then it looks like I’ll be seeing the whole family this morning. How is she feeling?”
“Ma’s fine.” Maeve takes a bite of her muffin. “She just had a day that her upper back and shoulder were bothering her. But she’s fine now.”
“It’s glad I am to hear it, but I’ll go see for myself.”
“I’d better get home, then,” Maggie says. “I think Izzy went to Target to do some shopping. So, if I’m quick, I’ll beat her, and she won’t know what hit her.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And I’m sorry for almost messing it all up for you. That’s not what I meant to do.”
“I know. Just don’t do it again.” I grab two muffins on my way out to the truck. I need to hurry over to check on my parents and ask if Da will take care of the pub for me while I’m gone.
