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My breathing began to pick up as Preston held me close to his body. I didn’t like the way my body reacted to Preston. Okay, that’s a lie. I liked it way more than I should have.
“What if you fail, Mr. Ward?”
Giving me a wicked smile, he moved his lips to my ear and whispered, “Then I’m totally at your mercy, Ms. Banks.”
Closing my eyes, I took in the feel of his hot breath on my neck. I found myself clutching his shirt as I whispered back, “You have to be a Yankees fan for a whole season.”
Preston’s lips grazed my neck as he whispered, “Deal.”
And just like that, he let me go and walked up to the bar as I stood there trying to understand what had just happened to me. Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath and blew it out. I was about to turn around when Preston said, “Take it easy on my girl, she’s been misled.”
“My girl.” God, how I like the sound of that.
Shaking it off, I pushed the feelings away and spun around as I plastered on my best smile. The one I had to wear when I attended all the stupid business parties with Trey or my parents.
Walking toward the bar, Preston introduced me to everyone. Of course he saved the best for last.
“Uncle John, this is my friend Harmony Banks. Harmony, this is John, my favorite uncle ever.”
Reaching his hand across the bar, he gave me the sweetest smile. “Don’t let this little bastard fool ya. I’m his only uncle. Your brother is Jake?”
My mouth dropped open as I looked at Preston. Shrugging, he winked.
“I take it my big brother has graced your pub before?”
“Yes, he has, pretty lady. I might add when he comes in he has his lucky Sox T-shirt on.”
Rolling my eyes, I moaned. Then it hit me. Turning to Preston, I gasped, “Please tell me you’re not—” Watching the smile spread across Preston’s face, I knew my answer before he even said it.
“It’s my socks.”
My whole body slumped. “Preston, why? I was really starting to think we had a good BFF thing going.”
Preston’s smile faded but just for a brief second before he smiled bigger and lifted up his jeans’ legs to reveal the nasty socks he hadn’t changed since the Sox started their season.
Sitting on the barstool, I mumbled to myself, “And to think I let you stay in my house.”
John and Preston both laughed. Pointing at me, John said, “You’re lucky you’re so pretty and that my boy Preston is friends with you. Otherwise, your little ass would be sitting out on the street right now.”
Biting on my lower lip, I held up my hands and said, “Who are the Yankees?”
Those sitting around us erupted into laughter as Preston gave me a smile that melted my insides.
Preston took the liberty of ordering our food. We started with Irish spring rolls that were to die for. Preston ordered me the Irish sampler that consisted of Guinness beef stew, shepherd’s pie, and country cottage pie. Preston ordered bangers and mash, which was Irish sausage with mashed potatoes topped with the most amazing brown gravy I’d ever had. Then of course there were the Irish baked beans. I’d never eaten such amazing food in my life.
By the time I was finished eating, I could barely move. My stomach muscles were also sore from laughing so hard. Preston was truly in his environment in this pub. I could not only see it in his face, but hear it in his laughter. This was home to him. When one of the patrons asked Preston to hop up and play the fiddle, I was stunned to hear how good he was.
“His mum and dad are truly proud of that boy,” John said with a smile.
Watching Preston, I realized it was the first time I’d seen such a gleam in his eyes. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him on the fiddle with a bunch of crazy, Red Sox–loving Irishmen singing along to something he was playing.
“He seems to be at home here,” I said as I turned back to look at John.
John was looking at Preston with such a loving look. “He wants this place. Always has.”
Pulling my head back in shock, I asked, “What do you mean he wants this place?”
John shook his head and laughed. “Preston must have been about ten years old when he stood on this bar…almost in the exact location you’re sitting…and he proclaimed that he was going to run this pub someday.”
