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“I’m giving him some funds—”

“He won’t take it,” Alessandra insisted. “I can guarantee it.”

“Which makes no sense,” Kenton said. “If I lived another seven hundred years, I couldn’t spend all of my money.”

“Braggart,” Lawrence said with a lopsided grin.

“Scotsmen aren’t as good at investments,” he explained. “But I’m sure you’re quite comfortable.”

“Quite,” Lawrence said dryly.

“Sorry to break up the party, boys,” Alessandra scolded, “but Garrett said he’d be here by dinnertime—”

“And you’d best get to work,” Kenton said to Lawrence.

“I’m fine,” Toni said, not for the first time that day. “There’s no reason for you to take my shift.”

“Nonsense,” Lawrence said. “Besides, it will give me a chance to see how Murphy runs things.”

“Which will give you a pretty good indication of what not to do,” Toni drawled.

“OK, I’m off,” Alessandra said, standing. “See you guys later.”

“I can walk you out.” Lawrence . . . ever the gentleman.

“I’m pretty sure I can find it.” Alessandra nodded to Kenton, and the two of them disappeared through the arched doorway into the hallway. Moments later, a door opened and then closed.

The air of joviality was suddenly snuffed out, leaving a cloud of desire-filled smoke in its wake.

“So you don’t think Murphy’s is run well?” Lawrence asked finally.

Toni turned toward him.

“I think it’s a miracle he does any business at all,” she said. “His workers care only about the paycheck. Murphy doesn’t inspire much loyalty.”

Lawrence laughed. “Interesting.”

“He’s lucky for the tourists and the Friday teacher crowd. And his location, of course. Otherwise, I don’t think he would have lasted this long.”

“What would you do differently?” Lawrence leaned forward to listen.

Toni thought about it for a minute. “Pretty much everything. Starting with giving people a reason to be there. Staff and customers alike. It’s an Irish pub, for God’s sake, but he hasn’t once been to Ireland. Knows nothing of their history. I asked him once how he chose the decorations, which, if you ask me, look like a few four-leaf clover banners vomited on a sports bar. He looked at me like I had three heads.”

“Hmmm.”

“So anyway, good luck with that. If you insist on doing this.”

“I do.”

Lawrence stood, looking at his watch.

“Luckily, you have the early shift—”

“Don’t let them keep you a minute past midnight if you’re going in to prep.”

Toni started to clean up the game, shooing away Lawrence when he tried to help her.

“I got this,” she said. “But I do have one request.”