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“I agree!” Waylynn and Amelia said at the same time.
“It’s simply beautiful, Maebh. Was this fashioned after your house in Ireland again?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yes. One of the ballrooms.”
I lifted my brows and couldn’t help but notice how Maebh tried to cover up what she clearly hadn’t meant to say. “I’m thinking here in the fireplaces we can put candles when there isn’t a fire going.”
“Beautiful idea,” I said as I gave her a wink. I was pretty sure I was the only one who caught that she’d said ballroom.
“Do you have a culinary background?” I asked.
Maebh nodded. “After school I worked for a two-star restaurant in Dublin. I found myself moving up and was soon running the back-end. I loved it, maybe even more than cooking.”
“So you decided to open your own place?” Amelia asked as she sat down in one of three oversized leather chairs. I was guessing Maebh had them up here to plot out where the furniture would go.
Letting out a laugh, she shook her head. “No. That’s a bit of a long story.”
“Well, you’ll have to tell us about it someday. Jonathon said you and your father are living on the third and fourth floor?”
She nodded.
“Then I say go get cleaned up while we dip into your father’s whiskey and come out with us tonight.”
Her eyes lit up like Christmas morning.
“Really? You’d let me come along with you?”
Paxton took Maebh’s hand in hers. “Of course! Besides, you look like you’re getting more paint on you than the walls, sweetie.”
Maebh glanced at herself and laughed. She chewed on her lip for a few seconds before saying. “Yes! I’d love to join you. I’ll not be long!”
Waylynn had made her way behind the bar and somehow found a bottle of whiskey. “Take your time. We’re not in a hurry.”
“Maebh, I hate to ask, but do you have a restroom?” Corina asked. “The baby pushes against my bladder, and I swear I pee every five minutes.”
She took Corina’s hand and led her to a door. It opened and led to a set of stairs. “We’ll be back!” Maebh called out in excitement.
“Geesh, poor thing. Do you think she has any friends here?” I asked as I walked up to the beautiful wood bar. Running my hand along it, I slid onto one of the matching stools.
“I don’t think so. I never see her out. I think she puts every spare second into this place.”
“Hmm. Well, we’re going to have to change that. The girl is too pretty to be hiding out.”
“Agreed,” Paxton said.
The four of us held up our shots of whiskey and downed them.
“Holy…shit!” Waylynn stuttered between coughing. She held up the bottle and read it. “Sona Single Pot Still Irish whiskey. Motherfucker, this shit is strong.”
“I think I grew a few hairs on my chest,” I said as I shook my head to help chase the burn away. Picking up the bottle, I turned it around and read the information on the label.
Created and produced by the O’Sullivan Distillery, Cork.
“What’s Maebh’s last name?” I asked.
Waylynn was pouring each of us another shot. “O’Sullivan.”
My eyes drifted back to the bottle. “Does her father make this whiskey? Is that what she meant when she said my father’s whiskey?”
“I don’t know, why?” Waylynn asked.
I pointed to the bottle. “It says it was created and distilled by O’Sullivan Distillery in Cork.”
“Isn’t she from Cork?” Paxton asked.
We all looked at each other. Waylynn’s mouth opened before she said, “Shit. She said ballroom and then tried to move on. You don’t think they’re from money, do you? I mean, the money she is sinking into this place would likely say yes.”
Corina came rushing into the room. “Y’all, get Maebh to spell her name!”
“What?” Amelia asked. “Why?”
“Trust me! Just do it!”
Corina looked at the shot glasses and pouted. “Dang. That looks good.”
Waylynn grabbed the shot and held it up to Corina. “It will grow hair on your balls.”
Corina snarled. “I don’t have balls.”
“You will after you drink this,” Amelia added with a giggle.
“Drink up, ladies! Well, not you, Corina!” Waylynn added.
“Oh, no! Let me show you how to take a shot of Irish whiskey,” Maebh said, walking up to us. She had changed into a darling little green cocktail dress. It looked like the only make-up she’d put on was mascara.
Maebh poured a shot and lifted it up. “Take a breath through your mouth first.”
She tilted her head back and drank it in one smooth go. The damn shot glass was nearly upside-down when she finished.
“You have to tilt your head and the glass back as one. It makes it go down easier. Then you swallow it immediately while keeping your jaw and throat relaxed while you swallow.”
“Why does it sound like we’re getting a blow job lesson?” Waylynn said.
We all laughed, and Maebh’s cheeks flushed. She let a huge smile play across her face before saying, “Anyway, a shot is best enjoyed when taken with others!”
