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“I don’t dare defy the will of the people, Miss Leah O’Connor,” he said.
With a sigh of defeat, I tucked my money back into my purse.
“Thank you, Kieran. You didn’t have to do that,” I said, my voice still a bit prideful.
“I know,” he answered slyly.
He cleared the plate off my table, and I sipped on the wine that I’d barely drunk thus far. I sat back, reveling in the jovial energy of the bar crowd. Before long, I got up from the table and sat down at the bar, where someone bought me a hard cider to drink after I finished up the wine that Kieran had given me. No one would let me pay for anything, which was both sweet and frustrating at the same time.
One of the men introduced himself as Liam Shelby. He didn’t look related to Kieran at all. His hair was dark but flecked with lighter patches of dirty blonde or possibly red. His eyes were hazel. The light from overhead made them seem greener than golden brown, but I was left with the distinct impression that while he was a kind man, he might be a bit of a ruthless one.
He sat next to me at the bar, and I smiled in his direction.
“That’s a good cider. Kieran has it flown in straight from Ireland,” Liam pointed out.
“It’s really good. I’ve never tried this one before,” I confessed. I took a hearty sip and turned toward him. “Do you know Kieran well?”
“We’ve been friends and consultants for a very long time, even back in the good ole days when we lived in Dublin together,” he replied.
“Was that very long ago?”
“Just over ten years now. We’ve all settled down here in Boston after that. We like it here,” he answered. “What about you? What brings you down to Southie?”
“I’m a mom. I needed to find someplace nice to make a living for me and my daughter. I haven’t been here long. Only a few months, but it feels like the right place to be,” I murmured.
Kieran happened to catch my gaze at that moment and the heat that passed between us was palpable. I licked my lips and looked down at the aged wood of the bar. I cleared my throat and took another sip of cider. When I looked back up at Liam, his expression of amusement made it clear that he’d caught exactly what happened.
Thankfully, the whole bar started singing a tune all together. Several of the tables were pushed out of the way to make a dance floor and I watched for a little while until I finished my cider and decided to join in.
I danced and learned the words to various pub songs that I hadn’t heard before and as the hours ticked by, I more than enjoyed myself. There was not a single man that made unwanted advances, nor did anyone grab at my body, not even once.
It was one of the most enjoyable nights I had in a very long time. When I grew tired, I sat back down at the bar where there was one more cider waiting for me. The bar was starting to empty out and I looked around, not really knowing what to do now that the night was almost over.
“Stay there for a little bit while I clean up, then I’ll walk you home.” Kieran cleared his throat. He slid a fresh batch of fries in front of me and I dug in while sipping on the bubbly cider.
I watched him clean for a while, just admiring the way his muscles tensed beneath his white shirt. The cotton cloth hugged his chiseled form and when my gaze dropped even lower to savor the rest of him, he looked over his shoulder and caught me in the act. As quickly as I could manage, I grabbed my drink and took another sip, my face flushing red hot with embarrassment. There was no doubt in my mind he could see every bit of it too.
I nibbled on the tasty sweet potato fries for a bit longer, while also noticing that he’d slid a glass of water in front of me. I swallowed down several big gulps, knowing that I could feel the alcohol I drank just lightly buzzing beneath my skin. It was the good kind of tipsy to feel after a long night of dancing and singing and having a general good time.
I sat back and Kieran smiled warmly in my direction. He finished up tidying the bar tables and took a seat next to me when he was finished.
“Are you ready for me to walk you home or would you like to stay a bit longer so you can finish those?” he asked, pointing to the food and drink sitting in front of me.
I studied him. His expression was a mystery, a mix of warmth and sternness that drew me for the countless time. I licked my lips, wanting to push him a bit further just to see how it turned out. I couldn’t help myself.
“I don’t need you to walk me home. I can make it just fine,” I sassed.
He cocked his head and his eyes twinkled just the slightest bit. He smirked, almost like he knew what I was doing, but I couldn’t be sure. It was too late to backtrack though, and I was emboldened by the wine and cider, so I didn’t back down.
“I would like to walk you home, Leah,” he said again and there was a more obvious firmness to his tone that drew me in even further.
“I can take care of myself, Kieran.” I sat back, lifting my chin as boldly as I dared.
Those icy blue eyes flashed with excitement or danger, and I wasn’t quite sure which. There was a slight sense of nervous self-preservation that blossomed deep in my chest, but I pushed it away. There was no one left inside the bar. It had closed nearly a half hour ago, so it was just me and him now.
I wanted to see what happened next.
Feeling braver still, I turned the seat and hopped out. I grabbed my things and slowly strutted toward the door. Just when I’d almost reached it though, the thin spike of my kitten heel caught the edge of a piece of the aged hardwood floor, and I stumbled.
