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Brilliant, hadn’t he said? He would be able to share books with her. Bandy around ideas. The Universe knew what he needed, and for that he gave a moment of thanks before saying, “We Irish love satire. Especially with animals. Ask any farmer who runs the roost. When you watch a sheep farmer give one a merry chase, you’ll see why.”
“Speaking of sheep… You guys might have the best ones around. I can’t wait to see the now internationally famous Kindness Sheep by Keegan O’Malley. Who would have thought to spray positive words on sheep?” She slung an oversized leather purse higher over her shoulder. “The world needs that kind of positivity. Now more than ever.”
“On that we agree.” He reached his hand out again, wanting to strengthen their connection. “Come on. Let me buy you that drink.”
She eyed his hand before taking it, the electricity between them making her jerk at first in surprise. He felt it too, of course. Their chemistry was off the charts, as it should be.
This time he didn’t let it go. They walked into the pub like that, hand in hand. The regulars he knew looked up and shouted out a greeting, which he returned. But wanting to chat with Taylor, he led her quickly to a booth in the corner.
“You didn’t take me to the Brazen Donkey,” she commented as she glanced around at the nicked mahogany bar and tables, the red-backed chairs, and the kitschy Irish beer and whiskey signs on the walls. “Not that I mind. I mean, all over the world Irish bars tend to look and feel the same. It’s a comfort somehow. There’s one in Manhattan I’m especially fond of. Best car bombs ever.”
Being the son of two former bartenders, he knew the bubbling drink that came of a shot glass of whiskey being dropped into a pint of beer. “Best not order that in Ireland though, as it brings up bad memories of the past.”
Her brown eyes widened. “Right. Sorry. Shit. Whiskey neat shouldn’t get me into trouble.”
“Not at all.” He stood. “I’ll grab our drinks, but first I need your thoughts on something.”
Unease filtered into her eyes. “Yes?”
“I’m going to need to text my mom and Linc about what happened on the road. Especially with the live streaming.”
“Yeah, someone might have seen that. Sophie follows me.”
Liam did too, but he remained silent on that matter. Later he would watch the full exchange.
“Go on and text them, but could I ask a favor?” She winced. “First, I should say that I should have listened to Sorcha when she told me not to be stubborn about driving up on my own. I did it because… Oh, shit, I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but all the cats seem to be out of the bag now. Can you please tell your mother not to treat me all weird if she happens to think I’m your soulmate?”
He bit the inside of his cheek. “She knows, but she hasn’t said anything to me outright. Yet. But I’ll talk to her and give her the business if I need to. We all want you to be comfortable. Me most of all.”
She blew out a breath and gave him a wry smile. “Thank you. It’s weird, talking about this. But it would feel even weirder not to talk about it.”
He laughed softly. “I agree, and I’m glad it’s on the table. Besides, I know Sorcha—who she was and who she is now. She’s strong-minded, but her heart is in the right place.”
“Is it true she helped bring Sophie and Jamie together?” She covered her eyes for a moment like she was hiding. “After Sorcha appeared in my studio apartment in Manhattan and said she was there on Sophie’s advice, the first thing I did—after freaking out—was call Sophie and ask about it. She seems to believe Sorcha has special powers in matchmaking.”
Clearing his throat, he sat back down. “I’d say it’s more a mission. She wanted to thank us all for helping Carrick, her husband, after she died. It was a hard time—for all of us. He was the one who started putting words on his sheep, actually. In the beginning, the words were from her poems. It was his way of keeping her around him. Keegan took over when Carrick finally let her go and found love again.”
“That’s an incredible story.” She touched his arm briefly. “I can’t imagine, losing someone so young and vibrant. I’ve read her poetry—not that I plan to tell her—and it shows a big, bold heart in beautiful prose. But you’re right. She’s downright pushy about you and me. I have to ask: do you really believe we’re soulmates?”
He met her gaze straight on. “I have my own gifts. I knew before Sorcha said anything. In fact, today was the first time she’d appeared to me about you, although I had a feeling something was off before she showed up.”
Her brows shot straight to her hairline. “What did she tell you?”
“That you were in trouble and to jump on my bike straightaway.” He imagined he would still have some bad moments, thinking about Sorcha’s urgent call. He’d been angry, yes, but it was the fear that would haunt him.
“I’m glad you came. Now, I really need that drink.”
“Coming right up.”
He walked to the end of the bar away from the regulars and ordered, pulling out his phone to text his mother and Linc. He phrased the message carefully.
I’m with Taylor after a surprise visit from Sorcha. Malcolm stopped her on the road thirty minutes out of Caisleán. She handled it with aplomb. You can watch it on her Facebook page. PLEASE let her settle tonight. Plenty of time to discuss it tomorrow. Now I’m getting us a drink and turning my phone off. I’ve got her, okay?
Their drinks arrived as he stowed his phone. He could all but hear his mother’s shriek as she read the message. News would travel fast. Linc had known Malcolm was readying his next attack. No one had imagined it would be this bold. He shut the thought down. Worrying wouldn’t do any good, and he wanted his first moments with Taylor to be special.
“Your drink,” he said, placing it in front of her with a flourish as he took in her casual beauty of no makeup, a loose green sweater, and jeans. “Sláinte.”
“Cheers,” she said before taking a sip. “Downing it seems irresponsible, especially with the drive.”
