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“Intense, yeah. Both of them are.”
A customer waves Ollie over, and Nina turns to Jack again. “Don’t think I forgot what we were talking about.”
“What were we talking about?” he says.
“About why your pretty new friend is staying atmyplace and not yours.”
He narrows his eyes. “Because my flat has one bedroom.”
Nina lowers her voice but not enough that I don’t hear what she says. “But it is a ratherlargebed, isn’t it?”
“Nina.”Jack flicks his gaze my way, but I busy myself with my pint glass and pretend I haven’t heard.
Perhaps this is a mistake. I would rather stay up all night than be an unwanted guest. “I’m sure I can find somewhere else to stay.”
“Oh, you’re more than welcome to use my guest room,” Nina says.
“Uh... great. Thanks.”
“I love playing hostess. I’m just confused.”
Me too, I think.
“Raine here is going to be our new entertainment coordinator,” Jack says.
“Ah.” Nina turns to look at me. “Is that right?”
“I’m considering it,” I say.
“Well, that makes much more sense. Jack has never been one to mix business with pleasure. He’s surprisingly upright for someone who is always causing mischief. And you two clearly have something going on, so this must be an issue of morality, not desire.”
Jack splutters on his beer.
“Neen,” Ollie, who has returned for the tail end of this mortifying conversation, says.
Nina gives him an exasperated look. “What? I’m just trying to get to the bottom of things. He’s asking us to host a pretty woman we don’t know in our home, when he would obviously rather have her in his, and I would like to knowwhy.I don’t see the issue here.”
I try not to laugh, but a giggle escapes me. These people, all of them, Jack included, are ridiculous, and... it’s a little embarrassing, yes, but fun too. Jack doesn’t look like he’s having fun, though. He looks like he wishes he had a time machine so he could keep his past self from calling Nina.
“Neen,” Ollie says.
She sighs. “Oh, all right.” She turns to me. “Forget I said anything.”
“I don’t see how that’s possible, but I’ll try.”
Nina smiles, and I feel as if I’ve passed a test I didn’t know I was taking. “Jack says you’ve had quite the day.” She props her chin in her hand and leans closer. “Tell me everything.”
By the time the pub closes, I decide I like Nina, despite the incredibly awkward start. The woman has a million stories to tell. She was a professional gymnast until an injury ended her career, which was when she started working as a superyacht stewardess and metOllie. They moved to Ireland when Ollie and Jack inherited the pub, and she’s been running her own party planning business ever since.
“Ready to head out?” Nina says after the last customer leaves. “The babysitter is probably bored out of her mind. The girls went to bed hours ago.”
“I’ll walk you two home,” Jack says.
“Sure, yeah, I wouldn’t like any help closing or anything,” Ollie says.
Jack grins at him. “I’d help, but it doesn’t sound very fun. And youdidtell me to go have fun, Ollie Wollie.”
Ollie mutters curses under his breath, and I try not to laugh as I slip on my coat. Instinctively, I reach for my guitar and travel case, only to remember how I’ve gotten myself into this mess. Jack must see something in my expression because he says, “Nina will make sure you’re all right. It’s not the same as having your own stuff, I know. But maybe it’ll turn up in a day or two. Another reason to stay in Cobh a little longer.”
