Sean thought about it for a minute, trying to figure out how best to phrase things. He’d not had the best, most stable upbringing. “Well, let’s see,” he started. “I was raised by me mum who was an actress and worked mostly at the Gate Theatre. We lived in a tiny little flat that was situated above a pub in the Temple Bar district. She always wanted to move us to New York and act on Broadway, but died of breast cancer before I turned eighteen.”
Her brown eyes brimmed with sympathy. “I’m so sorry. That’s tough. What about your dad?”
That had him scoffing. “What da?”
“You didn’t have a father growing up?” Sean appreciated the lack of judgment in her voice. He’d dealt with enough pity to last a lifetime on that score.
Sean shook his head and watched another foal nudge its mother with its nose to nurse while she grazed peacefully on the tall green grass. “I didn’t, no.” A laugh caught in his chest and he let it loose. “Funny story, actually. I didn’t know who the man even was until he died a few years back. Somebody tried contacting me mum to tell her, but with her being dead already, the information eventually found its way to me. It was the first time I learned his name.”
Her expression was horrified. “That’s not funny, that’s awful.”
Tomato, tomahto. He shrugged, his tone light. “It took a while, but I’m over it now. I’ve learned that it never does any good to stay angry. And that’s not the funny part. When I heard about him, I left here and went to Philadelphia, to his home. And when I was there, I met a man who turned out to be my half-brother.”
“You’re kidding me!” Her mouth dropped open in the cutest way. Made him want to kiss it shut.
“Totally serious. You might have heard of him actually. His name is Peter Kowalskin.”
This time, her foot slipped off the bottom fence rung and she gaped at him. “You mean the famous baseball player? The one that played for the Denver Rush before retiring?”
Sean gave her a wink. The look of shock on her face was adorable. “That’s the one. His mum was Irish too, apparently. As Peter told it to me over a pint of Gat, she left our da when Peter was just a babe and moved back to Ireland. Our da came looking for her and that’s when he met me mum instead. They had a poke together before he went back to Philadelphia. The guy never knew about me.”
Shannon placed a hand on his chest and the heat of it melted into him. “That’s about the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.” Her eyes were big and wet with unshed tears.
“Don’t go soft on me, Shannon,” he replied with warning. He wouldn’t be able to handle it if she did. Seeing her cry would undo him. “I’ve not had the best upbringing, but I survived and have a good life now. In the end, that’s all that matters.”
She dropped her hand, much to his disappointment, and resumed her spot on the fence watching the frolicking foals. “I hear you. It’s not where you come from, but where you go and what you build that matters.” She looked over her shoulder at the barns and then back to him. “You’ve built something to be proud of, Sean.”
He really had. He had built this really great life—and now there was this amazing woman before him. If he were a normal man, this would be a no-brainer. But that was the bitch of it. Normal men weren’t living on borrowed time like he was. Bracing his foot on the bottom rung again, he couldn’t help but wonder how long it was all going to last.
Suddenly she leaned into him and gave him a good nudge with her shoulder. When he looked down, she was staring straight ahead. “I have to confess something,” she said.
“What’s that?” Christ, even the way she scrunched her freckled nose was cute too.
She sighed, long and slow—like what she was about to say pained her. “I shouldn’t, but I really like you, Sean.”
It hit him. Right between the rib cage. It felt like being sucker punched in the kidney—only a hell of a lot more winding.
Taking a steadying breath of his own, Sean nudged her back and replied, “I really like you too, Shannon.”
If only.
“Come to the pub with me tonight,” he said, the invitation popping out before he could stop and think. Holding his breath, he waited anxiously for her response. Because now that he had said it, he wanted her to say yes.
Like she knew the wait was killing him inside, she took her sweet time answering. “As friends?”
“Of course,” he replied automatically.
Finally, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes and smiled gently. “Sure. That sounds nice.”
The air rushed from his lungs and he inhaled deep. In his world, nice didn’t even come close to describing it.
It sounded like heaven.
Chapter Twelve
SHANNON WASN’T CALLING it a date—because it wasn’t a date. Sean might have asked her out for a pint at Two Moons, and she may have said yes—but it still wasn’t a date. There was a whole connotation there that she wasn’t comfortable with.
But she couldn’t deny that it felt kind of good to walk into the brewpub with Sean and have the ladies eye her with envy. Only she was keeping that little secret. What she felt and how she chose to act were very different things. She could think whatever she wanted to about Sean, but she was staying completely hands-off and not doing anything.
Or anyone.
Sean led her to a booth against the far wall with windows that overlooked the huge brick patio. Double glass doors opened onto it, and Shannon could hear the sound of water rushing from the waterfall feature that sat smack in the center of the outdoor entertaining space, surrounded by tall grasses and echinacea. The sun had just set and the tables out there were packed with pubgoers soaking up the gorgeous summer evening and surrounded by lit Tiki torches.
A few dozen more people were milling around inside the open-raftered pub, chatting casually and listening to the jukebox shift through tunes. Tonight, for whatever reason, nineties grunge was the thing. It was too bad Colleen wasn’t there; she’d have been going crazy with all these guys digging on Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Though many of them weren’t actually doing so, she could tell that in their hearts they were all lighting cigarettes, growing their hair long—and her sister’s personal favorite—wearing flannel. Long live Kurt Cobain, man.
“Here, why don’t you take this side?” Sean said to her. “I’ll grab us a few pints and be right back.”
Shannon smiled and sat down. She’d worn her hair loose tonight and tossed it over her shoulder. “Sure thing.” It would give her a few minutes to have a better look around anyway. Still, she shamelessly scoped out his backside as he made his way through the crowd toward the bar where Jake was busy bartending and getting hit on by the ladies. It was easy to see why, now that she had a clear look at him. The guy was gorgeous, in that gruff, masculine kind of way. And when he chose to bring out his smile, it was almost brutalizing in its raw sex appeal.
This guy used to be in a rock band? Yeah, she could see it. He had that quality about him. Huh. Maybe she should go ask him about that Hole in The Wall guy after all. See if he knew anything. Because that man had to be an anomaly.
Or maybe, more importantly, she should find out what he was willing to share about Sean. See if she could turn up anything. Although at this point, she was pretty certain that there was nothing to find. And deep down, she was glad. She wanted to believe in his innocence.
Then a thought occurred to her that she didn’t like. Was she not finding anything because she’d already made up her mind that Sean was innocent? Was she not even really trying?
Before she could ride that train farther down its track, Sean arrived back at their table with a pitcher of beer and two glasses. “I forgot what night it is. You’re in for a treat, Shannon. Jake’s about to gear up the karaoke machine.” The grin he gave her was completely unguarded and full of good humor—and hot enough to make a girl weak in the knees. Wow.
Tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth like an infatuated idiot, Shannon finally pried it back down and managed, “
I’m a terrible singer.”
Sliding into the seat across from her, Sean laughed good-naturedly. “Oh, not for you, lass. We good people of Fortune adore our Saturday night karaoke. It’s everyone’s chance to be an American Idol. And, well, we drunkards in our seats make a very supportive and enthusiastic audience. It’s quite fecking funny.”
She could use some funny. Real funny. Not the type of funny like he’d talked about earlier. That had just been heartbreaking.
Shannon took a sip of her beer and said, “Then by all means, have at it, slugger.”
“Not even a chance,” was all he said, his green eyes dancing.
Before she could respond, she spotted someone. “Hey, Apple’s here.”
The woman under discussion stopped at their table. “Hi, you two.” Then she looked at Shannon. “I’m here to take your advice.”
Shannon felt her eyebrows rise and quickly composed them. “Wow. Well, that’s great. What are you going to do?” The librarian certainly wasn’t dressed for naughty in her modest vintage print dress and eyelet cardigan. And those eyeglasses. She was so retro-hip it was awesome—like those models on Etsy. Although Apple didn’t strike her as the kind of woman who dressed that way to be trendy. It was just how she was. And that’s what made her all the more fabulous. Authenticity.
Something Shannon herself was really struggling with at the moment. For crissakes, she couldn’t even be real with her parents. How was that for maturity?
Shaking off the unsettling thought, Shannon tuned back in just as the blond replied, “First I’m going to have something to eat and a beer. I don’t normally drink,” she said aiming a frown over her shoulder toward Jake, “but I’ve been building up a tolerance lately trying to get that jerk’s attention long enough for an interview.”
Just then a tall, auburn-haired guy with a mischievous grin walked up behind her and said, “So you can hold down, what, an entire beer now?” Obviously they knew each other.
Sean spoke up then, chuckling. “Give the lass a break, Aidan. And meet Shannon, my new stable manager.”
The good-looking guy leaned around Apple and stretched out a hand. “Nice to meet you, Shannon. I’m Aidan.”
She shook his hand. “Likewise. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“It must all be lies then.” He laughed and straightened.
Sean broke into a crooked grin. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
Aidan placed his hands on Apple’s softly rounded shoulders and began to rub gently, his attention on Sean. Were he and Apple dating?
“How long have you two been together?” Shannon asked.
They both stopped dead, looking startled. For a suspended moment they just stared at her in blank shock. And then they started laughing.
Apple shook her head. “We’re not together, honey. We’re family. This big loon is my cousin.”
Really? Man, there was absolutely no family resemblance. Oh wait, no, there it was. If she looked hard enough she could see it around the eyes and mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
Aidan shrugged it off. “No prob.”
Sean was looking between the two, his face registering surprise. “Why have I lived here the past five years now, and I never knew you were related?”
The two cousins looked at each other and then back at Sean, shrugging as if they clearly thought it was obvious. Like, duh. Anyone with a set of eyes in their head should be able to see the resemblance.
Aidan glanced at Sean. “Got room at the table for one more?”
The Irishman sighed and then said, “Sure, mate.”
Was that hesitation? Did he just hesitate? Ooh, was he reluctant to share their booth? The thought that he might be gave her butterflies. She chewed her bottom lip to hide the smile currently forming at the idea that he might want to be alone with her. She’d take that.
Aidan sat down next to Sean, and Shannon found herself directly opposite two incredibly good-looking men. One dark and gorgeous and a little tough. The other rugged and outdoorsy. Jesus. Was there something in the Fortune drinking water that made everyone there look amazing? If so, she was moving there in a heartbeat. She could use some amazing. Maybe then she’d be more than mediocre at everything.
Apple spoke up, excusing herself. “I’m going to grab a seat at the bar.” She placed a hand on Shannon’s shoulder, looking down at her. “We’ll talk later?”
Shannon nodded and smiled, suddenly feeling shy—which was weird. It was just that Apple treated her like a real friend, and they barely knew each other. Was it a small-town thing?
Shannon watched her friend go and couldn’t help but notice the frown that overtook Jake’s face the minute he spotted Apple. Boy, she hadn’t been kidding about his perma-scowl, had she? But that didn’t stop her. Nope, the voluptuous librarian plopped herself on an open bar stool and signaled for a drink.
Go get him, girl.
It was odd that she felt so invested in Apple’s little struggle, but she did. She wanted her new friend to triumph. Maybe in part because she needed to know it was possible to overcome adversity—and maybe in part because the woman was simply a doll and deserved his cooperation.
“How do you like Fortune, Shannon?” Aidan asked.
Reluctantly dragging her gaze from the drama that was about to play out at the bar, Shannon gave him a friendly smile, well aware that Sean’s eyes were on her. She could feel his gaze almost like a physical force. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” she replied, swallowing hard. She hated being under scrutiny. Though to be fair, Aidan’s question wasn’t scrutinizing—it was normal and friendly. It was more that she was beginning to worry that her true objectives for being in Fortune were becoming horribly transparent.
Aidan smiled back, easy and carefree. “It is that. I was born and raised here and can’t imagine making my home anywhere else.” Something fleeting shadowed his gaze, dimming it, but then it cleared again like it had never passed through in the first place. She wondered at it briefly.
A waitress showed up then and they ordered. By the time the food came, the first pitcher of beer had been emptied—mostly by Sean and Aidan. The two were laughing and joking and having a great time. It made Shannon wonder what it would be like to have a friend like that. Someone who wasn’t also her sister and could make her crazy.
For the next hour they were entertained by karaoke singers with varying degrees of talent. Though it seemed like the more they drank, the worse they actually sang, but the louder the audience became. Same with the applause. By the time they’d finished eating, the place was jam-packed full of people clapping so hard and whistling so shrilly that it felt like being at a real live concert. Boy, Sean hadn’t been kidding.
Fortune had spirit.
Not for the first time, Shannon felt a yearning deep down inside her and wondered what it would be like to belong to such a community. To have people genuinely care and want to get to know her. To be accepted and to feel a part of something she could believe in and be proud of.
God, wouldn’t that be something?
For the slightest hint of a second, Shannon let herself imagine living in Fortune. Maybe she’d get a little place in town, date Sean. Oh, and maybe she’d open up her riding school. Horses were amazing, but competitive jumping stank. It had never been what she’d wanted to do with her life. But she could see it now—all of it out at Pine Creek Ranch. Just a small riding school, where she could give group and individual lessons to children of all ages and abilities.
That would be so great.
At that moment, an ear-piercing screech came from the microphone. Shannon cringed, Sean swore, and all of them turned to the small karaoke stage at the back wall. Apple was up there, looking flushed and more than a little glassy-eyed. She tapped the mic again and hiccupped before slurring, “Testing, testing. One, two, three.”
Good gravy, the woman looked wasted.
But if anyone was worried about it, they sure weren’t showing it. Nope. Not even close.
Aidan placed h
is fingers in his mouth and whistled loud enough to break Shannon’s eardrums. “You do it, girl!”
Sean looked at his friend, his eyebrows high in surprise. “You think she’s really going to do it?”
“Do what?” Shannon asked, totally in the dark.
“Apple has a fear of public speaking,” Aidan replied with a wide grin. “But she’s pissed as the wind right now and I think she might actually sing. It’ll be good for her.”
Right.
But somehow she doubted it.
Shannon glanced around the crowded brewpub and stopped on Jake when she saw his expression. He looked anything but happy. In fact, if he scowled any more, his face might be in danger of permanently cramping. And his frown was aimed directly at Apple.
Tapping the mic again as music began to play, Apple swiped a hand under her nose and sniffed loudly, her bun now lopsided and loose, her enormous glasses slipping down her nose. “Here’s to all you people out there tonight who, like me, have been done wrong by some dirty dog.”
Suddenly, sounding downright surly, Jake hollered, “Watch yourself, girl.”
Apple squinted her eyes and pointed a finger at him sloppily. “No, you watch yourself, Jake Stone! I’m a’gonna sing.” And then she flung her arms up in a flamboyant gesture, ramming the mic into the wall behind her and causing a horrible sound.
Sean scratched his chin and sounded impressed. “That lass is totally wrecked.”
Yeah, she was. One shoulder of her cardigan had fallen off, now draped around her elbow, and apparently she’d lost her shoes because she was barefoot. “I couldn’t agree more. Should we do something?”
Aidan shook his head. “Let her have this.”
So she did, even though she was worried. Shannon sat back in her seat as Apple opened her mouth and started singing that old R.E.M. song “Everybody Hurts.” And then she cringed. It was the worst singing she’d ever heard in her life.
Apple was up on stage with her eyes closed, one hand cradling the mic stand to her while she wailed into the microphone with all her might about taking comfort from her friends and holding on. It was so bad it was just, well, painful.
Getting Lucky Page 11