by Moni Boyce
Conor pushed the thought away. He wouldn’t focus on that right now. It was only her second day here. If they only had a month, he wanted to make their time together the best it could be. He pasted on a smile and turned around. “I was thinking about doing a lock-in tonight.”
“Yay.” Siobhan cheered and jumped up and down.
Fergus, Desmond and Niall clinked their beers together. Desmond got a suspicious look on his face. “Does that mean we get to drink for free or are you expecting us to fork over money before the end of the night?”
Silently, they peered at Conor, and waited for him to respond. He pretended to be deep in thought. Rubbing his chin, he squinted his eyes and pursed his lips together. After a few seconds he broke into a grin.
“Everything will be on the house.”
The cheering from Siobhan and the Wise Men was even louder than it was before.
Jordan folded her arms and leaned onto the bar. “It sounds fun, but what exactly is a lock-in? I think I know but want to be sure.”
Siobhan beat him to the explanation. “Come closing hour, Conor will kick all the customers out. Only friends, family and certain invited guests will get to stay behind once we lock the door. If a pub owner was being a stingy bastard, they would expect people to pay for their beer during that time, and take the money beforehand, since you can’t sell liquor after closing. If you’re like our friend here,” She jerked her thumb in Conor’s direction, “then you’re a kind bastard that invites his friends to partake in a lock-in and lets them drink for free.”
“Aye. Conor’s a good lad.” Fergus toasted him.
Jordan took it all in. “Sounds like fun.”
“It’s going to be good craic.” Siobhan said and walked off to help a customer.
Conor walked over and stood in front of Jordan. She peered up at him, wearing an amused expression. “I feel like I need a translator to understand.”
“You’ll learn soon enough.” He reached out and caressed her cheek.
Jordan said she didn’t mind being at the pub all day, but he wanted to be sure. “You really don’t mind spending all day here?”
She shook her head. “I get to spend the day with you.”
That response made him want to kiss her, but after the way she reacted during breakfast, he wasn’t sure how she would feel about being kissed in front of everyone. He’d have to make her comfortable, because he planned to kiss her everywhere and as often as he liked.
“Plus, I may be able to entice these gentlemen to tell me stories about you.” She addressed the Wise Men.
“You’ll have to buy us a round, lass, if you want the goods on that one.” Niall spoke up.
Jordan chuckled and narrowed her eyes at them. “I know when I’m being fleeced.”
The old men chuckled at her cheek.
“You drive a hard bargain, but it’s worth it.” She grinned at Niall, before turning to Conor. “A round for my friends.”
“This one’s a keeper.” Fergus winked at him.
No one had to tell him twice that Jordan was a diamond in the rough. As he filled the glasses with beer for the old geezers, he couldn’t stop looking at her. He was impressed by how well she fit in. She was so comfortable talking and joking with the men.
Her brown eyes were so expressive, especially when she was amused. He could spend all day looking at her.
Once he finished serving up the round, he decided there was no way he could wait to kiss her.
“Jordan.”
She looked up at him.
Conor leaned across the bar and kissed her. Nothing like the make-out fest they’d gotten into at breakfast, but he planted a nice one, right on her lips, lingering for the briefest moment. When he pulled away, her eyes were still closed. It was adorable. He tucked the image away into his memory bank.
Her eyes fluttered open and she gave him the sweetest smile.
Every time she looked at him like that, he wanted to kiss her, but he refrained. If he was having a lock-in tonight, he needed to call the nurse. “I’m going to step in back and phone my Da’s nurse, arrange for her to stay longer.”
“Okay.” She still had a dreamy look in her eyes.
* * *
“Stop doting on the lass and let us talk to her.” Fergus pouted.
“Feck off, old man.” Conor said good-naturedly and threw a dishtowel in Fergus’s direction.
Jordan leaned her head on her palm and smirked. “Go on. These guys will keep me company until you get back.”
Jordan licked her finger. “Mmmm.”
His dick hardened at the sight of her tongue. She had just finished the Irish stew and soda bread he’d had the kitchen make for her.
“That was delicious. I can’t decide which I enjoyed more that stew or the boxty I had earlier.”
Conor liked that she had a big appetite. He cleared her dishes out of the way. They still had another twenty minutes before he could kick out the customers that weren’t invited to stay for the lock-in.
He was about to ask her if she’d had enough when Cash came bounding in the door. His brother headed towards some customers seated towards the back.
Conor called out to him. “Cash.”
When the first shout didn’t reach his brother, Conor cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed above the noise. “Cash.”
This time his brother turned in his direction. Cashel pivoted and made his way back to the bar.
“Howaya?” Cash said upon his approach.
“I wasn’t expecting you. What are you doing here?”
“Just meeting up with some friends.” Cash was turning to point at his rowdy group of friends when he caught sight of Jordan seated on the barstool.
“And who are you? You’re quite the stunner.” Cash leered at her. “I’d like to ride you.”
Conor’s face went crimson, and his hand clenched into a tight fist. If Cash wasn’t his brother, he probably would have jumped the bar and beat him bloody.
* * *
“Excuse my brother, he was raised in a barn. Our mam would turn over in her grave hearing you talk to a woman like that.” He rolled his eyes while he scolded his brother.
Jordan seemed more amused than offended by his brother’s antics. “He’s harmless.”
When Cash heard her accent, he fake swooned. “Och. An American.”
“Aye. Guess you’re not so thick after all.” Conor delivered the words with dry humor.
Cash flipped him the bird.
“This is my friend, Jordan. Jordan, this is my brother. He’s a tool.”
“You must be the American Conor couldn’t shut up about when he first got back here.”
Jordan raised her eyebrow in Conor’s direction with a toothy grin on her face. “Couldn’t stop talking about me?”
Cash was not going to embarrass him right now. “Bog off.” Conor yelled at his brother.
Before leaving, Cash picked up Jordan’s hand, kissed it, and then in a posh voice said, “Another time, my sweet.” He threw her a quick wink and left to go join his friends.
Ten minutes later, Conor was pushing everyone out the door. “Time to go home.”
The minute the doors were locked, everyone gathered around the bar. Besides the Wise Men and Siobhan, some of the other people that got to remain for the lock-in included the workers from the kitchen and several regulars. Of course, Conor knew they were trying to figure out if he would break out any of the good stuff, the top shelf liquor that almost no one bought.
Desmond looked over at Jordan, who was nursing a cordial. “I haven’t seen you have one drink that would get you anywhere near hammered since you been here.”
“Get the lass a pint of Gat.” Fergus called out.
“She should have something less strong.” Conor suggested with a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“What?” Mock outrage was written on Jordan’s face when she leaned forward to address him.
He peered at her, enjoying the sass she was giving him. “You should crawl
before you walk.”
“Are you saying that you don’t think I can handle it?” Jordan put her hand on her hip and pretended to put on a haughty tone.
“Aye. That’s exactly what I’m saying.” He smirked at her. Offering a challenge. Everyone crowded around them, enjoying the banter.
“Bring it on. I’m going to prove you wrong.” She wasn’t backing down from his challenge.
Their audience peered at them, their gazes volleying between them.
“What do I get if I win?” Conor asked, certain he would be the victor.
“What do you want?”
He studied her for a moment. “You’ll find out when I win.”
“C’mon, stop messin’ about and give her the black stuff. I bet she can handle it.” Fergus nodded in Jordan’s direction, cheering her on.
Conor wore a bemused expression while he filled the glass to the brim with Guinness.
“Have you ever had Guinness before lass?” Niall asked Jordan.
“No.”
The old man threw his head back and laughed. “I’m with Conor on this one. My money’s on the lad.”
Jordan’s confidence and bravado wavered the tiniest bit at Niall’s remark, but she accepted the glass that Conor pushed in front of her. She picked up the pint with one hand. For a second, it looked like she was going to spill it all over herself. She peered at the white layer of foam that covered the top and then looked at Conor. “What do I get if I win?”
Without missing a beat, he responded. “Whatever you want.” In that moment, he was so confident she wouldn’t finish, that he would have bet a million dollars that he didn’t have.
“Okay lass, it’s now or never. Bottoms up.” One of the regulars called out.
Jordan eyed the glass once more and then started drinking. She shut her eyes. The minute it hit her throat; he knew. The revulsion was evident in her body. Her face contorted and her free hand gripped the bar like every swallow was painful. She pulled the glass away and fought the urge to gag or choke. He wasn’t sure. A few people snickered.
She peered over the glass and caught his eye. He had tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t help himself. Jordan narrowed her gaze at him. He knew her pride was getting the best of her when she dove back in and downed more of the stout.
“Come on, lass.” Fergus rooted for her, offering encouragement. He had to know it was futile at this point.
A few more gulps and she sat the glass down on the bar. The poor thing had maybe drunk a third of the pint. She eyed the glass warily. He could see it in her eyes. Defeat was inevitable. He wouldn’t gloat. He’d wait for her to graciously concede. Some of the dark beverage stained her cheek where it had escaped outside the edges of the glass when she drank. It also stained her jumper in various places.
Jordan looked at him and shook her head.
Some of the crowd that had been rooting for her threw up their hands.
“You owe me five euro, Fergus.” Niall crowed.
“I’ll take her to the jacks and help her get cleaned up.” Siobhan led Jordan away.
While he waited for her to return, Conor poured some whiskey for a few and poured pints for others, free, on the house, as promised.
About five minutes later, he saw Siobhan return and get pulled into a conversation, but he didn’t see Jordan. He lifted the bar flap and went in search of her. He found her in the hallway leading to the bathrooms, looking at the old pictures that hung on the wall. “Licking your wounds?”
She gave him a smirk and then pointed to a photograph. “Is this your mom?”
Conor walked over and stood beside her. The image that had caught her attention was of him, his parents and brother on holiday in Spain when he was a teenager. It was taken a year before his mother died.
“Aye.”
“She was really pretty.”
He nodded.
“Do you miss her?”
“Loads… she would have liked you.” He glanced briefly at her profile before looking back at the photo.
“I’m sure I would have liked her too.”
They stood in a comfortable silence, staring at the picture, before he started pointing out some of the other photographs surrounding it, and telling her about them. Some of the photos were of ancestors from World War I. Other pictures were of his father with various celebrities that had visited the bar. Many were family photos, taken at the pub or on holiday.
After about an hour of regaling her with those stories, they found a secluded booth towards the back, away from everyone and sat down. They sat close together.
“When I first met you, you were working at some type of nonprofit. What are you doing now?” It was the first time he was getting to ask her anything about herself.
The pride and excitement that shone on her face and the way she sat up straighter as she spoke about the non-profit she’d founded a few months ago, made him feel immensely proud of her. She was a fierce, strong and selfless woman and it made his heart swell that with all she’d done with her life, she wanted him.
“You’re amazing. You know that?”
“Thank you.” She said with a gracious humbleness.
It made him like her even more, that she was confident without being arrogant when being complimented on her success.
He wanted to know everything about her, so he kept the questions going. “You’ve met my brother. What about you? I seem to recall you had siblings, right? Sisters?”
“Good memory.” Jordan held up two fingers. “Two sisters. I’m the middle sister. I’m the Jan Brady.” She giggled.
“Jan Brady?”
“Did you guys get the Brady Bunch over here? It was this old seventies TV show.” She started singing the lyrics of the theme song, hoping to jog his memory. He put his hand to his mouth to stifle the laughter. Her singing was funny and atrocious. When she noticed him trying to suppress his amusement, the singing trailed off.
“Don’t stop. I don’t think I heard enough to remember. Sing that again.” He teased her unmercifully.
She laughed and looked away embarrassed. “Nope.” She snorted and chuckled some more. “That is the extent of my singing.”
“C’mon. I don’t think I heard it all.” He continued to poke fun at her.
She gave a full out belly laugh. “Stop making fun of me.”
Conor tried to pull her close, but she resisted him, still embarrassed. “Stop.” He bit his lip to keep from laughing. This time she let him pull her close and tuck her into his side. He planted a kiss on the top of her hair, which smelled of coconut and something fruity.
“I thought your singing was adorable.” He chuckled, and she playfully slapped his arm.
“You’re being nice. I sounded horrible.”
“Aye.”
That earned him a couple of punches to the arm, but they both burst into laughter. This was nice. He liked this.
“We can’t all sing like you.”
“You remember that?”
“Remember you singing Christmas carols like you were Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole, uh yeah. How could I forget that? We were all stunned. Kaye, Harrison and I all stopped singing.”
“Kaye and Harrison? How are they?”
“Married.”
“Really?”
“Yeah…” She grew quiet.
He couldn’t see her face, so he didn’t know what she was thinking.
“What about you? Have you ever been married? He was curious about her answer.
“No.”
“Come close?”
“Kinda. I didn’t let him ask the question… You?” Her question had a slight tinge of nervousness.
“Haven’t been. Haven’t come close.”
“Do you ever want to be?” She didn’t look at him when she asked.
He looked down at the top of her head. “Aye. With the right woman.”
“Do you want to be a wife?” He held his breath.
“For the right guy.”
The hint of a smi
le tugged at the corner of his lip. He kissed the side of her head and held her a little tighter. The thought of her with any other man, but him was not something he was willing to entertain.
Usually he would have been afraid of the intense feelings he was having so quickly, but he remembered it was like this between them when they first met; instant attraction, an instant connection, like they’d known each other their whole lives. He loved that they could laugh and joke.
“Can I ask you something?” There was something in her voice that concerned him.
“Aye.”
Jordan took a deep breath. “When we met back then we never discussed it, but… does me being black… did that ever concern you? I mean… were you worried what someone would think if you were with me?”
“Should I have been? Do you have a third eye or something? Maybe a third nipple?” Conor attempted to reach for her shirt while he chuckled.
She batted his hand away. “C’mon, I’m serious.” Jordan sat up and looked at him.
He stared into her eyes and reached up and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Yes, I knew their were differences in our skin color, but when I looked at you, all I saw was a beautiful, intelligent woman, that I liked and wanted to get to know better.”
Pausing for a moment, he collected his thoughts. Conor understood why she would be concerned. “My short time in America, I did become familiar with the race relations there. I know couples like us can sometimes be met with hostility… I’m not saying that the UK is without its issues on that front, but what I can tell you is I do not care what any wanker has to say about the two of us being together. They can kindly come and tell me to my face and I’ll knock them on their arse.”
Conor caressed her cheek on his next words, as his voice grew gruff. “Know this… I’m not afraid or ashamed to be with you. I’m proud to have you on my arm. I will stand up for you, for us… always.”
Jordan wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. They sat like that for a while, content to enjoy the silence.
Sometime later, he looked at his watch, and saw the hour. “I think I should get you back to the hotel.”
Jordan didn’t protest. He helped her out of the booth, and they walked towards the door.