“He and Bridget both.” She looked at her list. “I don’t know how I missed your name on here. Seems as though we’ve given your place away. You ‘ave yourself a scoop, first, and I’ll give ya the next that’s available.”
“Aye. I wanted to see Mick anyhow. Flag me down when it’s ready.”
“Sure thing.”
I guided Josie along as I waded into the crowd. She was smiling, which was a good sign, and turning her head to take it all in. Giant flags hung from the rafters with the coat of arms for all the counties in Ireland, and Celtic instruments dotted the walls, along with a big, fancy renderin’ of their logo.
“Spud!” the old man hollered from the bar. I worked my way to two open stools. “Why it’s been donkey’s years, friend. What’s the craic?” He spotted Josie’s hand in mine. “And who is this lass, with such bad judgment of character?”
“Josephine Compton, meet Mick McGillicutty. Although I’m certain you have a real name.”
He frowned. “Albert. That’s why I go by Mick.” He took Josie’s hand. “Cead mile failte.”
She looked to me. “A hundred thousand welcomes.”
“Oh. That’s pretty. Pleased to meet you Mr. McGillicutty.”
“Oh, come now. We’ll be kissin’ cousins ’fore the night is through. Call me Mick.”
She nodded with a smile. “Mick.”
“Welcome on then. Pull up a stool. I’ll be right back.”
We took a seat, but I swiveled on my bar stool to face her. “So. What’d’ya think? It’s a wee bit difficult to talk. We could—”
She put a hand on my leg. “I love it. I absolutely love it.” She continued to look around. “It’s like one big family. Only a happy one, instead of a dysfunctional one.”
I fell out. “It’s early yet. I wouldn’t go making any verdicts on that count.”
Mick placed shots in front of us and raised his. With a twinkle in his sea blue eyes, he began. “I drink to your health when I’m with you. I drink to your health when you’re gone. I drink to your health so often, I’m beginning to worry about me own.”
Josie’s laugh rang out. “He’s good. I believe he could give you a run for your money.”
“Slainte.” We clinked, and drank.
“What can I get ya now?”
I looked at Jo. “Oh, I’m fine for now.”
I tapped my glass. “More of the same, on ice.”
He nodded and prepared my drink.
“So, Mick. What’s the skinny? How’s Missy? Missy’s his youngest,” I explained to Jo.
He groaned. “Ya ’adn’t heard?”
I shook my head.
He looked at me while pouring, raising his eyebrows. “Take a wild friggin’ guess.”
It took me a second. “No!”
“Oh, yes.”
“No way. She’s in the family way again?”
He nodded. “Got one up the flue.”
I sat with my mouth hanging open. “What? That three now?”
“All without the benefit of marriage. She’s off her nut, she is. You’d think she’d know how it works by now.”
“Aye.” I took a sip of my drink. “But you know…that first fella really messed with her heart.”
“Aye. Jonny-boy. Took ’er ’eart, ’er innocence, and a good chunk of me wallet, when all was said and done. And, oh. Guess what this fella looks like.”
“Tall. Skinny. Black hair.”
He smacked the bar. “Bang on. Fair play, Killian, me lad. You’re a genius.” He wagged his head, refilling his drink. “Wears his baseball hat backwards, too. Name’s even Johny. But with an ‘h.’”
He looked pretty down in the mouth. I thought I’d try to joke him out of it. “But, you know…the ‘h’ makes all the difference.”
He laughed. “Like hell, it does.”
Mick was being none too subtle about eyeing Jo, who wasn’t payin’ us much attention as she listened to the music.
I looked from her to him pointedly. “’ow’s the wife, Mick?”
“Hmm…oh, Bridget. Well,” he prepared my drink, “ya know what they say. Love may be blind, but marriage restoreth your eyesight.”
He was too busy to notice the object of his affections approaching. “But I thought you said a house without a woman is empty and cold.”
“I may have. I may have,” he conceded. “But I also said, if it’s praise you want, die. If criticism, marry.” Bridget smacked his noodle in passing. “Ouch!”
He watched her leave, whispering out of the side of his mouth. “You coulda told me she was acomin’.”
“Ahh. And what would be the fun in that?” I laughed.
“But we’re being a pair of morons. Your young lass here is going to eat your head off if ya don’t pay ’er mind now.” He turned to her. “You watch this one. ‘E’s a bit of a troublemaker.”
She smiled. “Oh, I know.”
I patted her leg. “Hey, now. You’re gangin’ up on me.”
Someone shouted down the bar. “Mick. Another.”
“Grr. Damn customers.” He looked at Josie. “If they weren’t linin’ me pockets, I’d be done with the lot of them.” He winked then peered down the bar. “Ahh. Cool your jets, Charlie. Can’t you see I’m talking to the lass?”
“Aye. But I’ve got a mouth on me.”
Mick leaned in. “You can say that again.” He snickered. “I’ll be back before ya can say Michael Collins.” He powered off.
“Michael Collins,” I yelled after him, but he merely flicked his bar towel in my direction.
I turned my head, and Josie was again takin’ in the place. I scanned the room as well. “Now ya see, this is a pub. Not like the kip I work in.” I sighed. It reminded me of home. My gaze climbed to the rafters. “If I had my own place, it’d be exactly like this.”
“Well, why not have your own place?”
I spun my glass on the bar and didn’t answer right away. “Ahh. In the good words of Sean O’Casey, ‘All the world’s a stage,’ love, ‘and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.’”
“If we all waited until we were ready for something, nothing would ever happen.”
It nettled me. An uncharacteristic silence fell between us.
She put a hand on my arm. “Killian. I’m sorry. I have no right to—”
I twisted to study her face. “Why didn’t you tell Sam and Dani about us?”
She blinked. “Huh?”
“Was it because you’re embarrassed by me? Is that why you’re so insistent on me being a bar owner? To raise my status a bit in your friends’ view?”
She jerked her hand back as if burnt. “Killian, no. I—” Tears were in her eyes. “I thought that was your dream. I thought that’s what you wanted. I was trying to encourage you, but I—I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry. I wouldn’t change one tiny thing about you if I could. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll—”
She left so quickly, I couldn’t find words to stop her.
Savage, Killian. You’re a real gem.
I swirled the ice in my glass, then drained the whiskey as Mick approached again.
He hesitated on his last couple of steps. “Your bird flown?”
“Aye. I was a jackass and she’s off to the jacks.”
We both looked in that direction. Mick leaned in. “Nice jabs on that one. Pretty good ride, eh?”
“Mind yourself,” I growled.
He chuckled. “Oh-ho-ho. Don’t get yeself in a tizzy.” He cleared some glasses left on the bar. “You got the glad eye for ’er?”
I didn’t comment, just tipped me glass and tried to suck the last drops from the ice.
“You’re doting on her!”
“Feck off,” I said good-naturedly.
He sucked in his breath, studying me. “You serious ’bout ’er, Killian?”
I shrugged then debated telling him. “Okay.” I broke down. I had to tell someone. He leaned in. “Truth is, we’re gettin’ on like a house on fire.”
“Reall
y suckin’ diesel, eh?”
“Sure look it.”
We both stared in the direction of the restrooms. “Well, good on you. It’s ’bout time you find someone, Killian. And she seems like a nice gal.”
The door to the ladies’ room opened and Jo came out, looking more composed. Mick immediately straightened and jumped on washing some glasses like he was being chased by a bear. Mind you, he didn’t move or give us our privacy, but he scooched back some.
He nodded at Jo when she got to her stool, drying his glass with a bar towel. “Returned, are ya?” He gestured with his head behind her. “How’d’ya like the place?”
“I love it. It’s fun.” She looked along the bar. “I don’t get out much, so I really appreciate a place like this.”
“Don’t get out much? What do ya do for a livin,’ darlin,’ if I might ask?”
“I’m a grade school principal.”
He raised his eyebrows, still wipin’ away at the one glass and lookin’ to me. “Betcha got to be a real hard-ass to do that job. I admire ya.” He startled and inhaled sharply, turning back to me. “Speakin’ of which, Killian, I heard you got in a clatter the other night.”
I smiled. “Aye.”
He noticed my drink was empty and came to get me another. He looked at Jo. “Ya there?”
Her eyes sparkled with fun. “I was.”
An unexpected wave of tenderness hit me. I ran the back of my hand along her cheek. “I was defending the lady’s honor.”
“Is that so? And what happened?”
I turned back to him, saying, nonchalantly, “I put him out.”
He chuckled. “From what I ’eard, you’re lucky you didn’t get a prunin’ or a kick in the bollocks.”
“Oh, shut your gob.”
Darcy arrived, holding menus.
“Are you two hungry?”
Jo put a hand over her stomach. “Famished.”
They looked at me. “I could ate the twelve apostles.”
“Well, let’s get ya a table, then.”
“Wait.” Mick called. “Miss Josephine.” He took her hands. “It was very nice meetin’ ya. You’re a damned sight prettier than the last gal he brought in. She had a face like a blind cobbler’s thumb.”
“Mick,” I scolded.
He leaned in to Josephine closer and acted like he was whispering. “She was so ugly the tide wouldn’t take her out.”
I wadded my napkin and threw it at him, but I missed.
He laughed, but backed away from Jo. “You couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo.”
I frowned. “Stop filling her with your nonsense.”
But he wasn’t done yet. “Hey, Darc,’ did ya hear Killian got in a scrap?”
She inhaled sharply. “No.”
“’Twas nothing.” I offered Jo my hand to help her off the stool. “’E’s just trying to get me started.”
“Who me?”
Darcy snickered. “No one’s buying yer innocent act, Mick. We know ya too well. Isn’t that right, ’arry?” she said to someone on a neighboring stool.
“Not at all convincing,’” the man responded, folding his arms across his chest.
Mick held up his thumb and pointer fingers. “Not even a smidge?”
The man shook his head. “Not even a smidge.”
We lost the rest of the conversation as Darcy was moving now. She leaned in to me at one point, using the menus as a block. “Got ya a snug so you can get nice and cozy.”
“Thank ye kindly.” I gave ’er a wink.
As soon as she sat us and walked away from the table, I grabbed Jo’s hands. “I’m sorry. I was being a complete ass.”
“No. I overreacted. It’s just been a particularly trying day.”
“Aye. Preceded by a very…active, night,” I teased, wriggling my eyebrows.
The corners of her lips lifted. “And morning.”
“Ya do look bushed though. I was gonna suggest going to the pictures after, but maybe you need to get yourself a good night’s sleep.”
“You know, your accent’s stronger when you’re here.”
I pretended to peruse my menu. “I have no idea what yer talkin’ about. I don’t have any accent.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, right.”
After we’d ordered, she took my hands again. “I want to make sure you know…I would never presume to judge you. My—”
So she was still troubled by it. “I know, Jo. I guess I’m a little…insecure, about it. I mean, me ma was a parlor maid, me da a barman, like myself. Not quite in your class.”
“You’re wrong. My mom works at a dry cleaner, and my dad is a mechanic and part-time farmer. I’m the first person in our family to even attend college, and I had to work two and a half jobs to get there.”
Ya could ’ave knocked me over with a paper airplane. I whistled. “Well, now. I’m impressed.”
She shrugged. “You do what you have to do to make your dreams come true.”
Ginny came and took our order. While Jo was talking to her, I had a moment of insight. It was like the whole noisy, crowded bar slipped away and I was left with her words about gettin’ me own place. She said she shouldn’t have said it, but where the tongue slips, it often speaks the truth.
“Killian?”
Both women were staring at me. “Oh, the shepherd’s pie. Thank ya kindly.” I handed Ginny my menu, and she scurried away.
“Are you okay?”
I tucked my thoughts away for later and gazed at the beautiful woman sitting across from me. “I dunno.” I stretched my arms out, resting me elbows on the back of my seat. “It’s kinda lonely over here on this side of the snug.”
“Is it?” Her eyes shone. She waited for a couple to pass then swung out of her bench and into mine. My arm was waiting and came around her.
“Do you want to make out?”
“With you? Anytime.”
I pinched her chin lightly between my thumb and curled fingers, raising her face. Then I bent in slowly to kiss her. That sweet tango our tongues learned from each other simply took over. Someone passed our table again, and she pulled away. But she laid her head on my shoulder. It felt right.
The band, who had been breaking, took the stage again. Step dancers appeared and waited for the proper beat before starting. Josie sat forward, enraptured by them.
“Would you look at those feet fly.”
“’Ave you never seen Irish dancers before?”
“Not really.” She began to clap to the music.
“I can step dance.”
She spun to face me. “What?” Her face scrunched up as she scrutinized me. “You’re lying.”
I shooed her out of the snug. “Get out of me way then.”
She scoffed at first, then moved. I gauged me space in the aisle, tapped one foot’s toes in front of me, and waited to catch the rhythm.
“Oh, my gosh. You can do it.” She was delighted, and a fair number of people around us were clapping and carrying on. The girls in front smiled at me as they danced. My guess was they hadn’t met too many eejits willing to get up in the middle of a restaurant and dance to impress a girl. The folks at the table to our right moved it away a bit to give me more room. When the tune was over, I bowed elaborately to Josie then lifted me head with a smile.
“Show off!” Mick yelled over the crowd, sending the patrons at the bar into a roar of laughter.
Jo scooted over to make room for me. I took her hand as I slipped in and brought it to my lips to kiss it. I draped her arms around me and pulled her in again, finding her lips.
“Ahem.”
I didn’t stop.
“Ahem. Killian.” I ignored her. “’Allo-o-o! Your food’s arrived.”
Josie laughed and we broke apart.
“Sorry, about that,” she said.
“I’m not.”
Ginny grinned. “Well, I knew that, Killian. You’re a reprobate.”
“And proud of it.”
Josie put a hand on m
y cheek. “As well you should be.”
Ginny tittered. “Oh, you got yourself a live one this time, Killian.”
I gave Jo a kiss on the forehead. “I do, indeed.”
She put our plates in front of us and I rubbed my hands together.
“Thank the heavens. I’m weak as a salmon in a sandpit.”
We enjoyed a nice meal and when Ginny took away our plates, she asked, “Coffee? Irish coffee? Afters?”
I looked at Jo. “Do you want any dessert? Or an Irish coffee? Only Irish coffee provides all the essential food groups—alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.”
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
I handed Ginny my plate. “I guess we’ll take the check then, if ya would.”
“Already paid for.”
“What?” I frowned at Jo.
“It wasn’t me.”
Ginny pointed to an older pair at the bar. “They said they enjoyed your dancing.” She rolled her eyes and turned to leave, but came back. “And that you’re a cute couple.”
“Well, that was awfully nice.” I turned to Jo. “Are ya ready?”
She nodded. We stopped by the bar to thank the couple, who were tourists from Florida.
“Nite, Mick.”
“Nite, Killian. Josephine.”
“We should hurry before we get accosted by someone else.”
We managed to avoid folks and made it out the door.
Once we hit the sidewalk I asked her, “Go to the pictures? Drink? Home?”
She took hold of the sides of my jacket and towed me in. “Take me home, to bed, Killian.”
I grinned at her. “You’re a bold one, Miss Josephine. That’s what I like about you.”
Chapter 23
Jo
It was a lovely evening. I don’t know why I insisted on ruining it. The glow of the laughter, his dancing, and those unbelievable kisses of his dimmed the moment he closed my door to walk around to the driver’s side. Luckily he didn’t notice. He was singing along to his U2 and I threw out enough conversation to cover the sadness that seeped in while I was unaware.
I looked out my window and rapid fire phrases, that I didn’t even know I’d been collecting throughout the evening, shot through my mind.
Mick’s voice seemed to be the ringleader. “You watch this one. ‘E’s a bit of a troublemaker.” I’d joked it off at the time, but it lingered somewhere in the corners of my brain.
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