“I’m going to get another drink while the hordes are distracted. Want anything?” I ask, leaning into Charlie.
“Nah, I’m good! Mark has a bottle of wine waiting for me at home.” She wags her eyebrows.
Charlie started dating Mark shortly after she moved to Wilmington. They met while volunteering at a local children’s home, and it was love at first sight. They moved in together a few months later. I adore Mark; he’s perfect for my quirky best friend. He encourages her free spirit while also keeping her grounded. It’s a match made in Heaven.
I weave my way through the crowds toward the bar. My favorite bartender, Alicia, is pouring drinks tonight. Alicia is a no-nonsense kind of girl who never lets anyone hassle her but is always quick with a laugh. We’ve hung out a time or two away from the bar and always have a great time, but our schedules only seem to line up a couple of times a year. Unless I just happen to catch her behind the bar, like tonight.
“Norah!” Alicia shouts. “What did you think of that circus up there?”
Chuckling, I slide onto the stool in front of her. “The music was lovely. Not so sure about the singing!”
“Understatement of the year!” She laughs, her long black ponytail swinging behind her as she turns to grab a bottle of coconut rum. “What’ll you have, dear?”
I glance at the tap. The flight with Amelia was good, but after hearing that Irish ditty, I need a Guinness in a bad way. And Alicia is an expertpourer. She learned from the best, after all.
“Guinness, if you please!”
“Coming right up!” She grins at me.
“A Guinness girl, I see,” says a smooth voice behind me.
Chapter Two
Norah
I whirl around to see the blond Neanderthal from the soccer team looming behind me.
“Um…yeah,” I say nervously, looking down at the floor. God, please let one of my friends come to the bar. It’s not that I’m terrified of all men, just the entitled ones who don’t take no for an answer. Blondie is giving off those vibes right now.
“Do you really like Guinness, or do you drink it just to attract attention?” he asks, grinning wickedly.
My head whips up, and I gape at him. What the fuck? Did he really just ask me that?
Myra appears suddenly, sidlingup next to me.
“Hi, handsome. Norah here really does like that nasty tar. I’d be the one looking for attention. Now, why don’t you buy me a drink?” She winks at me before looping her arm through his and leading him to the other end of the bar.My hero.I turn back to the bar to find Alicia holding my beer with a worried look on her face.
“You good? Was Mac giving you a hard time?”
“Oh. No, I don’t think so. Just looking for some action.” I roll my eyes.
“Well, don’t let him scare ya. He acts intimidating but is all talk. He likes to think that because his name is Mac Flanagan it makes him Irish. The jackass is as far from Irish as they come!”
I laugh and sip the foam off the top of my drink.
“Now, Eamon, Rowan, and Teagan are another story. They truly are Irish.” Alicia looks pointedly over my shoulder. I turn my head to peek, not so subtly. Coming up behind me are the three that played so beautifully on stage. And tall, dark, and handsome is even better up close.Holy shit.I might be drooling.
“Alright, Alicia?” asks the ginger-haired one in a lilting voice.
“Yeah, Ro. You? Good job up there tonight,” she replies, cheeks turning pink. Can’t say that I blame her.
“Thanks.” He winks. “How about a pint of the black stuff, love?”
“You got it!” she replies quickly, whirling to the tap.
“Dammit, Ro! You did it again!” The shorter, brown-haired one curses. “You always make her so flustered that she forgets to ask Eamon and me what we want. It’s absolute bollocks!”
My eyes immediately dart to the dark-haired guy.Eamon.I take a drink of my Guinness, trying to study him covertly. He’s standing with his sinewy forearms resting on the bar, fingers intertwined and lips tipped up in a smirk as he listens to his two friends bicker back and forth. He’s breathtaking. Taller than Teagan, but not quite as tall as Ro. Broad, muscular shoulders connect to biceps that look like they’re about to bust out of the sleeves of his black t-shirt. The fabric stretches across the expanse of what I can only imagine is a sculpted chest and tapered waist. I’m taking a huge gulp of Guinness when his gaze lands on me. His brilliant blue eyes instantly lockwith mine, and I stop breathing—then immediately start choking on my beer.Fuck. Nothing is worse than being caught ogling and then making a spectacle of yourself. All three men are now staring at me with wide eyes. Ro chuckles while Teagan continues to look at me with concern. To my absolute horror, Eamon reaches over and starts thumping me on the back like I’m a child.
