Norah
Two hours later, Eamon, Ro, and Teagan have been persuaded to perform a few pub songs, much to everyone’s delight. Except for Mac’s. He complained for a few minutes but didn’t seem too upset as he let Myra slide her hand up his chest and whisper in his ear. The Irishmen were barely into the second song when the two of them snuck out the side door. I roll my eyes and nurse my third glass of wine while watching Eamon on stage.
The longer I watch him, the more turned on I get.God, he’s sexy.The muscles in his forearms flex as he strums the guitar, and his low, clear voice sends a shiver down my spine and heat straight to my core. I wonder what it would be like to kiss that mouth and rake my fingers through his dark hair. Or to run my hands up his chest and wrap my armsaround his neck. Taking another sip of wine, I let my eyes roam over his muscular body. When I glance back to his face, I find his eyes watching me ogle him. I’m embarrassed for about half a second until I realize the heated gaze he’s returning. Suddenly flushed and dying of thirst, I slip from the booth as the last song finishes and make my way to the bar for a glass of water and to say hello to Paddy and Alicia. It’s finally calmed down enough for them to take a breather. They’ve been running all night.
“Norah, lass! It’s about time you came to say hello. I was beginning to think you were too good for us poor bar folk!” Paddy chuckles.
“Never!” I exclaim, sliding onto a bar stool. “It’s a packed house tonight. How are you holding up?”
“Aye, right as rain. Isn’t that so, Alicia?” the pub owner yells over his shoulder.
Alicia is wiping down the bottles behind the bar and filling the condiment containers. “Sure thing, Pat,” she grumbles, rolling her eyes. “I must have been the only one busting my ass.”
Laughing loudly, Paddy turns back to me. “So I noticed you sticking close to Eamon tonight. Is there something I should know about?”
Alicia mutters something under her breath that sounds an awful lot like, “As if you didn’t plan it.”
I tuck my hair behind an ear and start to tell Paddy that we’re just friends, but decide to just be honest. This is definitely more than friendship, even if we haven’t put a label on it yet. “Well, we have been seeing each other outside of dish duty, so…”
Paddy’s grin stretches from ear to ear. “Ach, nothing would make me happier than to see the two of you become an item! You’d be good for the lad. Help him get over his broken…”
“I think we can stop right there. Thanks, Pat,” Eamon says cooly, stepping behind me and placing a hand on my waist.
“Right. Sorry, lad. Not my place. Anyway, can I get you two another drink?” Paddy asks quickly.
Pat’s round cheeks are stained with color and there’s clear remorse in his eyes. It’s obvious he was about to share somethingEamon didn’t want shared and my heart sinks a little at the thought of him keeping secrets, but then I chastise myself. Everyone is entitled to their secrets and isn’t obligated to share anything they’re not comfortable with. I just lashed out at Myra for the same thing. When, and if, he’s ready to tell me, he will.
In the meantime, I’m hyper-aware of his hand on my waist, touch searing through my sweater. I’m tempted to lean back and snuggle into his chest.
“No, I think we’re good. I’ll just pay my tab, and we’ll be off. Is that okay with you, lass?” Eamon asks, his fingers flexing against me.
Nodding, I turn my head to look up at him. His jaw is clenched, and his eyes are ablaze with an emotion I can’t place. Wanting to ease some of the tension, I angle my body towards him and place a hand on his broad chest. Watching him is one thing, but touching him is a different experience altogether. The hard muscle beneath his shirt tenses at my touch, but when he glances down at me, his eyes soften and he pulls me closer to him. I don’t resist.
Eamon hands some cash to Paddy. “No change, Pat. Thanks.”
“Aye. We good, son?” Paddy asks hesitantly, brow furrowed.
Reaching across the bar, he grips Pat’s shoulder. “‘Course we are. Nothing could change that.”
Pat clears his throat and harrumphs before waving a hand at us to go on. I say my goodbyes as Eamon turns us towards the door, his arm still around my waist. Once we’re outside, I turn to face him.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “I don’t want to poke my nose where it doesn’t belong, but someone would have to be deaf and blind to miss that exchange with Pat.”
Eamon scrubs his free hand over his face, then runs it down my right arm until he reaches my hand. Intertwining our fingers, his expression changes from uncertainty to determination in a blink.
“There’s a reason I left Ireland other than for university,” he says slowly. “Can we walk while I tell you?”
“Eamon, you don’t have to tell me anything you’re not comfortable with. I just want to make sure thatyouare okay,” I tell him earnestly. As curious as I am, I don’t want him to say or do anything he’ll regret later.
He lets go of my hand and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re a rare gem, Norah Grady. I find myself wanting to tell you everything about me, even the parts I’ve locked away for the last few years.”
“Thank you,” I say. “I’m honored you feel that way.”
“Come on. I’ll tell you on the way to your house.”
We set off walking. The air has a slight chill to it, enough to signal that fall is well on its way, but I don’t feel cold at all with Eamon’s hand gripping mine.
“I left Ireland with no intention of ever going back. I was engaged. To Rhiannan,” he pauses, glancing sideways at me.
