“Oh, bugger off. I did no such thing. You must have misheard me. Easy to do when your head’s up your…”
“Paddy O’Nelly, you watch your mouth around my virgin ears,” interrupts Alicia as she waltzes through the employee entrance, a shite-eating grin spread across her face. We love nothing more than to tease Paddy relentlessly.
I snort a laugh as Paddy glares at her. “Virgin ears? Ach, no barkeeper has virgin ears, lass. And I’ve heard that sailor’s mouth of yours, so you’re fooling no one.”
Alicia throws her head back, laughing loudly, while she ties an apron around her waist. “Alright, you caught me. What’s got you in such a fuss today, anyway? Eamon, what did you do to him?”
“What didIdo? Nothing at all. Just walked in here to find Paddy under the dishwasher, calling it every name in the book.” I hold up my hands upin defense.
“He’s conveniently leaving out the part where he snuck up on me and caused me to hit my head on the damned thing,” Paddy grumbles.
“What exactly are you trying to fix anyway?” I ask. I’ve told him time and time again to call me or make a list of what needs to be done, and I’ll take a look at it. Paddy isnota handyman, and more often than not, he just causes more damage.
His round cheeks turn pink, and he clears his throat. “Well now, there was a small leak, and I was just trying to figure out what was causing it. I’m more than capable of handling it on my own.”
Alicia and I glance at each other, both trying to hold in our laughter, but it’s no good. When she puts a tattooed hand over her mouth and starts giggling, I laugh along with her.
“Paddy, don’t you remember the last time you tried to fix a leak in the bathroom? There was water everywhere!” Alicia says, wiping tears from her eyes. “I thought I was going to have to get a canoe to take care of our lovely patrons!”
“It took me days to get that mess cleaned up!” I remind him.
Paddy crosses his arms over his chest and huffs like a small child who isn’t getting their way. “Alright. I’m not paying the two of you to stand around slagging me all day. Go find something useful to do before I replace you!”
“Awe, Paddy. You know we’re just having the craic. Besides, you’d be bored to tears if we were any other way, “ I throw an arm around his shoulders.
Alicia steps over to him, planting a kiss on his cheek before bouncing towards the bar, “You know we love ya, Pat!”
“Aye. Go on. Get to work, girl.” He harrumphs, turning towards the office. “She’s a good lass, isn’t she?”
“Ro certainly thinks so,” I answer. “But yeah, she is. Glad she found her way here.”
“Ach. Rowan Gallagher is nothing but trouble. He’ll break that girl’s heart faster than he can drink a pint.” Paddy shakes his head, groaning as he sinks into the chair behind his desk. “Speaking of breaking hearts, Eamon. I hopeI didn’t cause a rift with you and a certain fire sprite. You know I’d never—”
“I know, Paddy,” I cut him off. “You don’t need to explain. You’re a good man. I wasn’t expecting to have that conversation with Norah so soon, but it ended up being for the best. So, thank you.”
“She’s good for you, son. And you seem to be good for her. I don’t know her full story, but I can tell she’s had a rough go of it.”
“She has, but she’s stronger than I think anyone gives her credit for.”
My chest swells with pride thinking about all Norah has accomplished despite the obstacles she’s faced. Moving away from your home is scary enough when you have your family alive and supporting you, but to be completely alone? That takes a different level of bravery. I know what it’s like to lose a parent, but I still have my Mam, even if we do live an ocean apart. Norah never knew her father and isn’t close to her remaining relatives, so losing her Mom would have been like losing a limb.
“Aye. Not many get to see that side of our Norah. It was four years ago when she came wandering into my pub. I remember it clearly. She marched right up to the bar and requested aproperGuinness.” He chuckles at the memory. “She sat there and talked my ears off. Told me about her trip to the Isle, and how she wanted to live there. Told me she’d go back one day and find her husband…” He pauses to give me a pointed look.
My breath catches in my chest as my mind floods with images of Norah in a white gown—no doubt something she created herself—against a backdrop of the Irish countryside, walking down a path littered with rose petals - straight to me.
“Anyway,” Paddy continues, “she lit up talking about Ireland. Reminded me of my Ellie, God rest her. If we’d ever been blessed with a daughter, I imagine she’d have been like Norah. All sugar and spice. Treat her well, lad and you’ll never lose her.”
We’ve only just met, but I already know that I don’t want to let her go.
Chapter Twenty-One
Norah
I stayed an hour later than normal in my theater class. With the play only weeks away, there’s so much to accomplish. I wouldn’t trade the time with Eamon for anything, but I need to focus, and I absolutely cannot focus when he’s near me.
More than once I’ve caught myself replaying our heated moment in the kitchen. The way his hands left a trail of fire when they slid over me and how he wedged himself between my legs leaves me feeling tingly in the most delicious ways. I touch my fingertips to my lips and smile. I’m still shocked that I initiated that kiss and even more surprised at how I didn’t want to stop. I hate how my past trauma triggered my panic when his fingers crept under the edge of my shirt. Rationally, I know that he wouldnever force himself on me, but I still froze. Maybe it’s time to call my therapist.
When I finally leave the theater, it’s a little after four in the afternoon. I check my phone as I walk out of the building, delighted to see that I have a text from Eamon. We haven’t talked all day.
