Wild Irish Dreamer - Tricia O'Malley Page 0,14

something a little different for once. I love that you’re building something as meaningful as a community center, and the town is as excited about it as we are to be building it. It’s probably the most feel-good project I’ve ever managed.”

“And yet?”

“And yet.” Liam shrugged, at a loss as to why he was feeling the way he was.

“Do you need to go back to sea? We could go for a sail. I’ll tell Grace it’s an extended stag party. Head out for a week or so along the coast.”

“In this weather? That does not sound fun.”

“When have rough waters ever bugged you?”

“I must be getting old.”

“Maybe you just need to get laid.”

“Or that.” Liam shrugged. “I haven’t, ahh, sampled the goods here, so to speak.”

“You’re a smart man. Which is why I’ve hired you,” Dylan observed.

“It wouldn’t do to mess around in this town. The gossip chain is rampant. Everyone either knows or is related to one another. I don’t want any sort of bad blood on my crew. I know when to keep it in my pants.”

“Maybe you do need a trip abroad, just to change things up a bit. I’ve got a big project coming down the pipeline if you’ve an interest.”

“How long would it be for?”

“Not sure yet. If anything, I wouldn’t mind someone going to feel things out for me.”

“Where is it?”

“Spain.”

“Now that’s interesting. I could spare a few weeks from the project.”

“I’ll keep you posted.”

“You aren’t just doing this to try and make me happy, are you?”

“No, it’s a real project. The timing just works to break you out of your funk.”

“It’s not a funk.”

“I know a funk when I see one.”

“I’ve a mind to funk you right off this boat.” Liam narrowed his eyes at Dylan and was rewarded with a booming laugh. Despite himself, he grinned.

That was what mates were for.

Chapter 8

The rain didn’t let up, which meant the lunch rush would be mad. There was something contrary about the villagers such that rain made them come to the pub in droves instead of staying home in the dry and warmth. Falling into an easy rhythm with Cait, Fi was already behind the bar and building pints when the door opened on a gust of wind.

Her head whipped up as a wave of longing and awareness washed through all of her senses, and she measured the man who stepped through the door in the seconds before his eyes landed on hers. It was like a lioness scenting her dinner on the wind. And oh, was Liam Mulder still a tasty morsel, Fi decided.

He’d grown even more handsome, if that was possible, and carried himself with that same easy confidence she’d first admired about him. He’d filled out even more since she’d last seen him, going from a lean man with muscles to a muscular man who looked like he used his hands for a living. Remembering what he could do with those hands made a flush rise to Fi’s cheeks, and she dipped her head to check on the pints she was pouring to make sure she didn’t overfill the glasses. Looking back up, she pasted a wide smile on her face and waited until Liam turned to her.

“Well, and look at this – it’s a wayward pirate we’ve found wandering into our pub this stormy day,” Fi said, winking at him cheerfully as she finished building the pints. Tamping down on the nerves that fluttered in her stomach, she moved to the end of the bar and placed the pints on a tray for the serving girl, then grabbed another ticket to start the next order.

“Fi? What are you doing here?” Liam asked, squeezing his way between Mr. Murphy and his cronies to lean his elbows on the bar.

“Well, where else would she be when she’s in town? It’s her mum’s bar.” Mr. Murphy slapped his leg and laughed, and Fi blew him a kiss.

“I could ask the same of yourself, Mr. Mulder,” Fi said as she started the next round of pints. “It’s more likely to find meself at this pub than you.”

“Is Cait your mum?”

“Aye, I am.” Cait came to stand by Fi and Liam looked between the two, his mouth dropping open.

“I should have guessed. You’ve a striking resemblance,” Liam said.

“How’s it you’re knowing our Liam then?” Cait asked, and now it was Fi’s turn to have her mouth to drop open.

“Your Liam? When did he become your Liam?”

“When he started building the community center with Dylan,” Cait