Wild Irish Dreamer - Tricia O'Malley Page 0,15
said with a shrug. “All right then, Connor, I see you want your whiskey. Stop giving me those puppy eyes. It’ll be right along.” Cait bustled off to the other end of the bar to fill orders, leaving Fi to deal with Liam.
“You know Dylan?”
“Aye, I do at that. Seeing as he’s my best mate and my boss.” Liam flashed her a grin and Mr. Murphy nodded soberly next to him.
“He’s the lad who keeps everything together. They’re turning my house into a community center, Fi. Can you believe it? It’s what the space is meant to be used for. It’ll be a happy home once again.”
“That’s right grand, isn’t it, Mr. Murphy? Absolutely brilliant that they’re using the space in such a manner. I know it’s been a touch lonely for you since Maude passed on.”
“That it has. She’d be pleased that her home will be filled with people once again.”
Fi reached over and squeezed Mr. Murphy’s leathery hand.
“Next round’s on me.”
“Why’s that?”
“For being a good soul, that’s why, Mr. Murphy.”
“I’ll join you on that round, if you’ve a mind to build a pint for me, Fi,” Liam said, nodding gratefully when someone slid a stool toward him. Sitting down, he steepled his fingers under his chin and watched Fi with an unwavering gaze.
“See something you like?” Fi asked, a shiver running down the back of her neck at his gaze.
“Of course. A brilliant and beautiful woman building the most perfect pint of Guinness I’ve yet seen poured.”
“Oh, he’s a smooth talker now,” Mr. Murphy chuckled. “Don’t let Cait hear you swooning after her girl. She’ll have a boot up your arse so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
“Who am I booting now?” Cait demanded, skidding to a stop on her way to the cooler.
“Nobody that I know of,” Mr. Murphy said, shaking his head as if to say he was just chattering nonsense.
“Mm-hmm,” Cait said, singeing them both with a glare before stomping down the bar.
“Fearsome woman,” Mr. Murphy decided.
“Thanks for saving me,” Liam laughed.
“Lads first.” Mr. Murphy shrugged a shoulder.
Fi chuckled, shaking her head at the two of them. “You two are trouble, aren’t ya? Going to take on the town tonight?”
“In this weather? Goodness, no.” Mr. Murphy glared at the rain outside. “I’ll be staying right here, thank ye very much.”
“As it pleases you, then. And you, Liam? We’ve a lovely Guinness stew on the menu today.” Fi smiled at him again, going into full customer service mode, though her mind whirled at his presence. His very nearness was sending her nerves into overdrive and it was as if her body was hyperaware of what the man was capable of doing to her.
You’re not some foolish young girl with no experience, Fi reminded herself. More than one man has brought a smile to your face in the bedroom.
But not like this man, her mind argued back.
Fi firmly shoved those thoughts deep down. Those types of thoughts ended in trouble, something she was distinctly not looking for on this trip – especially this close to home. She preferred having her dalliances and dating life kept far away from the gossips of Grace’s Cove, and that was the truth of it. It wouldn’t do to be seen flirting with the likes of Liam Mulder.
“That’d be great, Fi. It sounds like the perfect meal for a day like today.”
“Same for me, pretty lady.” Mr. Murphy nodded to her and Fi turned to tap the order into her mum’s new computer. It had been quite a shock to everyone’s system when Cait had finally upgraded to a digital drink and order register, and though it had taken months for everyone to be on board with the system, they’d eventually all agreed it was much more efficient.
Plus, it saved them shouting out menu orders over the music so often playing there. It was many a night that Fi had gone to bed with a throat too hoarse to speak for all the shouting she’d done.
“I suppose I should have connected you to here, what with you being related to Sean and all,” Liam said when she turned back to face him again.
“I don’t think we’ve ever really spoken of Grace’s Cove, so there’s no way you would have known. I’m just shocked to see you here, in my little village, after all these years. How’s it been for you, then?” Fi cleaned glasses automatically as she spoke with him. The habit of tending a bar was ingrained in her and