Wild Irish Dreamer - Tricia O'Malley Page 0,3
taken for a ride,” Liam said, and then paused, draining his glass and filling it once more. He grimaced and looked out across the street, pain slicing across his face before he shook it off. “It hurts to admit that more than anything, I think. I’m usually such a good judge of character.”
“Love can blind us,” Fi said, reaching out to pat his arm.
“Aye. That it did.”
“She cheated?”
“No. Well, at least not that I know of.” Liam shrugged. “But I overheard her having a conversation on the phone. They were very clearly discussing how much money I make.”
“Okay,” Fi said, sipping her drink and tapping a finger on her glass as she thought about it, “but that’s not entirely unusual. Even though there’s been a shift in the mentality that the man has to take care of the woman, and I am all for women supporting themselves, I can see where her friends might want to be sure she was provided for.”
“It wasn’t quite like that. They were discussing bank accounts. And numbers. And what accounts to drain and wire money to.”
“Oh,” Fi said, stricken. Reaching across the table, she squeezed his hand, “Oh, that’s a tough one. I’m sorry. Did they get anything from you?”
“No, I backed away from the door quietly and changed all my info before breaking up with her.”
“Smart man. I’m sorry, that I am, Liam. Should we find her and do something decidedly nasty to her?”
Liam chuckled. “You’ve a bloodlust in you, Fi.”
“That I do. I think it’s the warrior in me. It’s in the blood.”
“I like that about you,” Liam said.
“Thank you. Just remember it, should you ever get on my bad side,” Fi promised.
“I’d like to get… and stay… on your good side.” Liam measured a look heavy with meaning across the table at her and Fi almost rolled her eyes. Of course he would try and push his feelings away by pretending to flirt with her.
“Well, you know what they say is the best way to get over a broken heart…”
Liam smiled, a slow languid smile that had heat pulsing low in her stomach.
“What’s that, Fi?”
“A pub crawl with your mates. And seeing as I’m your only mate here at the moment, it’s on me to handle the job. Let’s get you a solid base of food, and then I’m taking you to play pool.” Fi let out a delighted laugh when Liam’s mouth dropped open.
“Pool.”
“Oh yes, pool. Or darts. But first, we need to find a proper pub, and some whiskey. Go on then, let’s get some food in you,” Fi said, gesturing to the steaming plates the waiter had just delivered to their table. “See if you can keep up.”
“Why do I feel like you’re about to drink me under the table?”
“Saddle up, boyo.”
Chapter 3
“The table’s not in the best shape,” Fi groused. They were in the tiniest corner pub she’d ever seen and she was inspecting the pool table, with its cracked and worn felt. In the corner sat one tired barman, chain-smoking and largely ignoring the tourists who peered in the door and then quickly moved on. Liam, fueled by about half a bottle of whiskey that Fi had all but poured down his throat at the last pub they’d been to, grabbed the cue from her hand.
“Looking for excuses already? Sounds liked you’re scared.” he said as he bent to rack the balls. The barman watched, a vague spark of interest flaring in his dull eyes.
“You don’t scare me, Liam. I was just commenting on the condition of the pool table.”
“Spoken like someone who doesn’t trust her pool game. I’ll have you know that I am quite a good shot,” Liam teased, wobbling a little, and narrowed his eyes at her.
“Christ, this’ll be like taking candy from a baby. You’re three sheets to the wind already.”
“Then you shouldn’t be having a problem with playing me.”
Fi rolled her eyes as the barman lazily flicked the switch on an old sound system. A low pulse of music filled the pub, and her skin tingled when Liam brushed past her.
“I just don’t think it’s a fair fight,” Fi warned.
“Noted,” Liam said, lazily chalking the cue. “You to break or me?”
“Have at it, handsome,” Fi smiled and choked down a laugh as he teetered on one foot, righted himself, and then managed to break the balls apart in a messy pattern on the table. What he lacked in finesse he surely made up for in enthusiasm, Fi decided as she studied