The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

and made a grab for the book.
    “One drop of chip fat on this, and you’re a dead man.”
    “I know how to be careful.” He took the book as if it were fragile china. “Brenna has to see,” he announced, and was back out the door like a shot.
    “They’ll grubby it up between them, wait and see.” She turned back, a little shocked to see Trevor exchanging pints he’d drawn himself for payment. “Well, look at himself, manning the bar.”
    “I can handle it until Aidan’s back, if you want to serve those lunch orders before they’re cold.”
    “Do you know how to build a Guinness?”
    “I’ve watched enough of them constructed.”
    “Some people watch brain surgery, doesn’t mean they should be handed a knife.” But she picked up the tray. “We’re grateful for the help.”
    “No problem.” It gave him a chance to watch her work. And to think.
    For the last few days she’d kept him balancing on a keen and delicious edge. In bed she was a siren, and out of it a tease. She was tireless, energetic, capricious, and fascinating.
    And somehow through it all, he would have said heartless.
    Something had been off, he decided, between them since the night they’d made slow and gentle love. He couldn’t pinpoint the change, only knew the change was there. He saw it when he caught the cold and steady gleam of calculation in her eyes.
    Then again, she was a woman who made no secret of her calculations. He accepted that, and in many ways admired her lack of artifice. But the Darcy he’d just seen hadn’t been calculating or capricious or self-interested. She’d been thrilled, excited, and sentimental enough to cry over Jude’s accomplishment, her brother’s pride.
    It was odd to think that in all the weeks he’d known her he’d only seen her shed a tear over someone else’s pleasure.
    Where she loved she was both vulnerable and generous. He wanted that vulnerability, that generosity. He wanted that love. And, though he knew it was wrong, he wanted her to shed a tear over him.
    It was time, he thought, to push her a little closer.
    He waited until the shift was over, until Aidan left to take Jude home.
    “She’s worn out.” Darcy stood in the doorway, watching them drive off the short distance to the house. “Such excitement. He’ll persuade her to lie down a bit. Oh, the wind’s kicking.”
    Closing her eyes, she let it batter her, reveled in it. “The storm will hit full before nightfall. Then we’re in for it. You’d best batten down your hatches, Magee, for there’s a gale coming.”
    “I’m heading back to the cottage shortly, anyway. I’ve got work there to deal with. You’re getting wet.”
    “Feels good after all the crowd in here today.” But she closed the door on the wind and spitting rain, and locked it. “I’ll wager you ten pounds to your five that you’ll be working by candlelight this night.”
    “That’s a sucker bet. I’m no sucker.”
    “Pity. I can always use an extra five.” She began to gather empties from the tables. “We’ll be packed tonight. People like company when the world’s wild. Come back if you can, for we’ll have music to chase the jitters away.”
    “I will. Can you let that go a minute? I want to talk to you.”
    “Twisted me arm.” With pleasure, she sat at one of the tables, put up her feet on the chair beside her. “Days like this you wish you had three arms and twice as many feet.”
    “Looking forward to serving your last pint?”
    Not as much as she’d expected, but she nodded. “Who wouldn’t be? Every time I pick up the phone and dial room service, it’ll be a personal celebration.”
    “You can count on doing a lot of celebrating.” He sat across from her. Time, he thought, to up the stakes and play the next card. “They’re faxing me the draft of your contract today. I expect to have it when I get back to the cottage.”
    Her stomach jittered. Excitement, anticipation, nerves. “That’s quick work.”
    “Most of it’s standard. You’ll want to look it over, take it to your lawyer. Solicitor,” he corrected. “Any questions, changes, we’ll discuss.”
    “Fair enough.”
    “I have to go to New York for a couple days.”
    She was grateful she was sitting down with her feet up, as her knees went soft as jelly. “Do you? You haven’t mentioned it.”
    “I’m mentioning it now.” Having just decided. “Come with me.”
    Yes, a very good thing she was sitting down. She stayed stretched out as every