9. Ronan
RONAN
The scent of snow hung heavy in the air. I sniffed the sharp, metallic tang and rolled my shoulders. Damn.
Dad taught me to read the weather the same way I read blueprints. Thirty years in construction taught me to respect what was coming.
I pushed through the door at O’Sullivan’s, grateful for the rush of warmth and noise.
Green streamers hung from every surface. Shamrocks covered the windows.
Bree had been busy in the two days since I’d brought over the paint for her to look at.
The whole place buzzed with early arrivals, their voices rising and falling in a familiar wave.
“Gonna storm.” I stopped at the bar after removing my thick coat and hanging it on the rack by the door.
Declan looked up from behind the bar. “Storm?”
“Tonight. Big one.” I settled on the stool and eyed the crowd. Might have to close up early if it came when I expected. Might still get lucky and it would hold off until after the party.
Tom glared at me from two stools down, snorting into his beer. “Forecast says clear skies.”
“Forecast’s wrong.” I brushed sawdust from my pants and checked the windows again. A buzzy feeling settled in the back of my throat. Yep. Definitely a big one.
“Never snows on St. Patrick’s Day.” Tom shook his head. He wanted to be right more than I did, but that wouldn’t make it come true. “Bad luck for the whole year if it snows.”
I knew that. Everyone knew that. I didn’t bother arguing. People could believe what they wanted. The storm would be here, and they’d go on complaining and not listening the next time I tried to warn them.
Declan slid a beer toward me. “You staying to help?”
“Yes.” That was always the plan. I took a long pull from the mug.
Finn would show up soon, same as every year.
The three of us had been part of O’Sullivan’s St. Patrick’s Day party so long I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Maeve had even starting giving us free drinks since we helped change out kegs and poured drinks.
A gust of cold air blasted past me when the door opened again. I tucked my chin into my collar and focused on my drink.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and I didn’t have a prayer of ignoring that sound because it meant Bree was on her way down.
Gods damn me for being so drawn to her that I almost choked on my drink when she came into view wearing a green mini skirt, fishnet stockings, and green high heels.
It was the black shirt that really did me in. It hung off one shoulder, the “Kiss me, I’m Irish” stitched across her ample chest looking so delicious it made my mouth water.
She walked right up behind the bar and took a mug from the shelf, filling it with green beer from the special tap and handing it to Tom with a grin. “You ready for rush?”
It took several heartbeats for me to realize she was talking to me. I finished my drink and slid the mug toward Declan. “Always am.”
She smiled, and I made the mistake of watching her lips curve.
That brief but powerful urge I’d experienced when we looked over blueprints together came rushing back.
It hadn’t left me alone so much as built into this painful, driving urge that took up too much of my mind.
“I’m helping tonight.” Bree grabbed an apron from beneath the bar and tied it around her waist. The movement caused the sequins on her skirt to shimmer, and I had a ridiculous urge to ask her to take off the apron so I could see it better.
“Fair warning, I haven’t worked a bar since college, so I’m rusty. ”
“You’ll be fine.” Declan touched her elbow, guiding her to his other side. “Just be careful when we’re changing the kegs. Finn gets a little carried away.”
As though conjured from the impending storm, Finn burst through the door, his grin already in place.
He wore green from head to toe.
Shirt. Suspenders.
Even a ridiculous shamrock hat with a bobbing shamrock that flopped over his forehead like one of those mistletoe caps.
“Let the festivities begin!” He spread his arms wide.
Bree laughed. A group of women in the corner whistled, and I focused on ignoring the way Bree’s laugh cut straight through the noise to nestle next to my heart.
Time blurred as the party ramped up. Orders came hard and fast. Shots and pints. Maeve’s special green beer and Jamesons. Declan called out instructions when Bree asked how to make a lemon shot.
Finn charmed everyone who came near the bar.
I changed out the first keg, almost dropping the damned thing on my foot when Bree bent in front of me to pick up something from the floor and flashed her ass.
I was going to hell.
The space behind the bar wasn’t built for four people.
Every time I turned, she was there. Our shoulders brushed when I reached for a clean glass.
Her hip bumped mine when she bent to grab more napkins.
If I hadn’t turned at the last minute, her ass would have grazed my cock.
Once, she stepped back into my chest, and I caught her around the waist to steady her.
“Sorry.” She looked up at me, all flushed cheeks and happy smiles.
My fingers flexed, digging into her skin before I had the chance to stop myself. I released her an instant later. “No problem.”
None whatsoever except for the raging hardon resting one wrong move away.
I flexed my fingers when she turned away, trying to rid them of the feel of her. Too late.
I’d memorized every curve, all the way down to how perfectly she’d fit against me for those few seconds.
Finn walked out of the back room, a second keg over one shoulder. “You look flushed. Need a break?”
“I’m fine.” I took the keg from him and wrestled it into position.
Finn snorted. “Sure.” He retreated to the other side of the bar, coming back with a tray of dirty glasses. “Just like I’m not enjoying the view every time Bree bends over to get something from the bottom shelf.”’
My jaw clenched as Bree did exactly that. We both might as well have turned into panting dogs based on the way my tongue threatened to fall out of my head. “Keep your eyes to yourself.”
He smirked. “Why, planning on staking a claim?” Finn laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. “Relax. I’m just giving you shit.”
Yeah, I couldn’t do that either.
Snow drifted past the window. A chorus of “ohh” drew several looks.
Tom turned, saw the snow, and cursed. “I’ll be damned.”
I didn’t bother gloating.
Within thirty minutes, the snow fell thick enough to coat the streets.
People started making excuses to leave, most of them needing to get home before the roads got too bad.
Declan called last rounds, and a short rush of drinking kept us all busy for another hour.
Bree moved among the tables as the last patrons left, collecting abandoned glasses and wiping down tables.
Her heels clicked softly, drawing my attention to her fishnet stockings.
“You guys should head out.” She carried empty glasses to the bar. “I’ll finish cleaning up.”
Finn snorted. “Not happening.”
Setting the tray down, she turned to face us. “I’ll be fine. I live upstairs. Not like I have to go anywhere like you guys. It’s getting bad, and I want you to get home safely.”
Declan shook his head. “We’re not leaving you to clean this up by yourself.”
“I’ve driven in worse.” I stacked chairs and picked up discarded napkins. “New England blizzards are nothing new.”
She looked like she wanted to argue but bit her lip and gave in. “Okay. Fine. At least let me make you something to eat.”
“I know what I’d like to eat.” Finn muttered in my ear as I walked past.
I elbowed him in the gut, causing a wheezing laugh to gust out of him.
By the time we had the pub in order, Bree walked out of the kitchen with four plates. She slid them toward us.
Declan poured four shots and four pints, lining them up on the bar. “To Maeve.” He raised his shot glass, and we drank.
Finn leaned against the bar. “We should play a game.”
“What kind of game?” Bree took a bite of her sandwich and wiped her hands on a napkin.
“Two truths and a lie.” Finn’s smile turned mischievous.
Declan groaned. “We’re too old for this.”
“Speak for yourself.” Finn turned to Bree. “You in?”
“Sure. Why not.” She took another bite.
“I’ll go first.” Finn took a swig from his pint. “I once rappelled down the side of a building to save a cat. I’ve never had a splinter.” He winked at me. “And Ronan and I once dated the same woman at the same time.”
Fuck him. I pressed my lips together and let Bree answer.
She chose the last one, and we all took a drink.
“Wrong.” Finn poked me in the chest. “I’ve never rappelled down a building.”
I’d known that, but I wanted to let Bree play.
“Wait, so you dated the same woman?” Bree waved a hand between us. “How did that work?”
“Easy. I took her out for a date, or Ronan did. And sometimes we all went back to her place.” Finn answered so easily.
I balled up a napkin to keep from snapping at him. “It was a long time ago.”
“You next.” Finn pointed at Bree.
She bit her lip, color rising in her cheeks. “Okay. Um. I once got food poisoning from gas station sushi. I’m terrified of spiders. And I might have had a steamy dream about Finn the first night I came to town.”
Holy shit. My hand tightened around my glass.
Finn’s eyebrows shot up. “Steamy dream? Tell me more.”
Her blush deepened, and she pushed her plate and drink aside. “Is that your guess at the lie?”
“You’re not afraid of spiders. I saw you catch one and throw it outside yesterday.” Declan’s eyebrows drew downward as he weighed the possibilities.
I should stay quiet. I should let this go and end the game. “Describe the dream.”
Bree’s eyes widened. “What?”
“If it happened, you should be able to describe it.” I kept my voice low despite the jealousy burning in my gut. “Details.”
“Oh, I like this.” Finn wiggled in his seat.
She swallowed hard but came to a decision with a flare of brightness in her eyes. “Fine. We were at the bar, drinking and talking. Then we went upstairs and he kissed me.”
“And?” Finn waved toward her. “That’s not steamy. That’s tame.”
“Well. We fell into bed together and started making out. That’s where it ended.” She looked away from Finn, then her gaze swung back. “What’s your guess?”
The room went quiet.
Finn’s expression shifted from amused to stunned. “Bree.”
“What?” She laughed, but the sound came out slightly panicked. “It was just a dream. Probably because I was so drunk and you..” she waved a hand toward Finn. “You’re you and I was horny.”
“Do you really think it was a dream?” Finn stretched out the question until the entire room buzzed with the weight of her answer.
Bree froze. “Wasn’t it?”