Chapter 3 #2
She nodded, biting her lip. No way would she mention anything of what had happened before. But it didn’t mean she couldn’t go fishing. “I’m glad the other hotel guests don’t seem to have minded the music.”
“Other hotel guests?” Aunt Aine asked.
“Oh, it’s a long story,” Mam said. “But yes, there are a couple of men who I couldn’t say no to.”
“Why ever not?” Aine asked. “This was your son’s wedding.”
Mam explained much as Rory had, as Aisling’s ears pricked for any new drops of information. He was a teacher, apparently, which was something. She wondered if he was the nice sort or the type who thought teaching an excuse to bully. She didn’t think he could be that sort. His eyes had been kind.
“Poor lad,” Aine murmured.
She bit back a smile. Or not so poor lad if he knew Aisling was on his horizon.
“Well, it is good that he’s been understanding,” Aine concluded.
Mam nodded, her gaze veering to where Aidan and Rory danced together. “I’ve always prayed for my children to find the right partners God has for them, and it’s good to see this is starting to happen, with Colin and Kara, and now Rory and Aidan.”
“Don’t worry, Ash, we’ll keep praying for yours,” Aine said, eyes twinkling. “In fact, I seem to remember a good friend has a son who might be available.” She turned to Mam. “Remember Moira from our university days? Her son.”
Mm, Aisling didn’t want to be set up by her aunt. “Thanks Aunty Aine, but I’m not looking. I’ve just finished university, and I’m planning to stay around here and work at the hotel for a while. It’s probably best to focus on that rather than get distracted,” she added virtuously.
“I understand,” Aine said, with a wink that suggested she saw more than Aisling preferred. “Well, I remember you always enjoyed your visits, so if ever you need an excuse to call in, then you know I’ll always be happy to have you.”
“You should, Ash,” Mam encouraged. “You have been working hard, and it’s not like we can’t manage without you.”
Whether she’d still say that if Rory was living on the other side of the world remained to be seen. But she couldn’t say anything about that. That was Rory and Aidan’s news to share, and she was a good enough sister to know that nobody else should pre-empt that.
Aunty Aine laughed softly. “But I suppose a set-up by her aunt and mother is hardly what a young person wants these days.”
Aisling nodded. “It’s not exactly the time of Pride and Prejudice and arranged marriages.”
“Indeed, no.” Aine studied her. “But still, I’ll be praying for you. For this and your future.”
“Thanks.” Her lips twisted wryly. “I obviously need all the prayer I can get.”
“Don’t we all?”
Amen.
* * *
O’Shea’s was like many pubs Andy had been to, a traditional pub the locals gathered at and not one focused on tourists. There wasn’t a shamrock or little leprechaun to be seen, although the black stuff was still the drink of choice.
He nursed a Guinness at a wood-panelled booth as Grady flirted with some American girls at the bar. He bet that any second now Grady would wink and bring them over here, and the first test of his new resolution would begin.
But he could do this. He could—would—still be friendly, just not so friendly one might think he was flirting. Besides, there was no point encouraging a woman when she lived overseas. That was a recipe for heartache.
Another sip and swallow later and, sure enough, Grady winked. Andy sighed. Here went nothing, then.
“Hey, Andy, meet Brandy.” Grady winked.
Seriously? That was her name? “Hi, I’m—”
“Andy, I know.” She giggled.
Oh, right. Grady had just said that.
“And this is Meghan.”
“Hey, Andy. Nice to meet you.”
Andy nodded. “Where are you visiting from?”
“How did you know we’re tourists?”
Saying, I recognise that twang from movies didn’t seem polite.
And while he was only a mere man, he knew that Grady seemed to have a superpower to find available women he could practice his schmooze on, or so Beth, Andy’s eldest sister, had always liked to say.
Saying that didn’t sound like it would fly too well, either.
So he shrugged. “You looked like you’re not from around here,” he said lamely.
They were both blonde, tanned, with the kind of eyelashes that made him think of caterpillars crawling over one’s eyes.
Most women around here went for a more natural look, although Greta had been a fan of those kind of furry eyelashes too.
It had always made him wonder: how did women see through those things?
“Are you a local?” Brandy or Meghan—he couldn’t tell the difference—said, eyelashes fluttering.
He had to be careful, otherwise he’d stare too long and wonder whether her eyelashes ever got tangled up so she couldn’t see. “Local enough,” he admitted. Like from this country, at least.
He sipped his drink, his gaze moving back to the corner where a band had set up. Grady had asked at the bar but it looked like karaoke was still thirty minutes away, which meant he’d been sitting here for an hour already, even if he had enjoyed a great steak at Grady’s expense.
The two women seemed to sense his disinterest, pecking Grady with questions like they knew Andy wasn’t available. And while it was good they got the message, it still felt a little impolite, something Grady mentioned when the two went to the jacks together to “powder their nose”.
“What’s wrong with you?” Grady bumped his arm, sloshing his drink. “I get two hot women to come sit with us and you barely look at them.”
“We both know you got them more for your own amusement than mine.”
Grady shook his head. “You’re still pining?”
“No. But I don’t need two women I will never see again to get me back into dating again.” Was now the time to tell Grady about his resolution? It wasn’t like he’d get a better chance. “Look, I’m not like you—”
“For sure and for certain,” Grady mocked.
“I don’t want a fling. I actually don’t want to have to worry about dating for the next little while, if that’s okay with you.”
“Hey, I’m only trying to be a good friend.”
“I appreciate that. But I don’t want to feel like you were pushing me for something I’m not ready for just yet.”
“It’s been over a year now.”
“You think I don’t know that? This weekend was supposed to be the first anniversary of my marriage.” Spending the weekend with Grady certainly hadn’t been part of the plan.
A commotion drew attention to the door where a new crowd had come in. And unlike most of the others, this crowd was very dressed up, the men in suits, the women carrying jackets and wearing emerald green—
His heartbeat quickened. It was her. But this time she was laughing, smiling, relaxed. The exact opposite of his last encounter with her. He slunk down in his seat.
“Hey, is that the woman from before?” Grady asked.
“Yeah.” He averted his gaze, propped his chin in his hand. He had no desire for her to notice him again.
The room was fairly full now, and with the arrival of the newcomers the noise level had increased too.
They obviously were true locals, the three women and two men talking with the bar staff, and several others who waved or hugged or patted their shoulders and spoke to them.
But then, if they were connected to the hotel, people would know them.
Now he could see the three women together he recognised one of them from the reception desk from before.
So she worked at the hotel and yet had enough clout that their brother’s wedding would close the entire hotel for a private event?
He watched from the corner of his eye as they searched for a table, and he grew aware what it must look like to be two men in a booth made for six. And that the only spare table was nearby.
Sure enough, the woman he recognised who worked there spied the open table and moved towards it, then spied him. “Oh!”
Grady smiled. “The wedding’s finished?”
“Yes.” She glanced at Andy. “Uh, would you mind if we joined you? It’s a little crowded out here.”
“We actually have two people coming,” Grady said. “Sorry.”
“Oh, okay.” She snuck another look at Andy, which seemed weird as it was obvious the handsome dude was with her. “You don’t mind if we sit here, then?”
“Not at all.”
She flashed a smile, then waved a hand at where her sisters were looking around. And he saw the way the curvy one he’d bumped into before noticed her. Then noticed him. And her jaw fell.