Love and Blarney by Zara Keane Read Free Book Online Page A

age.
    The sound of John-Joe hacking up phlegm broke their connection. She let go of his hand and stepped back, shoving a stray lock of honey-streaked hair behind one ear. “I guess I’d better get a start on lunch.”
    “It won’t be too much for you?”
    “As long as we stick to the plan of serving soup and sandwiches instead of the full menu, I’ll manage. Even my limited culinary skills extend to sandwiches.”
    On impulse, he grabbed her hand. “Want me to show you around Ballybeg this evening? I was going to walk you back to your bed-and-breakfast in any case. Might as well combine the two.”
    Her heart-shaped face broke into a smile. “I’d love that. Thank you.”
    Ruairí released her, and she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him with a still-outstretched hand and a hollow sensation in his stomach. He stared at the space she’d occupied. Twenty-four hours ago, he’d been fooling himself that he was content with his lot, despite the gaping hole left by Jayme’s absence. Today, he had no idea how he was going to cope when she left him for good and returned to her reality on the other side of the Atlantic.

Chapter Six
    AT SIX O’CLOCK that evening, Ruairí’s youngest sister, Sharon, strutted into the pub. Under her short denim jacket, she wore a tight sequined top cut so low that even Jayme was riveted by her cleavage.
    Ruairí tossed Jayme her coat. “Now Sharon’s here, we can go for our walk.” “Sounds great,” she murmured. The sight of the girl’s hair was distracting. Had it been that bouffant the previous day? Or that blond?
    “Extensions.” The younger woman patted the peroxide bird’s nest with pride. “Do you like them?”
    “I…” she stammered. “Well…”
    Ruairí emerged from behind the bar and examined his sister’s hair. “They look like shite.”
    Sharon was unperturbed by her brother’s blunt assessment. “Sure, what do you know about women’s fashions?” She shrugged off her jacket and slipped behind the bar.
    Jayme pulled on her coat and reached for her purse. The pub was quiet apart from Buck and John-Joe and two men in police uniforms who were seated at a corner table. “Will you be okay on your own? I’m not sure I’d want to run a bar at night by myself.”
    The girl’s scarlet-rimmed mouth curved into a smile. “I’ll be grand. Sure, don’t I have the local police to come to my rescue if necessary?” She jerked a thumb at the cops’ table. “Do you hear that, Brian Glenn? You’re responsible for maintaining law and order in this establishment.”
    The younger of the policemen blushed a fiery red. “The only risk to the peace I see is you, Ms. MacCarthy.”
    Sharon roared with laughter. When she’d calmed down, she turned to Jayme. “Are you two off on a date?”
    “Your brother is giving me a tour of the town.”
    “In the dark?” The girl flashed a cheeky grin. “Sounds romantic.”
    “Come on.” Ruairí placed a hand on Jayme’s shoulder and nudged her into motion.
    “Enjoy yourselves,” Sharon called after them. “Don’t worry about a thing. The pub will still be standing come morning.”
    Outside, Jayme pulled her coat tight across her chest to ward off the damp night air. She observed her surroundings. Despite the dark sky, the town was well illuminated by inside lights and street lamps.
    “I hope you don’t mind having a tour in the dark.” His deep voice was hesitant.
    “Not at all. At least it’s not raining.”
    They strolled down the cobblestoned lane. The pub was located on a small side street off the main square. Each building in the center of Ballybeg was painted a different color. The forest green facade of MacCarthy’s was tame in comparison to some of its brightly colored neighbors. The rainbow effect should have looked garish. Instead, it lent the town a cheerful appearance in spite of the inclement weather.
    When they came to the square, she pointed to a stone edifice of a tall man wearing a twenties-style