“I’m going to give you a very honest opinion,” Hunter says, his face completely sober. Oh, no. My stomach falls to my feet. But then, he grins. “It’s freaking amazing. It’s going to be a hit. I guarantee it.”

“Tell them the rest,” Cam urges.

“There’s more?” Kane asks.

“Well, nothing set in stone. Leo just mentioned that maybe, if I’m interested, I could work as a backup singer for them on their next tour.”

Again, silence fills the room.

“You’re kidding,” Shawn says at last.

“No, but again, it’s just an idea. And only if I want to. It’s a long way off, anyway.”

Da wraps his arms around me and holds me close. “I’m so proud of you, baby girl.”

“I need a Guinness, two whiskeys—neat—and a cola,” I say to Keegan the following night. The pub is busy, and things are finally back to normal around here. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed working at the pub until I was away for several days.

“You’re a bossy one,” Keegan says with a wink.

“You missed me. Oh, and there’s a table in the back I’m keeping my eye on. College kids here for the weekend. They haven’t been too bad, but the one on the end looks like he’s gonna get handsy.”

“I’ll keep an eye out, too,” Cam says from his seat next to me at the bar.

“If you’re going to keep acting as security, you should get a polo shirt and a salary,” I inform him. “I’m fine.”

“I’m just making sure,” he replies and sips his beer.

I like having him here. I especially love it when I glance his way and find him looking at me with those blue eyes that make me all gooey inside.

And then I remember the way he fucked me bent over the kitchen counter just this afternoon, and I have to fan myself with my notepad.

“Earth to Mary Margaret,” Maeve says, waving a hand in front of my face. “You awake?”

“Sorry, yeah. What’s up?”

“Your college kids are waving you down. I’m still not convinced that one in the corner is of age.”

“He has an ID that says he’s twenty-one,” I reply with a shrug. “Doesn’t look fake.”

“If he’s old enough to shave, I’m Julia Roberts.”

“Okay, Julia, I’m off to make my rounds.” I wink at her, but before I can turn away, the phone behind the bar rings, and Keegan grabs it. Since it never rings, we all pause to hear who it is.

“And a happy day it is to hear from you, Cousin Sinead,” Keegan says with a smile. “It’s early there, isn’t it? Oh, aye.”