“Oh, I’ve a thought in my head every once in a while.”

Still, he didn’t give it much of another thought once the doors were open and the customers rolling in. He had time for a quick and entertaining spat with Darcy, giving him the pleasure of seeing her flounce out of his kitchen vowing never to speak to him again until he was six years in his grave.

He doubted he’d have luck enough for that.

He scooped up stew, fried fish and chips, built sandwiches thick with grilled ham and cheese. The constant hum of voices through the door was company enough. And for the first hour of lunch shift, Darcy kept her word, glaring silently as she swung in and out for orders, and giving new ones by staring at the wall.

It amused him so much that when she came in to dump empties, he grabbed her and kissed her noisily on the mouth. “Speak to me, darling. You’re breaking my heart.”

She shoved at him, slapped his hands, then gave up and laughed. “I’ll speak to you right enough, you bonehead. Turn me loose.”

“Only after you promise not to brain me with something.”

“Aidan’ll take the breakage out of my pay, and I’m saving for a new dress.” She tossed back her cloud of silky black hair and sniffed at him.

“Then I’m safe enough.” He set her down and turned to flip over a hunk of sizzling whitefish.

“We’ve a couple of German tourists who want to try your stew, with brown bread and slaw. They’re staying at the B and B,” she went on as Shawn got thick bowls. “Heading toward Kerry tomorrow, then into Clare, so they say. If it were me, and I had holiday in January, I’d be spending it in sunny Spain or some tropical island where you didn’t need anything but a bikini and a coating of sun oil.”

She wandered the kitchen as she spoke, a woman with a stunning face, clear, creamy skin, and brilliant blue eyes. Her mouth was full, unapologetically sexual whether it was sulking or smiling. She’d painted it hot red that morning to keep herself cheerful on a chill and dreary day.

She had a figure that left no doubt she was female, and her love affair with fashion had her outfit it in bold colors and soft fabrics.

She had the Gallagher yen to travel, and the determination to do so in the style to which she longed to become accustomed. Lavish.

Since today wasn’t the day for that, she picked up the order and started out just as Brenna came in. “What have you been into this time, then?” Darcy demanded. “You’ve black all over your face.”

“Soot.” Brenna sniffed and scrubbed the back of her hand over her nose. “Dad and I’ve been cleaning out a chimney, and a right mess it is. I got most of it off me.”

“If you think so, you didn’t look in a mirror.” Giving her friend a wide berth, Darcy went out.