Beers, Hens, and Irishmen (Warbler's Point Series) (17 page)

             
“Finn and Liam g’over to the fire pit area and solve ya problems while we finish the fence. If I see ya fightin again I’m tellin ye ma and ya can deal with her.” Their da was filthy mad and whenever he got like that, you did what he told you even if it was the last thing you wanted to do.

             
Finn walked over to the fire pit and pulled up a chair while Liam did the same. Finn was not going to say a word until Liam did. All this was Liam’s fault and he was the one who had some apologizing to do. They sat in silence for ten minutes and then were interrupted by their da.

             
“I’m about 5 seconds from gettin’ ye ma involved. Start talkin’. If I don’t see ya two langers talkin’ in the next couple of second I swear to the heavens I will get Mary Margaret.” Then he strode back to the fence where Bradon was recovering and Booker looked helpless.

             
Finn shook his head and looked at his brother. He looked like he got run over by a train. Damn him. He couldn’t stand to see any of his family look like that, even when one of them was acting like a giant ass.

             
Finn broke. “Liam what’s going on?”

             
Liam stopped looking at his hands and looked up at Finn. He exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair. “Jesus, Finn, I’m sorry. What I did yesterday was stupid and I acted like a jealous idiot. Neala has me so tense that when I saw you with Sophie yesterday, hugging her, I lost it. I always thought there was something going on between the two of you and seeing that brought back a bunch of those sour feelings.”

             
“Liam, you know we have been nothing but friends. Nothing else. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

             
“I know, I just always felt you had more of a connection with Sophie than I did.”

             
Finn shook his head and waved his hand in protest at his brother. “That is ridiculous and you know it. She was in love with you, man. We were nothing but friends.”

             
Liam just nodded in agreement. “Listen, Liam. You know I’m here for you. If you need to talk about what is going on with Neala and if you need a place to stay, you know you are always welcome at my place.”

             
“Thank you Finn. That means a lot to me.”

             
“So what’s your next move?”

             
“I have to talk to Neala and convince her that nothing is going on between me and Soph. I can’t have her thinking that I had an affair and I can’t have her spreading false rumors around this small God forsaken town and ruining my reputation and Sophie’s.”

             
“That sounds like a good plan. What are you going to do about Sophie?”

             
Liam leaned back in his chair. “Can’t really do anything. I need to focus on Neala and fixing my family. I’m sure you can take care of Sophie and make sure everything is ok with her, right?”

             
“Of course.”

             
Liam got up and shook Finn’s hand. Finn went to go hug Liam but was hit in the head with a rotten apple and then Liam was hit. They both looked over at Bradon who was sitting by the apple tree with a shit-face grin, tossing an apple in the air. He was dead!

Chapter 8

             
Once all the pleasantries and catching up were over Tipper dove right into to the good stuff, instantly making Fiona uncomfortable. They were able to convince Sophie to take a break and enjoy some coffee and catch up with them but now Fiona wished she had an excuse or prior engagement to go to because she didn’t want to talk about her love life to Tipper and Sophie. If Fiona couldn’t understand her own love life how were they going to understand it?

             
“So, give it up Fi, I want to know everything. Who are you seeing?”

             
Fiona knew she was going to have to talk because Tipper knew Fiona too well, she knew something was up and she was not going to let it go until Fiona spilled.

             
“I’m not seeing anyone right now.” That was not a lie. It was the truth. She wasn’t technically seeing anyone, she just slept with both Murphy and Booker in the same week. Ugh, she was the town harlot.

             
“Bullshit, I can see it all over your face.”

             
Sophie piped in. “It does seem like something has been going on with you.”

             
Fiona exhaled. “Fine.”

             
“I knew it.” Tipper exclaimed while fist pumping the air.

             
Sophie gave Tipper a high five. “Give us all the details.” This coming from the girl who was completely silent a couple of seconds ago and wanting to get back to work. Fiona raised an eyebrow at her. “What?” she asked while shrugging her shoulders and then brushed it off. “If it’s not about me and my messed up life then I’m ready for some juicy details.”

             
“I will get you back for this.” Fiona joked.

             
“Just spill it already.” Tipper said annoyed.

             
“Well, Murphy seems to think that we are back together.”

             
“Ooo, that fine ass Irishman. I would love to test him out. Why does he think you are back together.” Tipper asked.

             
“Because I might have slept with him the other night.” Fiona bit down on her lip.

             
Sophie gasped. “Might? Oh you most defiantly did, you can tell by the color of red your face changed to.”

             
Damn her Irish heritage. “We definitely slept together.” Both of the girls smiled at her.

             
Tipper sipped her coffee and leaned in. “How was it?” She wiggled her eyebrows at her.

             
Fiona rolled her eyes. “You know how it was.” The girls kept staring at her so she caved ang divulged more details. “It was great, it always is with Murphy. He is so animalistic in the bedroom and for some odd reason that turns me on.”

             
“Every girl likes to be dominated on occasion.” Sophie said.

             
“Please don’t tell me you are talking about my brother.”

             
“Come on Fiona, I haven’t been with your brother in years, I can barely remember what it was like. Plus we were practically children, it was more fumbling then…”

             
“La, la, la, la…I’m not listening.” Fiona said while covering her ears. Both the girls laughed and asked her to proceed.

             
“The thing is, I don’t want to be with Murphy because all our relationship consists of is sex, hot hot sex.”

             
Tipper acted shocked. “And there is something wrong with that because…?”

             
“I want more Tip and you know that. I want to connect on an emotional level and that is where Booker comes in.”

             
Both girls asked in unison, “Who’s Booker?”

             
Here went nothing. “Booker Hall, he’s visiting Warblers Point…”

             
“Stop right there.” Tipper interrupted holding her hand up. “He’s visiting? What ever happened to our pact that we don’t date tourists? You know it just leads to heartbreak. No one stays here, it’s just fun for them to visit.”

             
“I know, I know. I keep telling myself that but I lost control for a short period of time but it’s over now.” Fiona thought about Booker and his gorgeous blue eyes, blond scruffy hair and tight jeans that formed to every inch of his body. In her head it was over but in her heart she knew her feelings for him just started to begin.

             
“I can tell it’s over.” Sophie said mocking her. “By the looks of it sweetheart, you are just starting.”

             
“This is not a good idea Fi, you know better than this.”

             
“I don’t need a lecture Tip. It’s not going anywhere. I cut it off this morning.”

             
“This morning? Meaning…”

             
“Meaning, yes I slept with him last night.”

             
“Fiona!” Sophie exclaimed.

             
“I couldn’t help myself I just needed one night. And God was he amazing. Murphy is good, but with Booker it was like we were meant to be with each other. I had never felt so good, so free in my life. It was like when we made love, he took me to another part of the world”

             
“When we made love? You definitely sound like a girl who ended it with the tourist.” Tipped said sarcastically.

             
“I did. I promised myself.”

             
“I hope so because I don’t want to go through another Steve the math teacher situation.”

             
“Who’s Steve the Math teacher?” Sophie asked.

             
Tipper answered before Fiona could even open her mouth. She wished Tipper would just shut her pie hole. Fiona was not going to do another Steve the math teacher. She learned her lesson, regretfully from him when he left.

             
“Steve was a math teacher from New York city who was visiting for his winter break with a bunch of friends. He flirted like crazy with our little Fiona over here and won her heart. Fiona fell for him hard only to find out that he was leaving. He lied to her and told her that he was staying, going to move to Warblers Point and Fiona fell for every line. Two weeks later he was all packed up and heading back down to the city while laughing in her face exclaiming how he would never live in a little hick town like Warblers Point, let alone date a…what did he say…ah yes, a bar maid.”

             
Even though Fiona knew the story and lived it, Tipper’s recital of the less then pleasurable events brought back every raw emotion she pushed back years ago. She felt so stupid that she actually fell for Steve’s lines, saying how he was moving to town and how much he liked her and how he thought he was falling in love with her. After Steve broke her heart Fiona pinky swore with Tipper that they would never date tourists for the mere fact that they never had any intention in moving to Warblers Point. Warblers Point was merely a fun destination get-a-way for tourists during the winter times.

             
“Thank you for that.” Fiona added once Tipper was done airing out her embarrassing past.

             
Tipper grabbed a hold of her hand. “Sweetie, you know I love you. I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing. I don’t want to see you get hurt again. Maybe you can work things out with Murphy.”

             
Fiona shrugged. “Maybe.”

             
But deep down Fiona knew things with Murphy were not going to work, especially since she was able to experience what Booker had to offer. Murphy was a great guy and cared about her but now that she felt such a strong connection with Booker, she knew nothing was ever going to compare to that. She was doomed. She should have stayed away when she had a chance. Maybe she should just give Murphy the benefit of the doubt and throw herself completely into a relationship with him. If she postponed all physical contact with him and tried spending more intellectual time, maybe they could form a bond that her and Booker formed in a matter of seconds.

                                                                                    ***

              An afternoon with the O’Leary men was definitely one of the most interesting times he had ever experienced. One minute they were beating the crap out of each other and then the next minute they were hugging and drinking beers. He never had a brother so he didn’t quite understand the kind of relationship they all shared. He only had Blaire, his sister, and whenever they fought he just pushed her down and that was it, well when they were young. He never really got a chance to brawl like the O’Learys did. It seemed kind of cathartic to be able to just punch your brother when you felt like it. If only he could have punched Blaire in the face when they were younger whenever she tried to embarrass one of his girlfriends or dump all of his cologne, shampoo and conditioner on his bed, he would have felt so much better. She was a girl though but Lord knew she deserved a good brawl once in a while when she pulled her antics.

             
Thankfully now he was close with his sister. He wished she was here right now. He could use some help with Fiona. He never met such a stubborn woman. He knew she wanted to be with him, he could see it in her eyes and the way her body reacted to him but she just wouldn’t give in to his charms. He wasn’t giving up, instead he was actually going to step up his game. He had plans for him and Fiona and they didn’t consist of her ignoring him.