Beers, Hens, and Irishmen (Warbler's Point Series) (7 page)

             
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to lead you into thinking something was going to happen tonight.”

             
He put a finger over her lips to quiet her. “I just wanted to hang out with you and get to know you better. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way by kissing you.”

             
Shaking her head she said, “You weren’t the only person who was kissing and I wasn’t uncomfortable, I was the exact opposite.”

             
Her confession brightened his whole outlook for the evening. Confident with himself again he kissed her forehead and opened her car door for her. He helped her in and snapped in her seat belt for her. On his way back up he caressed her cheek again and placed a very gentle kiss on her lips. She tasted so sweet he couldn’t help himself and she didn’t pull away so that was a plus for him.

             
As he drove her back to her place he thought about how in just one day he met what seemed like the girl of his dreams and already was starting to find some inner peace he hadn’t had in quite some time. Things were looking up for him.

Chapter 4

              What was Fiona thinking last night? She chastised herself the entire night after Booker dropped her off at her apartment. When she started to get out of his car, he stopped her and pulled her in close. He gave her a light kiss on the lips as a good bye but her raging hormones turned it into a five minute make-out session. What was wrong with her?

             
Yes he was extremely attractive, even with the Sheila bonnet on. He had one of the sexiest smiles she had ever seen with little dimples she wanted to dig her fingers into. Last night, while trying to get some sleep she thought about how Booker’s best friend must be a dentist because who honestly had a smile that good, teeth polar white and perfectly even? Why was a simple smile turning her into a teenage girl with no boundaries?

             
It wasn’t just the smile. It was his aspirations. They shared the same desire to explore the world and she could see herself in him. His eyes read the same story hers did. Trapped in a life that was not quite meant for her but dealing with it to appease other people. Last night she felt their souls connecting, something she never experienced with a man, definitely not Murphy. The only thing connecting between her and Murphy were their private parts.

             
She shook her head thinking of Murphy, what a nightmare. Her family was on the Murphy train, destination wedding bells for Fiona. She liked Murphy and good God was he hot but that was pretty much it. She found him extremely sexy and his brogue was to die for but it wasn’t enough for her. She wanted more. She needed more. She wasn’t going to settle, like she had settled the rest of her life.

             
She had to stop by his shop to pick up her costume he got for her, Lord knows it would be something skimpy. What would Booker think if he saw them together at the party? Would he try to take out Murphy and defend her honor? Would he try to claim her as his? Wishful thinking. Anyway, he wouldn’t be attending the Halloween party because they ran out of tickets at the pub yesterday so hopefully he didn’t get one. Not that is should matter if he was there or not or if either one of them saw her with a different man. She hadn’t made any commitment to either man.

             
She slipped out of her apartment as quietly as possible. There was no way she wanted to face her brothers this morning and answer their questions about her outing with the Sheila. Booker would never live that name down, that is if they ever became involved. If they became involved? She needed to slow her thinking down, there was no way they could become involved, unless she wanted her heart to be broken. Rule number one about living in a tourist town: Don’t get involved with the tourists, they will leave eventually. Maybe she should give Murphy a better chance, he at least is a local, a sexy local.

             
She pulled up to his shop and popped in. He had the best snow shop in Warblers Point. He offered the best equipment at a reasonable price as well as great instruction. She looked around trying to spot Murphy. He must have just re-stocked for the season because there were skis lined up on every shelf, snow boards hanging from the ceiling and plenty of outerwear to keep anyone person warm. She enjoyed perusing the winter clothes, he always carried a trendy variety that didn’t make you feel like a blimp trying to stay warm.

             
She was thumbing a fleece jacket when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her into a very masculine chest.

             
“There’s me girl.” Murphy said while planting his lips on hers. She fell into his embrace and enjoyed his tongue work magic in her mouth. What was wrong with her? She was doing the same exact thing a couple of hours ago with another man. She pulled away quickly.

             
“Hey…um, my costume.” She wiped her mouth, thinking it would wipe away what just transpired between them. He gave her a questioning look but then wrapped his hand around hers and pulled her into his office.

             
He reached behind the door and produced a garment bag. He was grinning like a fool and her belly flipped from the look he was giving her. Yup, she had it bad for him, but did they actually have anything other than sex?

             
“That’s my costume?” Fiona asked while nodding toward the bag.

             
“Tis’ it is Lassie. I think ya should look quite fine in it.”

             
He unzipped the bag and pulled out a red corset and the shortest red skirt she had ever seen. She stared at him confused.

             
“I thought we were going to be a Jager-bomb. How does me dressed up in a red prostitute’s outfit make me a Jager-bomb?

             
“Aye, you wear these.” He pulled out a headband with bulls horns on them. “You are the red bull and I’m the Jagermeister. Together we are a Jager-bomb.”

             
She shook her head at his creativity. “I’m not wearing that.”

             
“Aw, come on lass.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed her against his door skimming his lips across hers. “I think ya will look sexy as hell.”

             
Yea and her brothers would have a heart attack. “That skirt won’t even cover my rump.”

             
“There are stockings that go with it.” He continued to kiss her, up her neck, across her lips. She felt herself conceding from the numbness he was spreading across her body. She wrapped her hands around his neck and brought him closer. She took his lips with hers and matched his intensity. He pressed his core against hers and she felt his excitement, his very hard excitement. Gulping back the want she had for him she began to pull away remembering the reason why she couldn’t do this with Murphy, she didn’t want just physical in a relationship.

             
She was just about to end their mini make out session when she heard someone clear their throat. They stopped and looked toward the front of the store. Standing in tight jeans, a blue sweater and matching scarf was Booker.

             
Crap. She instantly removed herself from Murphy but he unfortunately didn’t remove his grip.

             
“Hello there, sorry about the public display of affection. Sometimes when I see me old girl here I can’t help me-self. What can I do ya for?” Murphy asked while grabbing Fiona’s hand and escorting her out into the shop.

             
Embarrassment and guilt crawled up her body causing her whole face to heat up. It’s not like she was really involved with Booker, but she knew they made a connection with him last night, emotionally and physically. Thoughts of their physical connection made her face turn from hot to inferno. Despite her bodies reactions she felt bad, she didn’t want him thinking she was some kind of hussy who went around kissing men. Wait, she was a hussy! She pulled herself away from Murphy and went to grab her costume.

             
She heard Booker clear his throat. “Uh, yea I’m here to get some skiing gear. I signed up for lessons online and I thought I would get a head start.

             
“Aye, well ya came to the right place.” Murphy stretched out his hand and said, “I’m Murphy Ryan, the owner of this fine establishment and instructor. You must be Booker Hall from California, I printed out your sign up the other day.”

             
“That’s right.”

             
Booker looked so uncomfortable, Fiona felt terrible. She decided to just leave without causing any complications since it seemed like Murphy had everything under control. With her outfit under her arm, she shimmied her way past Murphy but not right before he grabbed her arm.

             
“How rude of me. Booker, this here is me girl, Fiona O’Leary.”

             
Shock registered on both her face and Booker’s. She wanted to shout out that she was not his girl, unfortunately just a very good fuck buddy but that probably wouldn’t go over well either. Booker just gave her a nod and said, “We met last night at the pub.”

             
“Ah, isn’t she the best little server ya ever did see?”

             
“Yes she is.” Booker said while scraping his shoe on the floor. He didn’t even look at her. He looked completely dejected and it was all her fault. She hurt his feelings and she felt terrible about it. She should never have gone out to the pond with him last night. In that case, if she was laying out regrets, she should never have made that stupid bet with Murphy the other night because her terrible decision while slightly intoxicated is now causing her to dress up as a bull prostitute.

             
“Well, I’m going to get going. See you later.” Fiona tried to take off, but Murphy told Booker to hold on a second while he walked her out to her car. She tried to avoid him and just get in her car but of course he was not going to let that happen. He instead pinned her against her car door.

             
“What’s crawled up your britches tis mornin’.” He asked

             
“Nothing, I’m just busy.”

             
He leaned in closer, he smelled like heaven. His cologne was one of the deadly reasons she found it impossible to resist him. He was a breath away from her mouth, leaning in so close she could taste him.

             
“Can I see ya tonight?”

             
“I don’t think that’s the best idea Murph.”

             
“Why’s that Lass?”

             
Why was that? Because she didn’t want to get involved with Murphy since there was nothing of substance between them. Maybe because she met someone last night who held more interests with her, who intrigued her. Booker wasn’t an option though, he was going to leave just as fast as he came in. No, thinking about Booker was not a good idea, that was only going to lead to trouble and possible heart break like every other relationship she had. She just needed to focus on herself.

             
“Murph, I know you want to try things out again but I just don’t think I’m ready. I really need to focus on myself right now and what I want.” There, that seemed reasonable she thought.

             
He trailed his finger along her jaw and over her lips causing her insides to boil and her body to heat up. She felt her center start to melt with his gentle caress. Damn. She needed to leave and she needed to leave now.

             
“Your body is telling me differently lass. I will give ya a couple of days. You’re me date on Saturday, until then I hope me body floods ya dreams all hours of the night.” He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips leaving her treacherous body begging for more.

             
Why did she have a libido of a fourteen year old boy?

                                                                                    ***

              Booker stood in the ski shop staring out the door watching the shop owner, Murphy hang all over Fiona. Walking in on them making out felt like a canon launched into his stomach from only a couple of feet in front of him. It hurt, it hurt big time. Not because he owned her or that she was his woman, it was the fact that she led him on, led him to believe that she was available and interested.

             
Shaking out the disappointment in his head, he decided to push past the deceit and focus on why he came to Warblers Point, for some rest, relaxation and to get away from the fake life he was living.