Breakaway (32 page)

“What an idiot.”

“Yeah, but he’s our idiot.”

Esa’s attention was drawn to the tourists lining up across the street for the Leary tour. “I want to take the tour.”

“Be my guest.”

Esa looked surprised. “You won’t come with me?”

“No. That’s for losers.”

“Oh, so you already took it?”

“Twice, actually.”

Esa had the shortest attention span on earth. Now he was watching a buxom redhead go into Finnegan’s. “Cute,” he remarked.

“Jailbait, I reckon.”

“Her ass is too big. Why do Irish women all have such big asses?”

“Excuse me?” Rory was deeply offended.

Esa backpedaled. “Not all. Some. I’m sure Erin doesn’t have a big ass.”

“Even if she did,” Rory replied crossly, “I wouldn’t care. Better that than holdin’ a skeleton in my arms.”

“Hmmm. You might be right,” Esa conceded. His head turned again, lowering his sunglasses for a better look at a leggy blonde blatantly staring at him. “I’ll meet Erin tonight?”

“Yeah, down at the Oak. It’ll be me, you, Erin, and Erin’s best mate, Sandra.”

Esa pushed his sunglasses back up. “Is she hot?”

The question caught Rory off guard; he’d never really thought about San that way.

“She’s pretty. But she’s seeing someone.” At least, that’s what he could glean from Jake spending so much time with Sandra. Jake had been uncharacteristically quiet about it.

“Why isn’t he going to be there?”

“He’ll be joinin’ us later. In fact, he works up at the farm with Aislinn.”

“Five people. That must constitute a crowd in this town.”

“Shut up, you Finnish prick. I’ll show you around a bit more and then you can go on your pathetic tour.”

Erin would never tell Rory this, but Esa Saari was one gorgeous specimen: hair so thick and black it almost had that blue sheen, and eyes such a deep blue that Erin was sure he was wearing a pair of those fake-colored contacts.

They were down at the Oak: her, Rory, Esa, and San. Jake was running late. Erin couldn’t wait to see him and San together, even though San insisted they were still just friends. But her eyes glanced away a little when she said it, a big tip-off she was lying.

Erin’s eyes were burning from sitting in front of her computer most of the day. After a quick hour watching Gina, she’d gone round to the B and B to fetch her things. Liam had been nice enough to drive her into town so she could load her things into Aislinn’s truck. Her guts were twisting when she went inside, but her mother was nowhere to be found.

She didn’t have too much stuff, so she and Liam were done in a flash. She thought her mam might show her face, even if it was just to scowl at her, but no. It hurt Erin more than she cared to admit.

Old Jack glided over to the table, all smiles.

“Evening all.” He shook Esa’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Who are you?”

“Jesus, Jack. You could be a bit more polite,” said Rory. “This is my teammate, Esa. He’s here for a week to blow back, relax.”

“Another hockey player, eh? Maybe we can get some more of you to come over and form a proper Irish hockey team.”

Rory laughed. “In your dreams, Jack. I know you’ve got one or two club teams here now, but the truth is, you’ll never tear an Irishman away from the football pitch.”

“What can I get you all?” He looked at Erin and Sandra. “Black Velvets for you two, that much I know. Rory?”

“Know what? I think I’m going to branch out tonight. I’d like a pint of India Pale Ale.”

Jack looked at Esa. “You?”

“What’s your strongest stout?”

“Russian Imperial.”

“I’ll have that, then.”

They had a few minutes to chat before Rory and Esa went to the bar to fetch the drinks. Esa was extremely solicitous, asking Erin and Sandra loads of questions about themselves and their interests. He was flirting mercilessly with Sandra, who was lapping it up. The minute he and Rory excused themselves to get the drinks, Sandra gave Erin a conspiratorial pinch.

“Frickin’ hell, he looks like he dropped down from heaven,” Sandra whispered.

“He’s certainly turning on the charm with you,” Erin noted.

“Jealous, are we?”

“Go chase yourself. I have Rory.”

“I’m liking the charm. It’s been years since I’ve had a man stare at my titties like that.”

Doesn’t Jake?
Erin wanted to ask, but kept quiet. She changed the subject.

“How you getting on with my mam?” Erin asked.

“The dragon knows better than to go after me,” Sandra boasted.

Erin put her hand to her chest, relieved. “I was hoping that would be the case.”

“She should have been in the army, your mam. Good at barking the orders. But I get it: the place has to run like a well-oiled machine, doesn’t it? Still and all, she’s dead pleasant with the guests.”

“I know. I think she really is happy running the place. Not that she’d admit it.”

“She’s always been one to get up on the cross when it suits her. She’ll get over it, by the way.”

“So you say. You look really great tonight, San.”

Sandra looked pleased. “Do I?” She took a deep breath. “It’s so lovely to be here and not have to worry about what I’ll come home to. The kids haven’t really been asking too much about Larry, except LJ. I told him his dad had to go away to where the jobs were, but he’s not stupid; he knows I’m lying through my teeth. But he’s content to leave it there for now. Thank God for your Rory, and Jake, and Jackson Bell: he’s finally got some positive male role models in his life.” She looked down at the gleaming gold tennis bracelet on her left wrist. “I never thought I’d hear these words out of my mouth again, but he truly is a good sort, your Rory.”

“I know,” said Erin. She looked at him at the bar with Esa. They were chatting with Liam.
Never thought I’d see that,
she thought to herself.

Rory and Esa wended their way back to the table, Esa handing them their drinks.

Sandra was positively flirtatious as she accepted her glass from him. Erin hadn’t seen her bat her eyelashes like that in years.

Esa took one slug of the stout. The sour look on his face took Erin aback.

“This is disgusting,” he said to Rory.

“You’re a wuss.”

“You have no taste buds.”

“Excuse me while I get something cold.”

“Finns,” said Rory in mock disappointment. “They’re such prima donnas.” He turned back to the table. “Let’s get our Irish on. Show him how it’s done properly.”

*   *   *

Rory was pleased with the way the evening was progressing. Esa was pouring on the charm, his charisma undeniable. But Rory could see he was even spinning a net around Erin, which cheesed him off. When Sandra and Erin excused themselves at one point to go to the loo, Rory told him to pull it back a bit. Esa needled him about being jealous, asking again and again how serious Sandra and her boyfriend were.

“She’s got four kids and has no intention to leave Ireland,” Rory snapped.

“So?” Esa laughed. “That doesn’t mean she can’t have one night of unforgettable passion.”

“That’s not her style. Trust me.”

“Maybe it is now that she’s met me,” Esa needled.

It took Rory a while before he noticed Jake standing at the bar, glaring at them. At first he thought he had to be mistaken; why would Jake look pissed off? He focused. Nope, it was definitely Jake, and he was definitely glowering. Rory excused himself and walked over to his friend.

“What’re you doing over here?”

“Assessing.” He tilted his head in the direction of Rory’s table. “That’s your mate, eh?”

“Yeah. C’mon. We’re having a right laugh.”

“Don’t think so.”

Rory was puzzled. “What’s gotten up your arse?”

“Your mate really seems to be pourin’ it on with San.”

“Jealous, eh?”

Jake raised his pint glass to his lips, his eyes still locked on Esa. “Look at her,” he said angrily as the women returned to the table. “All gooey-eyed, even lookin’ like she enjoys him checking out her body.”

“If it bothers you so much, then come sit with us. Defend
your territory.” Jake turned to him. The glaring hadn’t stopped. “For fuck’s sake, Jake. Stop being such an idiot.” He said it so loudly Bettina turned from where she was pulling some stout. Rory could tell from the look of intense concentration on her face that she was all ears now, so he lowered his voice.

“Come over to the table,” he repeated. “You’re my best mate. I want him to meet you. He’s just being nice, making her feel good. And like I said, if it bothers you, defend your territory. Show her you want to take it to the next level. Now. Tonight. Even if it’s something small.”

“All right,” Jake capitulated, still frowning.

*   *   *

Erin, Sandra, and Esa were already feeling good after a few drinks, so there was not the slightest bit of tension when Jake joined the table. That is, until Esa continued mesmerizing Sandra. There was no mistaking the antagonistic look in Jake’s eyes. Erin and Rory exchanged worried glances, but behind it, Erin knew they were both glad Jake had finally seemed to realize that Sandra and he both wanted the same thing: a good, happy life in Ballycraig.

“I can’t believe you were married and he let you go,” Esa marveled as he gazed deeply into Sandra’s eyes. He turned to the rest of the table. “Can you?”

Erin grimaced. “Actually—”

“My husband was a drunken loser,” Sandra supplied.

“I’m glad he’s not here to make you unhappy anymore,” Esa continued. “You deserve happiness.”

“Yeah, she does.” Jake sneered. “You gonna give it to her?”

Sandra looked at Erin with wide eyes.

Esa looked at Jake, puzzled. “Does it bother you that I’m being attentive to Sandra? Is it something you’re not capable of doing yourself?”

“You better feckin’ watch yourself, mate.”

Esa looked at Sandra. “You’ve been having a good time tonight. Am I right?”

“You’re right,” Sandra said. She touched Jake’s arm. “It’s just harmless fun.”

“Is it?” Jake snapped.

Sandra looked perplexed. “What the hell has gotten into you, Jake?”

“It bugs me, okay?” His voice was forceful. Impressive.

“What for?”

“Because I don’t like you flirting with him, right?”

Sandra turned to Erin. “Are you hearing this?”

“Look,” said Jake, “I’ve realized a few things.”

“Oh, what’s that?” Sandra retorted. “That you’re out of your gourd?”

“No. That what I want is a woman who wants the same things I do: a life here in Ballycraig.”

Esa looked at Erin and Rory. “Perhaps we should leave.”

“No one’s goin’ anywhere,” Jake declared. “I don’t care who hears what I have to say.”

Sandra’s expression was skeptical. “So you want a life here in Ballycraig. There are loads of women here who want that.”

“I don’t want to see them. I want to see you.”

“God Jesus,” Sandra slugged down some of her drink. “This is doing my head in.”

“Why?” Erin asked. “You two have been hanging out a lot, right? Plus, you had a mad crush on him at school.”

Sandra shot her a murderous look. “That was a hundred years ago.”

“Feelings can be revived,” said Erin. She leaned against Rory. “Look at us.”

Esa stood. “This is degenerating into a soap opera. I really think I should leave.”

Jake stood up, looking at Esa with contempt. “Think you’re better than us, don’t you?”

“Jake, c’mon,” said Rory. “There’s no reason to go down this path.”

“Don’t you?” Jake pressed Esa.

“It was harmless fun,” Esa said, looking bored. “Sandra herself said so. Just chill.”

Jake took a swing, aiming to punch Esa in the face. Esa deftly sidestepped the punch, grabbed Jake’s wrist, and twisted it hard enough behind his back to force Jake back into his seat. It all happened so fast that no one else in the pub seemed to have noticed.

“Jake!” Rory snapped. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Showing this arrogant asshole where he can put it.”

Esa slowly released Jake’s wrist with a look of condescension. “Tougher men than you have tried that and failed, and they weren’t drunk at the time. Let’s chalk this up to your having too much to drink. I’m staying up at the farm. I think it best if we avoid each other.” He turned to the table, smiling graciously. “Sandra, Erin, it was very nice to meet you. Rory, I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”