Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“His mum and dad are truly proud of that boy,” John said with a smile.
Watching Preston, I realized it was the first time I’d seen such a gleam in his eyes. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him on the fiddle with a bunch of crazy, Red Sox–loving Irishmen singing along to something he was playing.
“He seems to be at home here,” I said as I turned back to look at John.
John was looking at Preston with such a loving look. “He wants this place. Always has.”
Pulling my head back in shock, I asked, “What do you mean he wants this place?”
John shook his head and laughed. “Preston must have been about ten years old when he stood on this bar…almost in the exact location you’re sitting…and he proclaimed that he was going to run this pub someday.”
Letting out a chuckle, I looked over at Preston. My smile faded some. “I thought he loved being a firefighter.” Preston looked up at me right then and smiled the biggest smile I thought I’d ever seen. My smile back to him was so natural. We hadn’t really known each other all that long, but it was important for me to know Preston was happy. I saw the sadness in his eyes and I knew from talking to Jake that Preston was having a very hard time dealing with TJ’s death and the confusion about where he saw his future going.
John’s voice pulled me from my thoughts and I jumped slightly. “That boy loves firefighting. It’s in his blood. Firefighting goes back four generations on his daddy’s side of the family.”
“But his dream is to own a pub?” I asked, glancing back at John.
“Not just any pub, darlin’. This pub.”
Tilting my head, I looked into John’s eyes. “Why doesn’t he work here?”
Shrugging his shoulders, he made a face. “That’s something you’d have to ask him. He used to work here but then stopped when he started dating that Sherry girl.” Leaning in closer, he used his finger to motion me in closer. “According to his momma, Sherry thought it was beneath Preston to work here. Even more so, she thought he should be working like his older brother Weston, doing banking and shit.” Shaking his head, John looked back at Preston, who was now standing there talking to a few people. “Nah, not my Preston. Out of all my sister’s kids, Preston, I think, has the strongest flow of Irish blood moving through those veins of his.”
Preston walked back over and sat down. “Man, oh man, that was some fun shit.”
“Language, Preston James Ward.”
Giggling, I looked at Preston. “You’re in trouble now. The middle name was used.”
Preston rolled his eyes as he downed his beer. The way his lips wrapped around the bottle was almost sinful. Chewing on my bottom lip, I fought the pull in my lower stomach. I wasn’t sure why Preston looked extra hot, but he did and I needed to look away.
My eyes moved down to his lips as I watched him talking to his uncle.
Look away, Harmony.
His jaw clenched and I knew he was agitated. I’d seen him do the same thing earlier today when his friend at the station started flirting with me. I hadn’t thought anything of it until Preston came storming out of his captain’s office. I saw it all over his face. Worry…or maybe it was jealousy. I wasn’t sure because he kept making sure he told people I was just his friend.
Preston licked his lips and a small moan slipped from my lips as I quickly looked away.
“You okay, Harmony? Are you feeling okay?”
Glancing back at him, I scrunched up my nose and said, “Yeah, why?”
Preston looked confused as he said, “Nothing, I thought I heard you moan.”
My eyes caught Preston’s and we were both lost in our stare.
John slammed his hand down on the bar and Preston and I both jumped. “Who wants dessert?”
I tried like hell to look away, but Preston’s green eyes held mine. Then he smiled that smile I was quickly finding myself longing for. “I’ve got dessert covered, Uncle John.”
Lifting my eyebrows, I narrowed my eyes at Preston and said, “Oh, really?”
His smile grew bigger and his eyes danced with excitement. It didn’t take long for that excitement to pass over to me. All kinds of thoughts entered my mind as to what I hoped dessert would be.
Ugh. Stop this, Harmony. You’re just friends.
John laughed when Preston turned and looked at him. “I’m going to guess you gave your cousin a call.”
Slipping off the barstool, Preston nodded. “Yes, sir, I did.”
Looking between both men, I asked, “Wait. What’s dessert going to be that you had to call in a favor? Your last favor was pretty big, Preston.”
Preston reached over and pulled my baseball cap down over my eyes as he said, “Don’t you worry your pretty little head, Yankees girl. I’ve got this.”