“I’ll bet you can.” He left his chair. “I’ll go see what they’ve got and bring your ale while I’m at it. What can I get you, Lani?”
“Same. Thanks, Kieran.”
Once they’d all left for the kitchen, Marybeth chuckled. “How nice of them to leave us alone for some girl talk.”
“Harry could feel it coming,” her mom said. “After living in a house with three women, he has a keen sense of when I’d like him to vacate the premises.” She smiled as male laughter erupted from the kitchen. “Besides, it’s a treat for him to commune with the guys.”
“We need to talk fast, though.” Lani zeroed in on Sara. “C’mon, girl, give. When a man spontaneously bursts into song in the middle of a sunny afternoon, there’s gotta be a reason.”
“Irishmen don’t necessarily need a reason.” Marybeth got a faraway look in her eyes. “They just love to sing.”
Sara turned to her. “Sounds like you had a fabulous time that summer. Did you stay in one part or?—”
“Nice try, Sara.” Lani pinned her with a look. “But we can talk about Marybeth’s trip while the men are in the room, whereas?—”
“Not if you want to hear the good stuff,” Marybeth said. “But you’re right. Now’s not the time. Sara, you’re up.”
“He kissed me. And I kissed him back. End of story.”
Marybeth smiled. “Looks like the beginning of one to me.”
“Me, too,” Lani said. “The beginning of a doomed love affair. But there’s still time to save yourself, sis. I’ll admit he’s damned attractive. It’s no mystery to me why you want to jump his bones, but?—”
“It’s not only that. He needs a friend.”
“He does.” Her mom nodded. “I found it touching that he wants you there when he meets Lucky.”
“I agree it’s touching, Mom.” Lani was clearly intent on making her case. “But he’ll have that meeting in the next few hours. Mission accomplished. After that, she can back away so she won’t be miserable when they each go their separate ways in a week.”
Her mom’s gaze was tender as she turned in her direction. “It’s not a bad idea, Sara. He’ll be bonding with his brother, with all the McLintocks. He’ll be surrounded by a family he never knew he had.”
“If I wanted to pull away, that would be the perfect time. The thing is, I don’t want to.”
“Because he’s beautiful, sweetie.” Marybeth reached over from the couch and squeezed her knee. “We all understand that.”
“We just don’t want you to get hurt,” her mom said. “Or Kieran, either. I like him. If he didn’t live in Ireland, I’d be dancing a jig over this situation.”
“Would he consider living in the US?” Lani glanced at Sara. “If that’s a possibility….”
“Not as long as his granny’s alive. She’s firmly planted in their little village and he’d never leave her.” She took a breath. “I hear what you’re saying and I know you’re both looking out for me. So is he. This afternoon he admitted that getting involved and risking our hearts is foolish.”
“There, see?” Lani smiled. “He gets it.”
“He also said they’re ours to risk.”
Marybeth sighed. “Spoken like a true Irishman. They’re so passion?—”
“Fair warning, ladies,” her father called out. “If you’re saying anything you don’t want us to hear, better lock it down. The men are on the move.”
Her mom flashed her a grin. “He’s lovin’ this.”
“Lucky’s on his way!” Desiree sailed out of the bedroom, cheeks flushed.
“He is?” Andy set a tray loaded with frosty bottles on the large coffee table. “He’s already adjusted to the news?”
“Hell, no. He was shocked to his toes. Dropped the phone. He says the screen’s cracked but it still works. He was in the storeroom with the door closed, so at least the customers didn’t see him in berserker mode.”
Andy frowned. “Is he safe to drive?”
