It was empty except for Oscar and Kiernan sitting at the corner table. Sure enough, Oscar was writing something down on a piece of paper he’d torn from his leather-bound matchmaker journal, where he’d kept track of the matches he made—the names and ages of the couples as well as details about their families along with any other pertinent information.
“Hold on now with you, Oscar,” Bellamy called as he strode past the wall of liquor and the bar counter.
“No need.” Oscar continued to write on the paper in front of him. “I’ve got everything figured out.”
“There’s nothing to be figuring out.” Bellamy’s footsteps echoed loudly in the quiet of the pub. He usually wasn’t up and about at this time of the morning, but he’d only slept for a few hours last night after he’d returned to the apartment. Then he’d gotten up early to check on the children and discovered they were gone. He’d been awake ever since.
“Oh aye.” Oscar grinned with a cunning that set Bellamy on edge. “There’s a lot to be figuring out, to be sure, now that the Shanahans have finally come to visit me.”
A strange wariness settled through Bellamy. Had Oscar merely been biding his time for the Shanahans to hear about the kiss? Was that why he’d been taking so long with all the other meetings he’d been having lately? Because he’d really been waiting for the Shanahans to visit?
Maybe Oscar had set up the meetings in the first place as a way to put pressure on the Shanahans to come forward. Maybe he’d also done it to put pressure on Bellamy, guessing that he would rather choose Zaira than a random stranger.
Bellamy narrowed his eyes on the older matchmaker. Holy mother. The man had outwitted him, so he had.
The front door swung open and banged against the wall with a force that reverberated through the building. James Shanahan stood in the doorway, the bright sunshine spilling past him and outlining his imposing frame. Attired as impeccably as always in a tailored suit, he was a fine-looking man. But today his face was nearly as red as his hair, and his expression was like that of an enraged bull about to charge.
He swept his gaze over the pub, and upon catching sight of Bellamy, he lurched forward, and his hands formed into fists. No doubt the fellow had finally heard what had transpired earlier in the week with the kiss and had ridden into the city first thing this morning to deal with the problem.
Bellamy straightened his shoulders, bracing for another walloping he deserved. It didn’t matter that Kiernan had already punched him. Mr. Shanahan had a right to release his frustration too.
“Da?” Zaira’s voice rang out behind Bellamy, and it was filled with worry. “What are you doing?”
Mr. Shanahan didn’t seem to see or hear Zaira and continued to barrel forward with his glare fixed upon Bellamy.
“Da!” Zaira shouted this time. Then she did what only Zaira would do. She flung herself into the fray, held out her arms, and lifted her chin. “Leave Bellamy alone.”
Thanks be, Mr. Shanahan pulled up short, but only just in time.
Bellamy placed his hands on Zaira’s waist, intending to move her to the side and set her out of the way of any flying fists. As his fingers made contact near her hips, Mr. Shanahan’s angry gaze followed the movement, and his nostrils flared.
“Take your hands off my daughter this instant.” He ground out the words in a lethal tone.
Bellamy gently guided Zaira to the side and at the same time stepped in front of her to protect her. He didn’t entirely release her and instead held her in place with one hand while he brought the other forward, holding it up to show Mr. Shanahan he meant no disrespect and that he also didn’t intend to fight.
“Everything is worked out, Da.” Kiernan had risen and was now shoving tables and chairs aside as he approached, obviously sensing that his da was mad enough to hurt Bellamy.
“No one touches or takes advantage of my daughters!” Mr. Shanahan pushed his face into Bellamy’s.
“I apologize,” Bellamy said quickly. “I regret I didn’t take more care with Zaira.”
“You ruined her!” Mr. Shanahan’s spittle hit Bellamy.
“She’s not ruined.” Kiernan grabbed his da and pulled him away. “I’ve started the match process with the McKennas.”
“A match?” Mr. Shanahan let Kiernan drag him back several more steps.
“We agreed to try a courtship,” Zaira said as she fought to break free of Bellamy.
Bellamy didn’t let go of her, though, and he wouldn’t—not until Mr. Shanahan calmed down.
Kiernan placed both his hands on his da’s shoulders. “Oscar and I have been discussing the terms of a match.”
“But we want to wait.” Zaira’s tone held a note of vexation.
Kiernan gave Zaira a sharp look—one that warned her not to argue.
“You’ll not be waiting!” Mr. Shanahan’s voice rose again. “Not with the rumors I heard last night—rumors I won’t be repeating.”
