Reaching for the mask, I pull it away from my mouth and try to find my brother before they load me into the back of the ambulance.
“Niamh,” I rasp when I finally catch his eye, “Call Niamh.”
He jerks his chin in a nod, but that’s all I get before the doors close and the sirens blast, leaving me entirely helpless.
Chapter 17
I watch as half my bar fuss over the kitten secured in the playpen across the room. I couldn’t put her behind the bar, and I didn’t want her to be alone upstairs, so I set up the pen where I could see her. Now everyone is loving her, taking it in turns to pick her up for pets and playtime.
“You brought a cat to work,” Ashley laughs.
I shrug, “What else was a supposed to do?”
“Why do you even have a cat?”
“It’s a long story, but she’s mine now. Her name is Pumpkin.”
“You and Roman have a cat.” Her brows shoot up. “Damn, girl, you’re really not selling this wholeit’s pretendthing.”
“Shhh!” I panic hiss, much to her amusement.
“You’ll be having babies next and still declaring it isn’t real.”
I stare at her blankly. “Stop it.”
But she just shrugs, “I’m not wrong.”
“You are so wrong,” I huff and turn away, hiding the way heat has settled in my cheeks.
“Youlikehim,” She gasps.
“Ashley,” I groan. “I do not like my husband.”
She chuckles, “Liar, but that’s okay. When you’re ready to fall head over heels in love with Roman Knight, I’ll be here, cheering from the sidelines.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I laugh but quickly school my features as Officer Wright comes through the door, dressed in the Sunstone Ridge deputy uniform, his hat low to shadow his eyes.
“Niamh,” He greets me with a smile, glancing around the bar.
“Deputy,” I frown, “Is everything okay?”
“I was just passing by,” He assures me, “Wanted to check in after the other day with your truck. Heard it was just a couple of kids.”
I nod and pick up a towel to dry my hands, “I’m fine, but yeah, that’s what they said. I’ve got the truck back now, so I just need to figure out what to do with it.”
“We added more patrols.” His eyes roll down me. “If something like that happens again, we’ll catch them.”
“Okay,” I try to give him a smile, but it comes out strained, a little tight.
“I, uh,” He rubs the back of his neck, “I wanted to actually ask if you wanted to grab a drink sometime.”
“Oh,” I cringe, “I’m sorry, I’m married.”
“As friends,” He rushes out, “Just to catch up or something.”
I open my mouth to decline, but I’m cut off when the bar door is slammed open and, for the second time today, Silas storms in. He finds me immediately and eats up the space between us with big strides, ignoring everyone around him. I glance behind him, expecting to see Roman too, but the door swings closed.
“I tried to call you,” Silas snaps out, making my head jerk back in response.
