Bree stopped in her tracks. “And I’d tell her to mind her own business.” She matched my smile. “Which would annoy the shit out of her and then she’d give me hell for backtalking. She always said I had too much sass and not enough discipline.”
“But you made it through boarding school.” I rolled my head to the side and tried to ignore the pinch of guilt stabbing at me for what I was about to do. “I think she’d agree with me when I say be careful with Finn.”
“Yeah, going to need a bit more clarification on that. Neither you nor Nana get to be vague if you’re going to try and run my life.” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
Did she even realize how much she resembled Maeve when she did that?
Shit. I’d dug this hole, and I had to figure a way out of it without coming across as pretentious, a creep, or jealous. Should be a breeze. “It’s none of my business.”
“Damn right, it’s not. But you started the conversation. Finish it.”
I couldn’t ignore the challenge in her voice, so I swung my legs around so I faced her. “Finn has a bit of a reputation as a playboy. I don’t want you getting hurt.” I almost pointed at her, but that felt a little too commanding and pretentious. “That’s all she’d say.”
“Well, I appreciate the warning and your concern, but I can take care of myself.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder before strolling around behind the counter and starting another pot of coffee. “And as you pointed out yesterday, I’m a woman now. I don’t need you to give me warnings.”
Right. Of course.
She put me in my place as easy as Maeve ever had.
She’d be okay.
It would take time, and I needed to keep my opinions out of it.
Even if she hooked up with Finn?
I hoped it didn’t come to that.
7
FINN
There was a very good chance I’d crossed a line. The thought circled as I stood outside O’Sullivan’s watching people file through the door.
I shouldn’t have kissed Bree or pulled her against me like I had every right to touch her. She was drunk and grieving.
Fuck. She was the daughter of a woman I’d grown up with, for fuck’s sake.
I’d kissed her anyway.
My stomach twisted. I’d made plenty of mistakes and questionable decisions in my life.
Taking advantage of Bree while she was three sheets to the wind ranked pretty damn high on the list of things I shouldn’t have done.
I didn’t regret my actions as much as I should, only that I’d let it happen while she was so drunk she might not remember.
Course, she’d asked me to come in. She’d asked me for a hell of a lot more than that. Didn’t matter. I should’ve been the better man, more like Declan or Ronan.
Nothing I could do about it now.
I tugged the collar of my green shirt and stepped inside.
The scent of Bailey’s spiked coffee hit me first, followed by the sound of voices thick with emotion and Guinness.
Shamrock decorations covered every available surface.
Green ribbons hung from the ceiling and tiny shamrock glitter had been sprinkled across the tables.
Maeve would’ve loved it. She’d have been in the thick of it, pouring drinks and telling everyone to quit being maudlin bastards. She’d have cried without shame and hugged every person in sight.
