As her uncle left, she turned to him. "We should go."
The determined look in her gaze told him she was already thinking about work, and that was fine, because he was, too.
"Let's do an Irish goodbye," Kara said as she led him through the bar. "It's faster."
"What's an Irish goodbye?"
"You just slip away. Otherwise, it will take us an hour to leave."
"Won't your family care?"
"They'll still be thinking how happy they are I had a date," she said dryly. As they left the bar and hit the chilly night air, she added, "You did well, by the way. Very convincing."
"I told you I would be," he said as they got into her car. "Although I'm disappointed that I didn't get to throw in a kiss before we left."
She rolled her eyes. "That would have been even more over the top. Seriously, you were way too complimentary and adoring. No one acts like that."
"You mean your last boyfriend didn't act like that?"
"None of them have."
"That's kind of sad," he said as he fastened his seatbelt. "Your mother is right; you deserve better."
"I don't think anyone acts that loving and protective unless they're putting on a front, as you were. Have you ever treated anyone else like that when you met their family?"
"I haven't met many families," he said, seeing an interested gleam flit through her eyes. "I usually get out before that happens."
"Then why were you so confident you could charm mine?"
"Because I am good at being charming, at knowing what people want to see and to hear. Your mom and your family want you to be happy, so I wanted them to know that was my goal, too."
"But it was an act."
"Well, it's not like I want you to be unhappy."
"You really never had a relationship that lasted long enough to meet the parents?"
"There was one girl back in college. She took me home for Christmas vacation because my parents were out of the country. Her family was nice, but very proper. Everything was perfect. The food was impeccable, but no one talked to each other, and it felt so awkward. I didn't grow up in a family like yours, but my parents could banter. They were intellectually challenging to each other. They'd argue about some random fact in history that no one else would even know for an hour straight before they'd finally laugh and call it a draw."
She gave him a quick look. "That's the first thing you've said about them."
He shrugged. "It's not like we've had a lot of time to share stories."
"It sounds like they were in love."
"I think they were," he said. "My father was broken up when my mom died. It was the first time I realized she was the rock in the family. He had the strength, the big laugh, the firm voice, but she was the one who kept us steady."
"Do you still see your dad?"
"Not very much, maybe once a year."
"Why so rarely?"
"He lives in Bath, as I mentioned. And I've spent a lot of time in other parts of the world."
"Is he remarried?"
"No, but I noticed he has a female friend who seems to spend time with him. We don't have the kind of relationship where I would ask him outright, or he would ask me, for that matter. Not like your mother and aunt, who are very nosy."
