Between Love and Loyalty

Chapter 1-2

Red stood and moved around her friend to head his way. “You look like a man in the know. What’s the deal with the crowd?”

“European football—soccer to you. This is the best place in the neighborhood to watch the games. Dermott springs for the premium satellite package so we can see them all.”

“Huh.” She sat on the stool beside him as if she hadn’t come with a friend. “I didn’t realize soccer was such a huge thing in Chicago.”

Waves and curls spread past her shoulders and freckles sprinkled across her nose. Her smile took over her face and his brain shorted out.

She wrapped her lips around her bottle of beer and erotic thoughts he had no business thinking of flooded his mind. Redheads had always been a weakness.

She thrust her hand forward. “Fiona.”

His heart stuttered with the recognition. Although they had never met in person, he knew her. Fiona f*****g Cavanagh. What the hell was she doing in his bar?

“And you would be?”

He banked the rising anger. She obviously didn’t recognize him because she continued to flirt.

“Connor.”

“Nice to meet you, Connor. So, tell me about yourself.”

His brain sped through the alcohol he’d already consumed. He needed to focus. The universe finally tilted something in his favor by dropping Fiona Cavanagh in his lap. “Not much to tell.”

“Are you married? Girlfriend?”

He held her gaze and shook his head. He picked up his beer to soothe his throat, which grew drier by the minute.

“Boyfriend?”

He sputtered a bit before swallowing. “Hell no.”

“I didn’t think so, but…” She drank from her beer again probably because she didn’t know how to finish. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a carpenter, furniture maker.”

“Hmm…a man who’s good with his hands.”

Connor gripped his glass tightly to focus. He didn’t want to be turned on by this woman, but she was making it difficult. Instead of thinking about using his hands to tangle in her curls, he tried to remember every detail he’d ever found on Aiden Cavanagh’s little sister.

He’d known Aiden had a little sister, but that fateful year, she’d been out of the country doing something only rich kids got to experience. Ever since, she’d only appeared in the news as part of her father’s campaign, the ever-dutiful daughter.

He’d take whatever he could get from her tonight. With a few drinks, she might loosen her lips, much like her brother Aiden always had. He might get some salacious details yet.

Fiona was a little tipsy, but she knew a sexy man when she saw him. And Connor was definitely sexy. He was of the strong, silent, and brooding type. His short, dark hair required no work. It made him look like the kind of guy who had better things to do than style his hair.

He looked as if he didn’t want to return her smile, but he did. At least what could pass as one. One corner of his mouth lifted into a crooked half-smile, but at least he responded.

At first, she thought Sarah had no idea who she was picking, but something about Connor pulled her.

His hand was calloused, but his handshake gentle. He was different from most guys she’d dated and different was exactly what she wanted. She watched his throat work as he drained his glass of beer.

“Let me buy you another,” she said. The way his eyes narrowed, she thought he was going to turn her down.

He waved the bartender over. “Dermott, meet Fiona. She’d like to buy me a drink.”

The old man raised his silver eyebrows. “You sure you want to waste your money on this ugly mug?”

“That’s not how I would describe him.” She slid a glance at Connor. Just then someone bumped her shoulder and she knew she’d left Sarah alone for too long.

“Are you going to introduce me?”

Fiona shifted back in her seat. “Connor, Sarah.” She pressed back so they could shake hands. Then she burst out laughing, and when they didn’t join, she added, “In my head, I said it the other way—Sarah Connor—with an Arnold Schwarzenegger accent.”

Connor shook his head at her, but Sarah smiled.

The bartender slid a beer in front of Connor and Fiona dug in her pocket for money.

“Don’t worry about it,” the old man said. “That’s the first smile I’ve seen cross his lips tonight. Well worth the price of a beer.”

When the bartender walked away, Connor asked, “So what brings you two beautiful women out tonight?”

Sarah smiled. “Maybe we’re here to watch the soccer game like everyone else.”

“If you want to sell that story, you might want to make sure you at least know who’s playing.”

Sarah gave a careless shrug and squinted at the screen. “The guys in blue played the guys in green. Looks like blue won. Simple.”

Fiona turned back and looked at Connor. He reached out and pushed her hair off her shoulder, allowing his fingers to linger a moment before resting his hand on the back of her chair. Slow heat spread through her body. “Sarah dragged me out to save me from myself. She was afraid I’d drown in self-pity. It’s been a crappy week. She hoped my problems might be solved if I picked up a new man.”

Connor’s eyes dilated as he listened. “Are you always so forward?”

“Sometimes.” At least when it had nothing to do with her family. She pushed the thought out of her head. She would not think of them tonight. “What’s the point of playing games when we both know why we’re here.”

He leaned closer and she waited for a hint of aftershave to tickle her nose. Only the scent of soap and a hint of sawdust met her.

“I am here for the game.”

“Well, then I’m sorry I interrupted. I’ll take my drink elsewhere.” She turned away and caught a glimpse of a smirk on Sarah’s face before he spun her back.

“I’ve been interrupted for worse. And Dermott was right; I’ve had a crappy week too. Let’s try this again.” He extended his hand. “Hi, Fiona, I’m Connor and I’d like very much to forget the crappy week we’ve both had.”

She took his hand. In truth, she probably would’ve given up on this mission had he been serious about getting rid of her. Instead, she stared into the dark blue of his serious eyes. “Hi.”

Sarah tapped her shoulder again. “It looks like my work here is done. Do you need me to stay?”

Fiona winked. “I think I can find my way home. Are you okay to drive?”

Sarah nodded and then looked at Connor. “Would you mind showing me your driver’s license?”

He stiffened a bit at Sarah’s request. “Why?”

“If something happens to my friend, I’ll be able to hunt you down and kill you.”

How Sarah managed to say it with a straight face and look a little frightening, Fiona couldn’t explain. Sarah was the most mild-mannered person she knew. But Connor pulled out his wallet and showed Sarah his license.

“Connor Duffy, be nice to my friend.” She hopped off her stool.

When Sarah handed his wallet back, he looked at Fiona and answered, “I plan to be.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Fiona offered. Turning to Connor, she said, “You’ll be here when I get back?”

He nodded.

Fiona slid her arm through Sarah’s and pushed through the crowd to get to the door. The cool air felt good compared to the stuffy heat of the bar.

“Having second thoughts?” Sarah asked.

“About what?”

“Sexy Connor.”

“No. I want to make sure you got to your car safely. And to thank you for tonight. I would never have picked Connor out of the crowd, but he looks like he might make the evening fun. As an added benefit, he doesn’t appear to know me, so…”

“Remember, don’t use your last name. If he looks for you online, he’ll find out about your family. Keep it simple and fun. Don’t fall in love tonight.” She gave Fiona a quick squeeze.

“Even I don’t fall in love in a single night.”

She waited until Sarah got into her car before turning back to the bar. Connor met her inside the door.

“I thought we could sit somewhere a little quieter.” He led the way to a booth on the other side of the bar, away from the TV. The room had quieted considerably since the game ended.

She sat in the booth and scooted to the inside. Surprisingly, he sat beside her instead of across from her.

“This okay?”

More than. She nodded. His broad shoulders nearly touched her. He waved a waitress over and ordered fresh drinks.

“So what do you do for a living?” he asked.

“I make jewelry to pay the bills, but I work part-time at a youth outreach center teaching art because I enjoy it. Tell me about being a carpenter.” She sipped her beer and tried not to think about how close he sat, but his hard thigh brushed against her. She began to envision him n***d.

“I build custom furniture and sometimes take on the odd job.” He took a drink from his beer and then turned the glass slowly in circles.

“What made your week so crappy?”

He stiffened a little and she knew she shouldn’t have asked. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“A job I hoped to get fell through. You?”

“Family stuff I’d rather not think about.”

What the hell were they supposed to talk about?

Connor licked his lips and faced her. “I suck at small talk. I like you, Fiona. I’d like to get to know you better. Are you interested in coming to my place?”

“Are you always this forward?” she asked with a smile.

“Sometimes. Especially if I think I’m in danger of losing the chance to be with a beautiful woman.” He leaned closer and paused, his lips hovering in front of hers, as if asking permission.

She closed the distance and their lips touched. Warm and smooth, unlike his hand at her neck, which scraped a little at the sensitive skin. His tongue swooped into her mouth as he changed the angle of the kiss. A zing of pleasure shot through her and she knew she’d go home with Connor tonight.

She put a hand on his shoulder and pulled back. “Do you live close?”

“Right down the block.”

“Let’s go.”

His eyes widened a bit, but he stepped out of the booth and tugged on a navy pea coat. When she moved toward the door, his hand fell to the small of her back guiding her through the crowd. He whispered in her ear, “Are you okay with walking? I didn’t bring my car.”

“That’s fine.”

“Don’t you have a jacket?”

“You said it’s close.”

Outside the cool night air brushed over her. She hadn’t brought a coat because it would have been one more thing for her to carry.

They hadn’t gotten far before the breeze went from refreshing to cold and she shivered. She hadn’t dressed for walking around.

“s**t. I’m sorry. Have my jacket.”

Before she could refuse, he’d already slipped out of the coat and slid it on her shoulders. The coat held the heat from his body and his clean scent. Her shivering immediately stopped. “Aren’t you going to get cold?”

“I’ll be fine.”

She pushed her arms into the sleeves and he put his arm around her shoulders. Since he’d admitted to being no good at conversation, she had to keep it going. “What do you do for fun? Besides pick women up at the bar.”

His arm tensed momentarily. “I don’t often pick women up at bars. I’m usually only there to watch the games and few women are around then.”

“Are you trying to tell me you lead a lonely and celibate life?”