Whiskey Prince Read online

  “They do not! They come for both of us.”

  I roll my eyes as I wave her off. “Go.”

  “Okay, I’m going to.”

  “Good!”

  She pumps her arms as if she is getting ready to go for a run and then passes by me, sauntering towards him in a way that only a confident woman could pull off. I watch as his mouth spreads into a huge grin as she leans against the bar and starts to talk to him. I want to eavesdrop but that’s rude, so I go back to work, hating myself for being so inexperienced.

  Later that night, Fiona and I work quickly to close everything up so we can go to bed. I’m beat and my feet are killing me, but Fiona doesn’t look the least bit tired. She is smiling, hard, and I know it’s because she spent most the night flirting with Kane.

  “He is so perfect,” she gushes as she loads the dishwasher up.

  I smile as I listen to her go on and on about how perfect he is. It’s cute. I ask her, “You ignore everyone else that hits on you—have you crushed on him long?”

  She nods sheepishly. “Oh yes, and I don’t even know what I’ll do if he asks me out! I’ll probably freak.”

  She screams, and I can’t help but scream too. I’ve never had this, the female bonding over a guy. I didn’t have a sibling growing up and not many friends. I was kind of a nerd, with my nose deep in a book. I don’t hate that about myself. I pride myself in my knowledge of the written word, but doing this, gushing with Fiona about Kane, makes me wish that I didn’t wait until I was almost twenty-one to experience this. This is something a teenager does but while most girls gushed over boy bands, I was swooning over Mr. Darcy and Edward Ferrars. Some may call that odd that I was in love with heroes from my favorite romance novels and maybe they have raised my expectations of men but it’s what I did. It’s why I want to be an English teacher, just so I can share these amazing men with the youth today. So they can see that a man with manners is way better than a man with swag.

  “He has me acting a fool. It’s insane! I know!”

  I smiled at her exclamation as she runs her hands through her hair. “I’m glad; you are beautiful when you smile like that.”

  She grins, but then her brows come together as she says, “Can I ask you something?”

  I nod. “Absolutely.”

  “You said earlier that he is more man than you could handle? What did you mean? It’s been bothering me.”

  I shrug, not going to answer, but she reaches out and takes my wrist with her hand. “You can tell me anything, you know that. I wasn’t trying to offend you; I just wanted to give you a chance with the first guy you fancied.”

  I shake my head, placing my hand over hers. “Not at all. I’m not offended, and I wouldn’t say I fancy Kane. He’s a good-looking guy but he isn’t for me. Plus, you like him.”

  “Okay, but plenty of guys come in here looking a lot like Kane, and you brush them off—why?”

  I shrug again, nervous as my heart pounds against my ribs. Looking up into her eyes, I smile sheepishly. “It’s just that I’m not experienced with guys like you. I’ve never really dated or anything. My only kiss was with my neighbor. I’m kind of a weirdo.”

  “Sorry? Do you mean you’ve never got off with a fella?”

  I pause as I look into her aquamarine eyes. Did I really want to admit that right now? To my surprise, I’m slowly nodding my head and then I say, “Yeah.”

  She can only blink as she holds my gaze. “I’m sorry, but I have no clue what to say. You’re gorgeous Amberlyn! What are you waiting for?”

  I grin shyly as I shrug my shoulders. “I never had time. Too busy with my mom and school and stuff.”

  Her eyes fill with sympathy, before she wraps me up tightly in her arms. I smile against her shoulder as I hug her back. I really love Fiona and I feel my mom knew that I would, hence the reason she sent me here. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I instantly loved my aunt and uncle when I met them but with Fiona, she just gets me, she understands and loves me, even when I admit horribly embarrassing things. She doesn’t make me feel like crap for it. In a way, she gives me hope with her sparkling, bluish green eyes.

  “Well, that is going to change. I promise you that!”

  I laugh as she pulls away and says, “Maybe Kane has a friend?”

  I shrug. “Maybe but I’m not looking for a quick lay. I want a relationship. I want to be wooed.”

  “Wooed?” she asked, obviously confused.

  “Yeah, like romanced,” I supply.

  “Oh! Sure, sure! Kane is good at wooing,” she says with a wink.

  “I don’t doubt that. He looks like it.”

  “He is and no worries. We will find you a fella that will knock you on your arse with his wooing!”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Me neither, I’m excited! For us!” she yells before her eyes get all glassy and dreamy looking. She then starts to spins in place before stopping and holding her hands to her chest, a euphoric look on her beautiful face. In that moment, I want what she is experiencing. I want to know what it feels like to be completely taken by a guy. Even though I was scared at first at the thought of falling in love, now I think it is something I might need to try.

  “I talked to that girl from the pub last night.”

  I glance up from where I am checking shipping forms. I hate this part of my job. It’s so boring, so tedious. I’d rather be malting than doing this shite. “Oh really?”

  A smile pulls at Kane’s lips as he looks down at his own stack of paperwork. He has been working for my da since we were both fifteen. His dad is a malter for the company, and his ma is my ma’s lady maid. That’s why we’ve been so close our whole life; he’s always been there. He usually works in sales, but today he is helping me with shipping since we are a wee bit behind.

  “Yeah, she is something, Dec, honestly.”

  “Fine, okay, what’s her name again?”

  “Fiona Maclaster, her parents own the pub and B&B.”

  “Sure, I know who you are talking about. I haven’t met them yet though. Heard good things about them.”

  When I look up, Kane sets me with a look and I ask, “What?”

  He lets out a breath as his hands come out before him in obvious frustration. “Because you don’t freckin’ leave! You said you’d go out with me. Have you? No.”

  “I don’t have time.”

  “You have plenty of time. Ya just don’t have the balls to step out of the gates of your home to meet someone. It’s like you’re Rapunzel up in your tower. Jump out, Declan, and get your feet wet.”

  I roll my eyes. “You act as if I’m a hermit. That is not the case—not by a long shot.”

  “Yes, it is. You stay locked up in this damn castle and don’t do anything that would potentially make ya happy.”

  I throw my hands up. “Fuck off, Kane! I do all types of things that make me happy. I read, I write, I ride, I take the boat out—I’m happy.”

  Kane looks at me, stone-faced, as he asks, “How do you say that with a straight face? That is the stupidest shite you’ve ever said. You are not happy. You are content and believe me, that’s nowhere near happy. I also like how ya didn’t deny that ya don’t leave the castle. We both know you don’t. Everywhere ya go is on the grounds and if you need something, you have it brought in.”

  I let out a breath as I look back down at my paperwork. “I don’t have time for this right now.”

  Kane scoffs. “You never do.”

  “Leave it alone, Kane,” I warn. I’m not in the mood. My dad has been on me about these shipments, about my part in the company, and then of course, about my mission to find a wife. I don’t need to be lectured by my friend too. So what if I don’t go anywhere or do anything? I am busy. I am trying to own a fucking company here.

  “Fine, when you lose it all, it’s on you.”

  As if I really needed that reminder.

  “You’re right it will be, so leave it be,” I snap before letting out a long breath and running m