Taking Risk Series Read online

“A pint for me. Dec?” Kane says, glancing over at him. I do the same, and his eyes are intense on me. Gosh, his eyes are so blue. Almost sparkling, but his brows are squished together, along with his lips, in a straight line. He looks like he’s in pain.

  I laugh as I reach out, poking the middle of his head, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. I swear I hear people gasp, but I ignore them as I say, “I’m just asking what you’d like. No reason to look at me like that! Are you suffering from ARF?”

  He blinks a few times as Kane laughs from beside him. “ARF?”

  I really don’t know what has gotten into me. Is it the nerves of being around him? I don’t know, but I can’t stop smiling as I say, “Asshole Resting Face. You look so mad. It’s a beautiful day, the birds are singing, and you are in the best pub in Mayo. What do you have to be angry about? Plus, we are serving cottage pie, a delicacy that people come from all over for. My aunt Shelia is the best cook ever, and I promise it will wipe that frown right off that beautiful face of yours. So let’s try this again, what can I get you to drink?”

  He looks down, a smile playing on his lips, before looking back up at me, “Are you calling me an arsehole?”

  I shake my head, a playful smile resting on my lips. There is something about him that keeps me from looking away. He is beautiful, interesting, and I like the way his face warms with color when I gaze into his eyes. Leaning on the bar, my face resting in my hands, I say, “No, not at all. I just don’t understand the look. You don’t even know my name, and you are glaring at me. What did I do to you?”

  He leans toward me, and God, he smells delicious—something woodsy and spicy. This close, I can see that his square jaw has a tad bit of stubble, not much, but enough to make me want to reach out and touch it. With his eyes locked on mine, he says, “You’re right. What is your name?”

  In a low voice, I say, “Amberlyn Reilly. Shh, don’t tell, but I’m a Yank.”

  He smiles and winks. “I’ll take it to me grave.”

  I have always been intrigued by the accent here in Ireland, but Declan makes it positively sexy. With redness warming my cheeks, I lean back, holding on to the bar as I ask, “Great, so since you don’t look like you want to stab me any longer, what can I get you?”

  Kane laughs, but he doesn’t. He just watches me. He’s so serious, and that just makes me more curious. “A pint of beer please, and also some of that cottage pie.”

  Kane says, “I’ll have the same.”

  “Coming right up, fellas,” I say before turning to go get them a beer. Before I can, Fiona is dragging me to the back, despite my protest. “What the hell?” I scold.

  “What the hell? Amberlyn! You just poked the Whiskey Prince in the head and called him an arsehole! Are you crazy?”

  “What? He thought it was funny because obviously I was joking!”

  “He’s the Whiskey Prince!”

  “So? He seems just as normal as us.”

  Exasperated, she says, “Jaysus! Amberlyn, he is a big deal, okay? Wait…” She pauses, taking a large breath before setting me with a look. “Who is the most famous person ever that you love?”

  I don’t even think before saying, “Justin Timberlake.”

  She goes to say something but pauses before saying, “Oh good Lord, that’s a fine one. He is so good looking.”

  “I know, beautiful,” I gush with a dreamy smile, but then I am taken aback when she waves her hands widely in my face.

  “Focus! Imagine that Declan is Justin Timberlake. That is how big he is here. Maybe even bigger.”

  I want to ask why because it seems silly to me that a whiskey maker is so famous. Before I do though, I say, “He does kind of have Justin’s hair from NSYNC.”

  “He does, doesn’t he?”

  We both look around the corner at where Kane and Declan are talking. He looks so good, leaning against the bar carelessly, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. He is nervous, and I want to ease that. I don’t like that everyone is still staring at him either. He is a normal guy wanting some beer and pie. Can’t he eat his damn pie? I look back over at her. “He is so dreamy.”

  “I know, but he is engaged and totally off-limits to us mere mortals. I don’t even know why he is here. It’s weird. I mean, look at the way everyone is just staring. It’s odd, you know?”

  I don’t have to look, I know they are, but what I hate more than that is she just reminded me he is engaged. I forgot that part and now all my hopeful thoughts come to a crashing halt as my gaze falls back on him. He really is a gorgeous man, but like she said, completely out of my grasp.

  “I’m not going to treat him any differently. He is just a normal guy to me.”

  She shakes her hand. “I’m telling you that you have to, Amberlyn. He isn’t normal.”

  “Why though?” I ask before she walks away.

  “Because he is the Whiskey Prince.”

  Chapter 6

  Declan

  My nerves are all over the place.

  Since the moment we walked in and everyone’s gaze fell on me, my heart has been beating out of control. Then I sat down, she looked into my eyes, and everything disappeared. It was only us.

  Amberlyn.

  Fuck, she is beautiful. I thought she was something yesterday, but today, all glossed-up, wearing a sweet green dress with her hair tied up on top of her head, I can’t form a coherent thought. Kane was right when he said she had sweet eyes and freckles. Fuck, what a sight they are. They shine bright, her eyes, an unbelievable aquamarine that I’ve never seen before in person. They have specks of gold in them and shine even when she is looking at me all perplexed. Her freckles dust along her nose and cheeks, also in various spots all over her body. Her skin is red, and I figure that was from sitting out in the sun too long yesterday. The back of my neck is burnt, but having all the time I did to stare at her was completely worth it.

  Even with her running around the pub working, I can’t help but watch her and know where she is every second. Everyone loves her. They all talk and have a laugh with her, and when she laughs, I swear the world comes to a stop. I want to make her laugh.

  Problem is—I’m not sure how to do that.

  “You should ask her out.”

  I look over at Kane, who is stuffing his gob with the fabulous cottage pie. Amberlyn was right. It was the best—not that I’d admit that to my ma or grandma. “Fuck off,” I scowl, shooting him a look as she comes up to us.

  “Need anything, guys?”

  Say something. Say anything. Tell her yes, that you need her number! Say something, you eejit! I scream to myself in my head.

  “No, we are fine. Thank you.”

  For fuck’s sake, I’m a gobshite. Pure and simple.

  She sends me a quick grin before rushing off to fill pints for Fiona, who, by the way, is just a good-looking as Kane claimed. I wish I would have said more, but I feel something between us. She keeps glancing at me, holding my gaze as she fills things from the tap or makes drinks. The air is sizzling, and surely, I’m not the only one who feels it.

  “Kane Levy, I’m not happy with you!”

  I look up to find Fiona glaring at Kane. I glance over to see my best friend with a smirk on his face as he leans toward her.

  “Is that right?” he asks.

  “Yes, you didn’t call me and tell me you were coming in. I would have at least made sure my hair was done!”

  He laughs as he shakes his head, reaching out to take her hand in his. She glances down at their entangled fingers before looking back up at him. Her face is warming with color, her eyes bright as she leans into the bar, closer to him.

  “You’re undeniably the most gorgeous woman in the world. Bad hair and all.”

  She giggles as he reaches out with his other hand, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. I can see their chemistry; it’s blinding. I like her for him too and can see why he’s so taken with her. I’m also jealous—I want what they have. I want Amberlyn to come over and get lost in my