“So Dec, how ya feeling?”

I nod. “Okay, actually.”

“Been telling ya that for years. It’s good for ya to get out.”

“Sure, and she’s extremely good looking.”

“Fiona? Oh, I know.”

“No, Amberlyn,” I correct, and he grins as he squeezes my shoulder.

“Yeah, she is. You should ask her out.”

I nod. “I want to. Give me a few.”

“Want me to ask Fiona to get you together?”

I shake my head quickly. “No, promise me, Kane, that you won’t say a word. I want to do this myself.”

He stops, holding his hands up. “Ok! Sure! I promise. Take it easy, Dec. I’m just trying to help.”

I must have said that sharper than I intended, but I know Kane. I know he wants to help, but I can’t let him. I want her to want me for me, not because her cousin asks her to. I feel something between us and I’m sure she feels it too, but I want to be sure before I ask. Before I put my heart out there, because she could be one to fall for. It’s sudden, I know, but I just feel it. Soul deep. And I’ve never felt like this before, so that has to count for something.

Now all I have to do is get my head out of my arse and do something about it.

I’ve been sitting in my car outside of the pub for an hour now.

I can’t bring myself to go in. I drove here all on my own, didn’t even tell Kane I was coming, but for some reason, I can’t get out of the fucking car. My hands are shaking and my heart is pounding, but I know I have to ignore that. Letting out a breath, I sit up in my seat, shaking out my hands before pushing the door open and getting out. Shutting the door, I lean into my car and take in a lungful of air.

I can do this. I can. Sure. No big deal.

Forcing myself to walk, I head to the door and pause, my hand hovering over the handle as I take in deep breaths. This is not a big deal. I am freaking out for fuckin’ nothing. Pushing in, I am prepared for the stares, but I find the place empty.

“Welcome to the… hey!”

I look up to find Amberlyn behind the bar, a rag in her hand and a smile on her beautiful face. “It’s you.”

I nod. “It’s me.”

“Come on in, you have your fair share of seats to choose from since the place is empty. You’ve missed the rush. I hope you’re not hungry ’cause I’m the only one here, and I can’t promise that you’ll get something edible,” she says with a laugh. Her laughter surrounds me, willing me to walk in and sit down in front of her just for the chance to hear more of it. “Pint?”

I nod. Hopefully, it will calm my nerves. “Please.”

“Sure!” she says as she fills the pint. “Now, please don’t tell me you want food.”

A smile plays on my lips. “Actually yes, I came for lunch.”

She lays her head down on the bar, looking up at me through her long eyelashes. She is so pretty, so sweet, and I love the playful way about her. “Ugh, you’re killing me, Declan. Okay, what do you want?”

“I can go somewhere else,” I say, even though that is the last thing I want.

She straightens up quickly, shaking her head. “No, please, I’m sorry! I’m just a horrible cook, and I don’t want to keep you from coming back to the pub!”

That won’t ever happen.

“I doubt you’re that bad.”

“You’re right; I’m horrible,” she says, smiling at me. “But nonetheless, what can I get ya?”

I glance at the menu real fast and decide on, “Bacon and cabbage?”

“Oh thank god, all I have to do is warm that!”

I smile as she rushes off to fill my order. I take the time to drain my pint, praying it calms my nerves and gives me the courage I need to talk to this beautiful woman. When she comes back, she smiles as she lays my plate before me. “Here ya go.”

“Thanks,” I say as I start to dig in and she refills my pint. Putting it beside my plate, she leans against the bar as she watches me eat. I know it should bother me, but it doesn’t.

“Good?”

“Sure, real good.”

“Thank goodness,” she says with a big grin. It brightens her whole face, and suddenly I’ve forgotten how to chew my food, as I get lost in her eyes. But then she looks away and asks, “So, about yesterday…”

I pause as I watch her. She is nervous, maybe even a little embarrassed. I don’t know why she would be though. Yesterday was grand, but today has the chance to be better.

“Apparently, I offended you.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, I’m not allowed to touch you or joke around with you, so I’m sorry and I won’t do it again.”

My brow furrows as I watch her. “Why not?”

“’Cause you’re the Whiskey Prince. I mean, I don’t get it, you’re just a regular guy to me, but apparently, to my family, you are the Michael Jackson of Ireland. So, I apologize.”

I laugh. “The Michael Jackson?”

She smiles. “From what I’ve been told.”

I shake my head and when her gaze meets mine, I smile. “You didn’t offend me yesterday, Amberlyn. I like that you think I’m a regular guy. It’s grand, and it’s how I want it to be.”

She bites into her lip, and it hits me in my core. She’s stunning. Her eyes are shining, her lips glossed, and I love the color pink on her. More than I do the green from yesterday. But unlike yesterday, her hair is down and falling in her face. I want to be like Kane and reach forward to tuck it behind her ear, but I can’t bring myself to do it.

“I’m glad. I didn’t want to offend you. I was just being myself.”

“Good, keep being you. I don’t want anything less than that.”

She smiles, backing away slowly as she promises, “Believe me, I won’t.”

We share a smile. She looks away as she busies herself with wiping the counter, but I’m not done talking to her. “You know that secret I’m taking to me grave?”

She nods as her grin grows. “You still keeping that right?”

I laugh. “Yeah, but can I ask what brought you to this great country of mine?”

Her smile falters a tad before she looks away. “My mom passed away two months ago.”