Page 38 of Dirty Delivery

My attention shifts, and I glance around the room. At first, it’s just idle curiosity, but then I catch sight of a familiar face. My heart skips. It’s Daria, my best friend Sarah’s twin sister. And sitting next to her is Sarah herself.

The logical part of my brain reminds me to stay put. Rylan’s words echo in my head, warning me to stay at the table. But the excitement bubbling in my chest drowns out the logic. Without thinking, I weave through the crowd, unable to resist the pull of seeing familiar faces.

“Sarah!” I call out as I approach.

She turns, her eyes widening in shock. “Savannah? Oh my God, where have you been? I thought you were ghosting me!”

“My phone broke,” I lie. “It’s been a mess.”

Daria’s sharp eyes sweep over me, assessing, while Sarah jumps up to hug me. “You could’ve at least borrowed someone’s phone to let me know you were alive!” Sarah scolds, but there’s relief in her voice.

Before I can respond, a familiar arm snakes around my waist, pulling me back against a solid chest.

“Evening, ladies,” Rylan’s smooth voice cuts in. “I thought I told you to stay at the table, mo stóirín.”

I plaster a fake smile on my face, suddenly hyper-aware of his possessive grip. “I was just saying hi to my friends.”

Sarah’s eyes widen further as she takes him in. “So this must be why your phone is broken,” she says, her tone teasing.

Rylan smirks, extending his hand. “Since Savannah doesn’t seem inclined to introduce me, hi, I’m Rylan. Her boyfriend.”

My jaw drops. “That’s presumptuous.” I laugh nervously.

Rylan’s grin turns devilish. “Didn’t seem that way last night when you were screaming my name.”

Sarah and Daria’s mouths fall open in unison, mirroring my own shock, and I want to sink into the floor. “Rylan,” I hiss, my cheeks burning.

“What?” he says innocently. “Just being honest.”

I turn back to my friends. “He’s . . . a lot. I’ll call you soon, I promise.”

Rylan doesn’t let go of me as we head back to the table. The second we sit down, I glare at him. “Boyfriend?”

He shrugs, unbothered. “Seemed easier than explaining.”

“You’re impossible,” I mutter, but the corner of my mouth betrays me with a smile.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Rylan

The warmth of the pub wraps around us like a familiar embrace, the lively hum of conversation filling the air. Savannah sits across from me, looking around with a curious expression, her eyes dancing over the rustic charm of the place. For a moment, I feel at ease—until I spot Declan striding toward us.

“Well, well,” Declan begins, his green eyes twinkling with amusement. “So this is the girl who’s got my little brother dragging his arse in here like a proper gentleman.”

Savannah blinks and glances between us as Declan claps me on the shoulder. “Pleasure to meet you, Savannah.” Declan’s grinwidens. “Don’t let Rylan fool you—he’s been trouble since the day he could walk.”

I roll my eyes and groan. “Don’t you have a bar to run?”

“Thisisrunning the bar,” Declan counters, smirking. “Making sure my baby brother doesn’t scare away the clientele.”

Savannah chuckles softly. A blush creeps up her cheeks. “Nice to meet you, Declan. The pub is beautiful.”

“Ah, she’s got good taste,” Declan says with a wink. “Take care of her, Rylan—or I’ll do it for you.”

With that, he saunters off, leaving a trail of laughter in his wake. Savannah turns her attention back to me with a soft expression. “Tell me about this place,” she says, leaning forward slightly. “It feels . . . special.”

I take a sip of my beer, my gaze sweeping the room, and I’m still captivated by the magic of this place, even after all these years. “It’s been in our family for generations. My grandpa built it after immigrating from Ireland. It was his dream—something he wanted to leave behind for his family. When he passed, it became my dad’s.”

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