Page 68 of Tee’d Up For Trouble

“I never believed him,” Eileen Nolan said primly.

“Me neither.” Seamus raised his hand.

Saoirse arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know what to believe.” Then she shrugged. “But you’re good people, Ithink, so I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Liam Murphy looked me up and down. “Boyo, you screw with her, and I’ll finish you. I’m already dyin’, so the garda won’t even bother putting me in prison.”

“She doesn’t believe you, though.” Noreen sauntered to where I stood and put a hand on my shoulder. “She’s had it hard, and those photos…I mean, you know they didn’t look good.”

“I meet a lot of people, Noreen; most of the time, I shake hands, and they take a picture. It’s what I do at these damn sponsor events. I don’t even know the guy…but you bet I’m going to find out and rip his fucking head off.”

This had Big Gil written all over it. He probablyhadtalked about me to Cillian, who’d probably told him that I was holed up here and that conniving son of a bitch put two and two together and decided to use me.

“I’m trying to find a way out of y’all losing your home,” I announced. “I promise you I’m going to do everything I can. I don’t want a resort here. I don’t even like golf resorts.”

Everyone nodded.

Ronan walked into the pub, his hair windblown and his jacket hugging him tight. He grinned at me and hugged me. “Good to have you back, Yank.”

I looked at him, confused. “You’re not pissed with me?”

“About what?”

“The pictures?”

He shrugged. “Don’t believe you’re that much of a gobshite. And you’re in love with Dee. I think you’d cut your arm first before you hurt her.”

So, how was it that Ronan saw it but Dee didn’t? Damn, that stubborn Wild Cat.

“That’s true,” Liam nodded. “I forgot about how he’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to Dee.”

“Or a golfer with a ten-foot putt,” Seamus added, smirking into his pint.

The pub erupted into a few scattered chuckles, and I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t hide the grin tugging at my lips. “Glad to know my love life is everyone’s favorite topic of conversation.”

Liam shrugged, lifting his pint in a mock toast. “Ballybeg’s a small place, Yank. If it’s not your love life, it’s Seamus’s snake—or worse, Geraldine’s dog.”

“Hey, leave Poppy out of this!” Geraldine called from her table, glaring daggers at Liam.

I shook my head, exhaling a laugh as Ronan clapped me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, mate. She’ll come around. Dee’s just?—”

“Stubborn,” I finished for him.

Ronan grinned. “Exactly. But that doesn’t mean she’s blind. She knows. Even if she won’t admit it yet.”

The people of Ballybeg believed in me, and that meant something. But Dee still had walls up higher than the Cliffs of Moher.

“So, what are you gonna do now, Yank?” Ronan asked, tilting his head.

I straightened, meeting his gaze. “What I always do! Play the long game.”

Ronan snorted, shaking his head. “Hope you’ve got stamina for it. Dee’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

“Good thing I’m a pro,” I shot back, grinning.

Laughter rippled through the pub, but it didn’t ease my heavy heart. Damn but this woman was work! And absolutely worth it.

CHAPTER26

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