Page 14 of Tee’d Up For Trouble

Jax looked blankly at Cillian and then turned to see me as if seeking an explanation. I shrugged. If the man was going to join hands with Cillian, he could take his-self far away from my place.

“I have no idea what that is.” Jax pulled his hand away and then walked to the bar.

“I’m such a fan.” Aoife rose, her hand on her heart. She was making googly eyes at him.

Little Baby Jesus!

Jax looked fecking uncomfortable and that made me feel better.

Cillian clapped Jax on the shoulder like they were old friends. “This is Aoife, my fiancée.”

Jax moved away and then nodded at Liam. He looked around the room, and I knew he could feel the tension, and he wasn’t sure what was up or down. He grinned at Ronan. “Please tell me we have that amazing stew again tonight ‘cause I’m frozen solid inside.”

“It’s chicken night, and you’ll like it,” Ronan informed him, flush with pride at Jax’s compliment.

“You know there are better places to stay than Ballybeg,” Cillian, who obviously couldn’t read the room or his quarry, who obviously didn’t want to have anything to do with him, said.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” Jax sat down and rubbed his hands together. “Dee, do you think I can have some Irish whiskey? I need to warm up after that walk.”

I moved and poured him some of my finest.

“We’re from Cork.” Aoife sidled up to him, and not subtly at all, Jax shifted the barstool to get some distance from my ex’s fiancée. “We have some lovely properties fifty miles away…with a golf course.”

Jax swallowed and pursed his lips. Now,this mancould read a room. He could see something was off, and he was determining how to handle it. I set the whiskey in front of him, folded my arms, and leaned back to watch the scene. There was pin-drop silence in the pub, like everyone was watching their favorite TV show. All that was missing was the popcorn.

“I’m on vacation.” Jax picked up the glass of whiskey, his eyes on me. “And I’m enjoying the view at Ballybeg.” He downed the drink, and my heart began to hammer in my chest. That look should be illegal. My knickers were getting wet.

“This is no place for a vacation,” Cillian persisted as he flanked Jax, coming between him and Liam.

“Do you mind?” Jax raised both his eyebrows. “I’m here with my friend Liam.”

Cillian looked like he’d been punched. I had to suppress a giggle, which was strange because I wasn’t prone to giggling.

“Liam?” Cillian had a blank look on his face.

“Yeah. I thought you knew Liam Murphy because everyone knows everyone here.” Jax grinned. “I love this place.”

“This place?” Aoife scoffed.

“Yes,” he gritted out, just a sprinkle of temper in his words, enough to make Aoife take a step away from him.

It seemed like Jax didn’t care about Aoife Kelleher’s perfect hair, perfect teeth, and toned body.

When I found them in Cillian’s office, his white arse slamming into Aoife, her business skirt up her waist, showing all her business—I’d been angry and had hurled insults before walking out of there. But for all my bluster, the truth was that I’d been devastated. Maggie had just died, and I needed support. I thought my fiancé, my future husband, would give me that, but he’d been busy boning another woman.

“Jax.” I leaned on the bar counter so we were face to face. I was taking a chance here that he was onmyside based on how he was behaving. “Did you know that Cillian and I used to be engaged?”

Jax’s lips curled on the edges.

“And did you know we broke up when I found him balls deep inside Aoife here?”

“Dee,” Cillian hissed.

“Oh my God, you’re such a bitch,” Aoife commented.

“I actually did.” Jax smiled widely.

I arched an eyebrow in inquiry.

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