Page 96 of Tee’d Up For Trouble

“Nikolai? He’s an arsehole.”

“I thought he was your friend.”

“Not if you want to see him naked.”

I laughed, and so did Jax. We joined hisA-listcelebrity friends who were mingling well with our Ballybeg kin, swapping stories over pints as if they’d known each other their whole lives.

Life had never been better.

CHAPTER37

Jax

I’d won championships. I’d played in front of thousands of people, cameras zoomed in on my every move, millions watching at home. But none of that—not the pressure of a final putt, not the roar of a crowd—came close to how nervous I felt standing in The Banshee’s Rest, a ring box tucked in my pocket, surrounded by the quirkiest bunch of misfits I’d ever known.

I’d lived here for a year and a half now, and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else ever again.

Ballybeg. My village. My home.

And Dee Gallagher—my whole damn world.

The pub was packed tonight. This past weekend's first charity golf game was a resounding success, and everyone was in a celebratory mood.

Mrs. Nolan was in her usual seat by the fire, chatting away with Seamus, who looked a little worse for wear after trying to “race” one of the golf carts earlier in the day. Liam Ryan and Connor Kelly were halfway through what looked like their third pint, arguing loudly about who had the better swing, and Ronan was behind the bar, grinning as he poured a fresh round for the regulars. He still helped out at the pub when Dee needed it, and she needed it today.

Dee moved between tables, holding a tray in one hand. Her sharp, witty smile lit up the room.

She had no idea what was coming.

I took a deep breath, glancing at Ronan, who caught my eye and gave me a subtle nod. He was in on the plan—he’d been the first person I told, mostly because I needed him to make sure no one accidentally ruined the moment. I didn’t trust Seamus not to blurt something out after a couple of pints.

Saoirse caught Ronan’s eye and went up to Dee. “Give me that, and rest your feet. You’ve been up all feckin’ day.”

Dee gratefully handed off the tray and made her way to a barstool next to Cadhla. She was also in theknowbecause she’d baked a cake forafter, so she slipped away quietly, leaving Dee alone at the bar.

I walked to her and tapped her shoulder. She swiveled on the bar stool and grinned at me. “What’s up with you?”

My chest felt like it was going to explode.

I held my hand to her, and she slipped hers in, though she raised an eyebrow in query. I pulled her to her feet and led her to the center of the pub.

She frowned, glancing around. “My feet are killing me if you’re wanting to dance.”

Slowly, everyone quieted. Some knew, and some were now starting to guess, which was why there were big smiles across the room.

I cleared my throat and the last of the murmurs died down, and all eyes turned on us.

“What the hell are you doing?” Dee whispered, her cheeks flushing as she glanced around the room.

“Patience, darlin’ Dee.” I raised my voice. “Alright, everyone, if I could have your attention for just a minute….”

“Get on with it, Yank!” Paddy called out, earning a round of laughter from the crowd.

“Right, then. As most of you know, Ballybeg has become a second home to me over the past year. You’ve all welcomed me in, shown me what it means to be part of a community, and made me feel like I belong here. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

Dee rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She did that a lot now. Sure, she could still sass with the best of them and scare the life out of vendors who tried to fuck her over—but there was a softness to her that came from happiness.

“But the most important reason I’m still here—isn’t just because of y’all, since you’re completely whacked.”

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