Page 44 of An Irish Summer

Grant pretended to zip his lips, and Liam swooped in for a quick kiss.

“So,” Flo said. “Tell me your story. I like to get to know the people I’m sharing my family recipes with.”

At once, Grant and Liam launched into their story, finishing each other’s sentences and leaving no detail uncovered. They met in university, but they hadn’t started dating until they reconnected at a wedding in Scotland years later. Since then they’ve seen more than fifty countries together, and they finally feel ready to share a home (which to them feels like the biggest adventure of all).

I had my suspicions that Flo was a hopeless romantic, try as she might to deny it, and the way she devoured their story only confirmed my belief. It really was beautiful, the way these two very different men found a common ground on the road and built a brilliant life together.

“Paul,” Flo called to the bartender whom I’d never seen before. “A round of Limoncello for us, please.” She turned her attention back to Grant and Liam. “To you two,” she said, “and your story. And may this Limoncello be the beginning of a long and successful Italian culinary experience for you. Especially you, Liam,” she said, winking in a way that was so charming even Liam couldn’t pretend to be bothered by the teasing.

Paul slid a tray of cordials across the bar, and I had to admit I was shocked Limoncello was something we had stocked here.

“And to you,” Grant said, “our culinary spirit guide. And dear Chelsea, for setting this up.” We raised our glasses to one another, clinking before we drank.

I dropped into the background, listening as Flo chatted with her new friends. They discussed the recipes she planned to teach them, what her life was like in Italy, the amenities of Grant and Liam’s new apartment building, where they planned to travel next. The conversation washed over me, and I grew content sitting quietly in its warm glow.

Until Collin walked in. With Rhiannon close behind.

They were joined by a handful of others I recognized from Blackrock, but they only seemed interested in each other.

Although I felt tempted to run, I was determined to be more discreet. There was no reason for either of them to get under my skin in the first place, so leaving the bar wouldn’t have done any more good than staying put.

“Who is that?” Grant asked, following my not-so-subtle gaze.

“Who, him?” I said, gesturing toward Collin with my thumb like I had no idea why Grant would possibly be asking about him. “He’s the tour guide, and sometimes the bartender, and whatever else.”

“And does ‘whatever else’ happen to include being your lover?” Grant asked, looking right through me. “Because your gaze tells me it does, but that woman on his arm tells me the opposite.”

“Please, Chelsea,” Flo said. “Do tell us.”

I shot her a look that had no effect. She kept smiling, and I kept trying not to scream. “Nope,” I said to Grant. “Just a friend.” Collin must have felt us all looking at him, because he turned on cue and whispered something to Rhiannon before heading in our direction.

“Oh, shit.” Flo giggled under her breath. I did not join her.

“Hi,” he said when he arrived, and I could tell Grant was already charmed by that damn sideways smile. They exchanged introductions, and I forced myself not to notice how much more Irish Collin’s accent sounded in conversation with their English ones.

“You’re the tour guide, are you?” Liam asked.

“I am,” Collin said. “Interested in getting out to see more of the country while you’re here?”

“That’d be brilliant,” Grant said. “Would love to hear from a local.”

“See?” Collin said, nudging my elbow with his. The unexpected contact gave me more of a buzz than the Limoncello ever could have. “Some people are actually interested in what the locals have to offer.”

“They’re misguided,” I whispered loud enough for Grant and Liam to hear so they knew I was joking. “We try not to hold it against them. They’re good people.”

“She’s right,” Grant said, turning his attention to Collin. “We are misguided. We thought you fancied the woman you came in with, but now we see we’re wrong.” He beamed at Collin, who rested his bottom lip between his teeth while he looked for a response.

“Please forgive us,” Liam said. “My partner sometimes has one drink and forgets how to behave.” He said the last part with clenched teeth, but Grant only laughed.

“Sorry, love, but I have to call it as I see it, that’s all.”

“Have I mentioned how much I like these two?” Flo said, nodding toward Grant and Liam.

If I didn’t want to run from the bar before, I did then. Well, part of me anyway. The other part was desperate to ask Grant what made him think Collin fancied me instead of Rhiannon.

“It was a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve got to get back, but I’m sure I’ll see you around,” Collin said eventually, but not unkindly, looking over his shoulder to the group he had brought in.

“Don’t sound so excited,” Flo said.

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