Page 44 of Naughty Irish Liar

“What is up with you tonight? That’s two orders you’ve taken to the wrong table. Get your head out of your ass, Catie.” Warned Dylan glaring at me like I’d kicked his granny in the cooch.

Sure, I’d screwed up, but I was a damn good waitress … any other time when I didn’t have Ronan MacNamara on my mind with hot little reminders in my body every time my muscles panged between my legs.

“Sorry,” I said biting my tongue. He was right, so I spent the next few hours working my tush off to make up for my mistakes and by the end of my shift he was back to smiling at me again.

I’d never before needed to work so hard to impress a manager, but my work ethic disintegrated the moment I sensedhimwalking through the bar. I don’t know how I knew Ronan was there because I was on the next floor up but everything in me sharpened to a crisp focus. My ears and toes tingled, and I got that giddy feeling in the pit of my belly.

Minutes went by as I helped restock behind the bar, listening to Dylan talk about his gaming crew … blah blah.. my ears were attuned to the staircase.

Waiting for him.

Where was he?

Shouldn’t he bedyingto see me? It was hours since he’d dropped me off at home.

This endeavor of wooing an Irish asshole was proving harder than I first thought it would be.

I’d fought with myself all damn day not to message him cute shit he would undoubtedly roll his eyes at.

And right as I dipped down to reorganize the beer fridge behind the bar I heard them. Two distinct feet coming up the wooden staircase.

Don’t ask me how I knew it was Ronan. Only I did, and my heart went into free fall.

“Where’s Catherine?” I heard. Smiling like a giddy idiot I stayed right where I was. How would it look if I popped up ecstatic to see him?

He’d come to find me, and my smile stretched my cheeks.

“Catie? She’s right here.” Dylan said giving me no excuse now but to rise, a blush crept up onto my face when Ronan looked between me and Dylan.

I’d been behind the bar… right next to Dylan. To anyone it could look as though I’d been giving him oral.

Ronan rolled up his brow and I deliberately wiped the corner of my lip.

I watched his eyes darken and his brow fall into a frown.

Joy like spring time ignited in me to see his jealousy.

He looked incredible in jeans and a dark blue sweater over a white t-shirt. Boss-mode truly suited him, but it was boyfriend mode I was more interested seeing him in.

“Hi. Were you looking for me?”

Say yes. Call me your girlfriend. Lean over the bar and kiss me right here.

Sadly he didn’t do any of that. What he did do was turn on his heel, heading back toward the stairs. “My office. Bring the catering information.”

Oh. Well. Not exactly a declaration of romance, but my begging heart grabbed onto it by giving Dylan an apologetic smile that I was leaving him with the restocking. “I can come back and finish it,” I latched on.

“Don’t bother,” he snapped. “Better run along after the boss,Catherine.”

I blinked, confused by his change in tone. “What’s up with you? I said I’d come back and finish it, just leave it for me. I shouldn’t be too long.”

His stare this time was scathing as he angrily slung a towel over one shoulder. “From the eye-fucking you’ve just been giving him I doubt you’ll be back any time soon, don’t fool yourself …or us.”Us? Us who?“We all know you have it bad for the boss.”

“Excuse me?”

“We saw it from day one. No guesses how you got the job.”

Shock had me mute for a full minute before I regained my senses. “You giant jerk. I’ve been nothing but nice andrespectfulto you. What I do or don’t do with Ronan before, during or after work is none of your goddamn business, so if you have a problem with my work I suggest you take it up with him.”

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