Page 48 of Player
“She’ll come around once the euros roll in.” He moves away from the bar and steps into the middle of the crowd.
“You good, eh?”
Finn shrugs. “Stubborn, is all.”
“You think you can show Eugene a move or two?”
“Nah.”
They stare at Finn in disbelief.
I inhale sharply, watching the gleam of mischief in his eyes.
“He’s had his fair share of embarrassment for the night.”
Oh, no.
In a half a blink, Eugene charges. He throws his whole body into a punch aimed at Finn’s smug face. I brace myself, wondering how swollen his eyes are going to look by night’s end.
Finn swats his punch away like it’s an annoying nuisance.
Someone tugs my arm. “You might want to step back for this.”
“My mot shouldn’t see this,” Finn loudly declares.
Eugene turns to me. “Close yer feckin’ eyes, Yank.”
I stiffen. Sure, I’ve been called a lot of names in my lifetime. Yank is as harmless as they come. But his nasty tone leaves something to be desired, and I’m two steps shy of jumping into the fray with Finn.
Our newfound friends come to my defense.
“A few pints and Gennie-boy is always bruising for a fight.”
“Leave his miss alone.”
“The pretty one doesn’t deserve a tongue lashing.”
Their shifting loyalties infuriate him even further. “This Northern wanker strolls into town and you lads fall in feckin’ love? He takes the piss out of me and you think it’s comical?”
“Here we go,” someone warns.
Finn chuckles.
I shake my head at him.Are you insane?
My answer comes quickly. Finn gives the entire pub a striptease show by ever so slowly working his new jersey over his head. Once removed, everyone waits while it takes him a full minute to fold it.
He hands it off to me. “Make sure no blood gets on it.”
“What?” I gasp.
Finn moves with lightning speed, thrusting his body forward and hurling his fist toward Eugene’s surprised face. He pulls his punch, so his fist lightly connects with the man’s chin as opposed to knocking Eugene back on his ass. Teasing the man.
“I’m not looking to fight you,” Finn murmurs. “But I don’t appreciate how you addressed my mot.”
I gasp as Finn hurls himself at Eugene. He body slams him and forces him to stagger backward.
Men scurry out of the way.
