Page 14 of Wild Rush
“Ah. Isn’t that where you went on holiday, Sabreena?” Mr. Collins’s gaze moved to Reena. “You bring a stray home with you?”
“Pop Pop, that’s not polite,” Caitlyn said.
If Reena weren’t so freaked out by Mr. Collins’s interest, she’d find him referring to Rush as a stray funny. “He didn’t come home with me.”
“I drove down today. Reena piqued my interest so much with all she’d told me about Baltimore, this place in particular, that I had to come see it for myself.”
“I bet Baltimore isn’t the only thing you’re interested in seeing,” Caitlyn mumbled beside her.
“What was that, Caitie-bug?”
“Nothing, Pop Pop.” Caitlyn hid her smile behind her pint glass.
“The name’s Rush Whelan.” Rush offered a hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Collins. I’ve heard a lot about you and your pub. All good things, I assure you. I’m even more impressed, now I’ve seen the place.”
“Well now, that’s mighty kind of you to say.” Mr. Collins’s chest puffed out. “I pride myself on having the best Irish Pub outside of Ireland.”
“In my experience, you definitely do.” Rush picked up his Guinness. “Here’s to the luck of the Irish.”
Mr. Collins grinned and tapped his glass to Rush’s. “We’ll be seeing if you’ve got the luck soon enough.”
Reena’s gaze darted to Caitlyn’s. Silently she pleaded for help, although it quickly became obvious she wouldn’t be getting any from her friend. Caitlyn appeared as interested in Rush as Mr. Collins.
She hadn’t had a father to interrogate her boyfriends when she’d started dating, not that Reena had done all that much, but if he had been alive, Reena guessed it would have gone something like this.
One of the reasons she felt so attached to the Collins family patriarch was he reminded her of her father. Or how she thought she remembered her father.
She frowned.
It was hard to say what was real memory and what wasn’t. For years, she’d admired the fatherly traits all the older Collins men exhibited, and maybe she’d wished enough to make up those same characteristics in her memories of her dad. She’d never know.
The only remaining link to her father was a grumpy old aunt who had turned her back on an eight-year-old orphan while screaming “don’t darken my door ever again”.
“Hey, you okay?” Rush brushed a finger along her jaw to get her attention. “Did we bore you with our pub talk?”
“Oh no, it’s fine.” She smiled, hoping he’d go back to talking with Mr. Collins.
Rush’s brow creased with concern. “Maybe we should go home. You look tired.”
Widening her smile, Reena forced false cheer into her voice. “No. I’m fine. Besides, we need to eat and I’ve got nothing in the house.”
“And we all know you and kitchens don’t mix well,” Caitlyn said.
“Oh?” Rush cocked an eyebrow, the corresponding side of his mouth kicking up in that sexy way of his.
She moved her gaze off his smiling lips and concentrated on the conversation, not the scandalous thoughts those lips inspired. “I’m not much of a cook. Basic things are the limit of my culinary skills.”
“Which is why I get to see your pretty face so often. Want me to tell Riley to make your favorite?” Mr. Collins asked as he stood. “I’m heading that way to grab some supper myself.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Wait up, Pop Pop.” Caitlyn downed the last of her beer. “I think I’ll eat with you tonight. I’ll get one of the waiters to bring your dinner in here, Reena, that way you won’t have to worry about switching tables or waiting. Two of your usual?”
“I—”
“Sounds perfect, Caitlyn. Thank you.” Rush held out his hand for Mr. Collins. “It was a pleasure, sir. Maybe we could chat some more while I’m here visiting Reena.”
“Oh, you can bet your britches we will, Rush Whelan. You park your behind on one of those stools at the bar before you leave Baltimore and we’ll have ourselves a nice long chat.”
