After greeting both women, Bill stepped in, leaning closer to Harper, giving Rory a chance to focus on Sandy. He nodded toward her drink and said, “Does that actually taste like Lemon Drop candy?”
“You’ve never had a Lemon Drop Martini?”
A chuckle erupted, and he shook his head. “’Fraid martinis are not exactly my style, but I remember my grandmother used to keep Lemon Drop candies in a bowl on her coffee table. Probably drove my mom crazy since that bowl was within easy reach of all us kids.”
“Let me guess… you just couldn’t resist the sweet and tart, could you?”
Her eyes sparkled, and she leaned in ever so slightly. Even sitting on the barstool, she had to look up to hold his gaze. Her glossy lips were close, and his brain short-circuited as he thought about closing the distance and seeing if they tasted as good as they looked. Sucking in a deep breath, he forced his mind back to the flirting and off the kissing. “Sweet and tart… best combination. I can’t help but ask—are you anything like your drink?”
She threw her head back and laughed, and just like her smile, it caught him off guard. Her belly laugh was real, coming from deep inside. Holding his gaze again as her mirth slowed, she nodded. “I would have to say that most people who know me say I’m exactly like this drink.”
Just then, Harper’s voice cut through as she said, “I figure the arson detectives will get that all sorted.”
Rory was uncertain what Harper was referring to, but Sandy turned back to the other conversation. “Yes, well, it was one of the arson detectives that broke your arm!”
Blinking at the sudden jump in the conversation, he looked toward Harper in surprise. “What?”
Harper exclaimed, “Sandy! You know good and well that no one broke my arm.” She looked toward the men and said, “I just happened to be at a fire site, and one of the arson detectives startled me. It was the first time I’d met him, and he surprised me. I fell over and broke my arm.”
“Damn!” Blay exclaimed.
Harper blushed. “Detective McBride felt really bad. He even took me to the ER and then back to my car.”
It took a few seconds for her words to sink in before he heard Blay snort while trying to hold in his laughter. Thinking of his staid, control-freak oldest brother, he barked out laughter as well. Seeing both Harper and Sandy staring at him, unhappy expressions on both their faces, he pulled himself together, clearing his throat. “Perhaps I should’ve introduced myself fully. I’m Rory McBride. My oldest brother is Detective Sean McBride.”
Harper’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “It wasn’t his fault!”
“I’m sorry, really I am,” he rushed, wanting to allay her embarrassment. “It’s just my older brother is always correct in everything he does. He prides himself on being responsible. Sometimes, it’s a little hard for the rest of us to live up to his standards.” He patted her on the shoulder and added, “But you’re right, I have no doubt he felt horrible about this.”
He turned back to Sandy, her eyes now twinkling once again. Glancing at his watch, he grimaced, knowing he needed to leave, but now that he’d met her, he wanted to see her again. “I hate to drink and run, but I’ve got to go.”
Sandy cocked her head to the side and lifted an eyebrow. “Hot date?”
He wasn’t sure if she was just curious or sincerely interested. Jesus, I hope it’s the last. Grinning, he winked. “More like a hot meal with my mom and dad.” The way her crooked smile beamed up at him, he was certain she was interested. “Would it seem too forward if I asked for your phone number?”
Her smile dropped ever so slightly, and he could see her mind working behind her eyes. She opened her mouth, then hesitated, finally offering a little shake of her head. “How about we save that for next time.”
“So, you’re saying there will be a next time?”
“This is a great bar, so I’m sure I’ll see you here again.”
“You can count on it. And,” he winked, “I’ll be looking forward to that.” With a nod, he said goodbye and walked toward the other firefighters. “Heading to the parents’. I’ll see y’all tomorrow.”
Terry looked beyond him toward the bar and then back. “She shoot you down?”
“No, not really.”
Terry laughed and said, “With her, get used to it.”
Not in the mood to play stupid guessing games trying to figure out what Terry meant and not wanting to sully the conversation he’d just had with Sandy, he offered chin lifts to the others before heading out into the wind.
He had thought a storm was coming, but thinking of the image of the beautiful, sweet, and tart blonde inside, he wondered if he’d simply run into a whirlwind named Sandy.
3
A week later, Sandy held the door for Harper as they entered the Celtic Cock. Harper had regaled her with her work woes, including the infuriating Sean McBride. Grinning behind her friend’s back, she could tell that Harper was interested but knew that her friend would fight the attraction at first.
As soon as they stepped through the door, her gaze shot around the room, hoping to see Rory. The handsome firefighter had remained on her mind since she’d first met him, but this was the first chance she’d had to make it back to the pub.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this interested in seeing someone again, but something about him struck her. Maybe it was the way he talked about his older brother, honestly confessing it was hard to live up to an older brother’s expectations while having obvious admiration for him as well. Maybe it was the way his hand had automatically reached out to offer her a choice of
