“They’ll be far more likely to grant it when it’s for something unique that only you can do,” he advised.
“But I’m not sure if I’ll pursue that,” she argued.
“It would be crazy not to,” Connor countered. “Mom would never have suggested this if she didn’t believe in you. She’ll vouch for you. It’ll be better than trying to convince them you’re uniquely suited to working in a pub.”
“Well, I am, aren’t I? Who in Chesapeake Shores has more experience working in genuine Irish pubs? You could call me a consultant. That would be closer to the truth than relying on the photography approach.”
In the end, she’d managed to convince Connor to stick more closely to the reality of her plans.
“Luke will need to verify that you have the job,” Connor said. “Does he know?”
Moira grinned. “It’s a surprise,” she admitted. “I suppose if he thinks it’s a terrible one, I could still catch my original flight home and all of this would be for nothing.”
“You’re quite the risk taker, aren’t you?”
“Not until recently,” she said. “I’ve finally discovered that there are some risks worth taking.”
“Okay, then. I’ll be in touch as soon as I know anything,” Connor said. “Meantime, you need to get Luke on board.”
“That’s my next stop,” she assured him.
On the short walk from Connor’s law office to Shore Road, Moira mentally worked on what she was going to say to Luke to convince him that hiring her would be the smartest thing he’d ever done.
She arrived at the pub just as all the deliveries seemed to show up at once. It was chaos, with boxes being shoved into corners and furniture left wherever there was room. Luke was standing with a clipboard and his checklists trying to keep up with the pace of it all. Moira shook her head.
“You,” she said, stopping the UPS deliveryman, who was carrying in yet more boxes of china and glassware. She gave him her sunniest smile. “Do you think it might be possible to put those in the kitchen where they’ll be out of harm’s way and will be nearest to where they belong?”
He looked as if he might argue, but she grinned. “I think I can persuade Mr. O’Brien to give you one of our discount coupons for a free drink and a discounted meal during the first week we’re open.”
The man relented. “Show me the way. I’ll get those other boxes from the corner and get them out of the way as well.”
“And I’ll get your coupon,” she said, relieved that Trace had delivered them a few days ago so most could go to the inn for Jess’s guests. They’d kept a few on hand for situations just like this one. There was nothing like the promise of something free or discounted to gain cooperation.
While the breakables were all moved out of harm’s way, the tables and chairs were shoved to one side of the room to await final placement after the hardwood floors had been given one last polish. She presented coupons to those deliverymen as well.
“Tell your friends there will be lively music when we open,” she told them as they left.
Luke regarded her with appreciation when they were finally alone. “You appeared in the nick of time. Why didn’t I think not only to bribe them, but to point out that we’d welcome them coming back for a meal and a pint?”
“Because you were busy checking things off on that clipboard of yours,” she said, tapping a finger on it. “That’s why we make a good team.”
He blinked at that. “A team?”
“In the professional sense,” she verified.
He seemed to be struggling to catch up. “Have you reconsidered working here, then? After all the fuss the other day, I thought you weren’t interested.”
She shrugged. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ve already spoken to Connor and he’s at work on the visa.” She gave him a saucy grin. “I’m to be your consultant, brought all the way from Ireland to see that this place is authentic.”
“So you’re not longer concerned about being—what was it you said—a bit of Irish fluff?”
“Not with a fancy title like consultant,” she said, as if that were what made the difference.
He set down his clipboard and took a step in her direction, his expression hopeful. “Are we done fighting, then?”
“Oh, I’m quite sure we’ll fight again and again,” she said. “It’s the nature of who I am.” She held his gaze. “Are you up for the challenge of it?”
His lips quirked. “You know I am.”
She stepped closer, meeting him halfway. “I’m sorry about trying to force a commitment from you before you were ready, then getting insulted when you wouldn’t go along with it.”
“And I’m sorry for offending you by not understanding what you really wanted.” He pulled her close and rested his chin atop her head. “You’ve saved me by coming here, you know.”
“How’s that?”
“I had every intention of sneaking into Gram’s garden to cut a fancy bouquet for you by way of an apology.”
Moira regarded him with dismay. If she understood little else, she knew what that brilliant summer garden meant to Nell. “She’d have killed you,” she said, shocked.
“A risk I was willing to take,” he assured her.
“You wanted to make amends that badly?”
He nodded. “Moira, I’m not really ready to make a lot of promises, but I will make you this one. I will try not to be obtuse or careless with your feelings ever again.”
“And I will try not losing my temper when I don’t immediately get my way,” she said.
He studied her with a little too much amusement. “Can you do that?”
She laughed at
