She steered Kristen toward the door at a pace that had her stumbling in her very high heels.
“Lovely woman,” Moira commented lightly.
Luke turned to her with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. She was deliberately taunting you. It’s what she does. She’s angry with me and she enjoys stirring up trouble. It’s an ugly combination.”
“She can only cause real trouble if there’s some truth to what she says.” She leveled a look into his eyes. “Is there, Luke? Is something still going on between the two of you? Have I somehow missed the signs that it’s not entirely over? It would certainly explain why you don’t seem willing to take the next step with me.”
“Absolutely not,” he swore. “I’ve broken it off.”
“When?” she asked. “In Ireland, before she left after that new year’s visit? Before we got together?”
His hesitation was all she needed to figure out the truth. “More recently, then,” she concluded wearily. “Was it going on until the day I arrived, then? Did my unexpected appearance put a crimp in the romance?”
“No, absolutely not,” he repeated. “And it was over in Ireland, I swear it. I just didn’t tell her point-blank until I got back here.”
“After sleeping with her how many times?”
The question clearly rattled him. “Could we hold off on this discussion until later?” he pleaded. “People are starting to arrive. We shouldn’t be fighting.”
“Yes, that would make this an inconvenient time, wouldn’t it?” she said quietly. “Later, then.”
She turned and walked away.
“Moira, wait.”
Fortunately for her, people were indeed surging into the pub. The band began playing. Guinness was being poured at a record clip and the noise level was almost enough to drown out all the voices in her head telling her that on the biggest night of Luke’s life, she’d lost the one thing that truly mattered to her…her faith in what they were building together.
There was no question that the night had been a rousing success. Luke knew that from the laughter and conversation that flowed easily around the room, from the people who came and stayed on rather than leaving after offering a few polite comments. Positive remarks were directed his way not just from his own family, but from all the invited guests who’d dropped by to wish him well and lingered for the party atmosphere.
The band was a huge hit as well. As his father had suggested, the locals must have considered themselves in some part Irish, because they seemed familiar with most of the lyrics and sang along lustily to all the traditional songs.
Over the course of the evening he’d caught barely more than a glimpse of Moira. He knew Kristen’s comments had hurt her, just as they’d been designed to do. His inability to defend himself against what she’d implied had made it worse. After weeks of looking forward to this opening, now he only wanted for it to be over so he could find Moira and mend fences with her. They should be celebrating together, but it seemed they were further apart than ever.
It was nearing closing time and the crowd had yet to thin out. He was mentally wishing them away when his parents came up to him.
“You must be so proud,” his mother said. “Just look at what you’ve accomplished, and in record time, too.”
“It’s only the grand opening party,” he cautioned. “It’ll take time before I know if this enthusiasm will hold once people have to pay for their food and drink.”
“It will,” his father said. “Things went like clockwork. I’ve been to other openings when the kitchen was overwhelmed or the waitstaff inexperienced and clumsy. That never happened here.”
“I can thank Moira and Gram for that,” Luke said candidly. “I don’t think Gram left the kitchen for more than a minute all evening. She seemed to thrive on supervising. And Moira was at work behind the scenes to make sure things ran smoothly.”
“Where is she now?” Jo asked. “I’d like to thank her and say good-night.”
“I’m not sure,” Luke said. “The kitchen maybe. Or perhaps she’s taking a well-deserved break in the office.”
“I’ll take a look,” Jo said.
That left Luke alone with his father. “Do you really think it has staying power? Tell me honestly.”
“I do,” Jeff said. “You’ve done not just yourself, but the entire family, proud.”
“I concur,” Mick said, joining them. “Your Irish ancestors are looking on tonight with delight. Any one of them would be comfortable in a place like this. It’s everything a place called O’Brien’s ought to be.”
“I’ll second that,” his uncle Thomas added. He circled an arm around his wife’s expanding waist. “I’d stay for another set of that fine music, but if I don’t get this mama-to-be home soon, she’ll be asleep on her feet.”
“I’m afraid I’m exhausted all the time,” Connie added. “But I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, Luke. And I can tell our little one here that he or she was here for the grand opening of Chesapeake Shores’ hottest nightspot. That’s what you’ll be soon, you know.”
Luke was embarrassed by all the accolades. “You don’t have to keep cheerleading for me,” he told them all, feeling chagrined by their apparent need to keep reassuring him. “I’m feeling okay about the chances for this place after tonight.”
“It’s not cheerleading,” Mick said. “We just want you to know how proud we are.” He glanced toward his brother. “In case your father here can’t find the words.”
“I found plenty of words,” Jeff grumbled. “You just insist on having the last one.”
“He’s got you there, Mick,” Thomas said. “That is your habit.”
“Well, tonight I’ll leave it to Jeff to have the last one.” He winked at Luke.
