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Ivy purses her wine-colored lips in answer, her dark eyes surveying the croith disdain I’ I have about five minutes before she simply walks out

"Just stay for a bit Please? I’ll buy you a drink"

Her inky gaze, heavily lined with black shadow, settles on hs That seeet served standing here So--"

Hoots and hollers erupt near the bar, cutting her words off First just a few, but soon everyone seeain, to peer over the crowd Three heads--two golden broith a hint of copper, and one clearly a redhead, only shaved--bob along

The energetic singer stops hter carries over the speakers to the tune of the struuitar "Well, wellwould you look at that strapping young Delaney fella! Did Marion shrink your laundry this week? Or did you lose a wager?"

A loud chorus of laughter erupts as more heads turn

"Before you askthat there fella is still looking for a Mrs River Delaney Perhaps if he didn’t dress like a poof, he’d find her!"

A bubble of excitement jumps inI’er that flashes over the crowd is his Finally, bodies shift

His grinning face appears first, his cheeks just slightly flushed with eht and earning ain, and I finally see what thea T-shirt that looks three sizes too sle one of his s at the CrossFit where I belong Worse, it’s very clearly a woh to show a light patch of chest hair

While I’ll admit that River, with a body like that--all its ripples and hardened curves--has nothing he needs to hide, he looks ridiculous

I can’t help it

I start giggling

His bright green eyes drift over the crowd, past Ivy and me

They dart back to lock on ht, trying to keep frouess why I’aincan’t he?

What do I do now?

He dips his head, a sheepish s on his way past his brother Customers poke and slap him as he rounds the bar and passes them

I know that he’s on his way toward o in Dublin, you’re hereagain" His gaze dips to my one bare shoulder for a second

"I auy before Sure, I’ve flirted plenty, but it’s always after the guy has made his interest well known I’ve never chased after anyone They’ve always coan in 1845 A million people died and anotherthe Irish starve to death, robbing therains in the name of economy"

His brow quirks "Not bad"

"I went to one of those norant tourists that you reco at him but I can’t seenition that tells hts plain as day