Series: Dating #3
Still, Hope fulfills her bridesmaid obligations by joining the bridal party for a shamrock wearing, pint chugging St. Paddyโs day blow out. There she runs into best manโandย smokinโ hot gingerโKellan Townsend. Far too much green beer later, she finds out exactly what that fine Irish lad keeps under his kilt.
Afterwards, Hope wants nothing more than to walk of shame her way into a dark room and nurse her hangover. Unfortunately, wedding demands wonโt allow it. As if facing Kellan isnโt awkward enough, her mother picks that moment to launch into a fresh guilt-trip over her lack of grandbabies. Like a lucky little Leprechaun, Kellan cuts in with a magical offer.
A pretend romance to get her mother off her back seems like a wish granted. But Kellan has an agenda all his own. Can he use this opportunity to jig his way straight into Hopeโs heart? Or will he need a four-leaf clover to get past this workaholicโs defenses?
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Excerpt
Kellan nods toward the bar. โReady?โ He holds out his arm and itโs as if my body moves of its own accord. I take it and he leads me to the bar. โLet me guess, green beer?โ
โPlease,โ I scoff, waving him off, โitโs St. Patrickโs Day. I want a true Irish-inspired drink.โ
The bartender walks over to us. โWhatโll it be you two?โ
Kellan looks to me. โLadies first.โ
โIโll take an Irish Eyes,โ I say. The bartender nods and smiles and then turns to Kellan.
Kellan laughs at me. โIrish whiskey, huh? I think Iโll do the same.โ The bartender pours the whiskey in a glass and mixes it with a little cream and green crรจme de menthe. Kellan holds up his glass and looks in my eyes. โIt actually matchesย yourย eyes. But youโre not Irish.โ
I shake my head. โNope. Got a lot of German in me though.โ
Kellan takes a sip of his drink. โDonโt know why this is called Irish Eyes. The most common eye color among Irish is blue.โ
Holding up my glass, I clank it against his. โJust like yours.โ
His blue eyes twinkle and I avert my gaze to my drink. The way he looks at me makes things stir inside of me and I really donโt need my insides to be stirred right now, or even think of it for that matter. I should probably stop drinking.
โSo, tell me,โ Kellan calls out, โhow long are you in town for?โ
I take a sip of my drink, itโs loaded with Irish whiskey. โOnly till the wedding,โ I respond, meeting his gaze again. โAfter that, I have to get back.โ
His lips pull back slightly in that sexy grin of his. โSo, not long then. Hate to hear it.โ Iโm starting to hate it too. Shaking my head, I try to drive all indecent thoughts out of my mind, but all I can think about is hearing his voice in the dark, whispering in my ear as he touches me. I push the drink aside and Kellan laughs. โToo much for you?โ
I rub a hand over my face. The room feels hot, but thatโs probably because Iโm tipsy and heโs making me want things I shouldnโt. โActually, I was a little drunk to begin with. I think I need some air.โ
Kellan takes my hand. โCome on. Thereโs a private area out back we can sit. Iโll grab you a bottle of water and we can go out there.โ
He asks the bartender for a water and hands it to me. We walk out of the private room into the hallway and I guzzle the water as we head toward the door. When Kellan opens it, it leads out onto a balcony that overlooks the river. There are people everywhere and I can hear their chattering, but the cool air feels good on my skin.
โBetter?โ Kellan asks.
I nod. โMuch. I just needed some fresh air.โ There are two wrought iron chairs and he guides me into one.
โHow much have you had to drink today?โ
Groaning, I close my eyes. โWell โฆ I was forced into taking Jell-O shots in the limo. To be honest, Iโm not a huge drinker. Doesnโt take much to get me drunk.โ Kellan laughs and it makes me smile. Thatโs one of the things I never forgot about him โฆ the way he laughs.
โWhat are you smiling about?โ he asks, laughing again.
I turn to face him. โYour laugh. I remember it from a long time ago. You were always so fun to be around. I always thought youโd end up with Hannah one day.โ
Smiling, he shakes his head. โNo. I always had my eye on someone else. Didnโt work out though.โ
โYou mean Bridget?โ I ask.
โFuck no,โ he blurts out. โThat was over a long time ago.โ
His smile fades and I can see a flash of pain in those blue eyes of his. โWhat happened?โ
Sighing, he looks off into the distance. โShe did me wrong. Never thought Iโd get hurt, but I did. After she left me for someone else, I just didnโt give a shit anymore.โ
โIs that when you started growing a beard? In the pictures Hannah and Hallie sent over the years, I thought you were a homeless man.โ Thatโs not exactly true. Heโs always been good looking, but I really did hate the long, scraggly beard. Now, he looks sexy with just the stubble.
Kellan chuckles hard. โYou thought I looked homeless? Thatโs messed up, Hope.โ
I shrug. โHey, you donโt look it now.โ I glance down at his green get up. โRight now, you look like a leprechaun.โ
He peers down at my green tutu. โAnd you look like a silly fairy.โ But then he looks up at me and winks. โA cute one, by the way.โ We watch the people walk by on the street and theyโre all having such a grand ole time. Itโs easy to get lost in the appeal. Feels like itโs been forever since Iโve let loose and had fun.
Kellan leans back in his chair. โSo, tell me about yourself. Whatโs changed since the last time I saw you?โ
I shrug. โNot much. Got older and left town.โ
His brows lift curiously. โDating anyone?โ
โNo,โ I reply, shaking my head. โI was seeing someone a few months ago, but it didnโt work out. We really didnโt have anything in common. He was all into trail riding on his bike and I just couldnโt get into it. I tried once and broke my wrist.โ
Kellan snorts. โAnd did he wear that girly looking spandex shit?โ
The thought makes me smile. โYep, but he wasnโt very masculine to begin with. Maybe thatโs why I really wasnโt attracted to him. Not that I need a man to protect me, but itโd be nice to have someone who could defend my honor if need be.โ I roll my eyes. โOkay, I must really be drunk to say crap like that.โ
He smirks. โI get it. A woman should feel protected when sheโs with her man.โ
The door opens and Stewart steps out. โThere you both are,โ he says, looking concerned.
Kellan stands and I do the same. โIs everything okay?โ
Stewart sighs. โI think Hallieโs had too much to drink. Sheโs sick so weโre going to head back to the house. The limo should be here in five minutes.โ
I nod. โWeโll be there.โ
Usually, Iโd want the night to end, but I donโt want it to now. Plus, I donโt want to go home. My mother will still be awake and all too ready to finish her conversation about how I need to get busy with my life and find a husband. And if I donโt, sheโll handle it for me. My goal was to not go home until I knew she was asleep.
โWhatโs wrong?โ Kellan asks.
With a heavy sigh, I meet his gaze. โI donโt want to go home just yet.โ
He shrugs. โThen donโt. You can come with me and Iโll take you home later.โ
The thought tempts me, but I donโt know if itโs a good idea or not. I trust Kellan not to do anything stupid, but the problem is me. Iโm the one I need to worry about.
โAre you sure?โ I ask, second guessing myself, but then he opens his lips and talks to me in that sexy Irish brogue.
โCome on, lassie. Itโll be fine.โ
How can I say no to that?
Only 99c!
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Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters,ย and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels,ย including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
When writing isnโt occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughtersโ basketball games.
Heidiโs first novel,ย Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe,ย and openedย in theatersย onย January 19, 2018.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a childrenโs book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but sheโs also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why youโll never see her without a smile on her face.













