Series: Dating #3
Still, Hope fulfills her bridesmaid obligations by joining the bridal party for a shamrock wearing, pint chugging St. Paddyβs day blow out. There she runs into best manβandΒ smokinβ hot gingerβKellan 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 wonβt allow it. As if facing Kellan isnβt 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 Hopeβs heart? Or will he need a four-leaf clover to get past this workaholicβs defenses?
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Excerpt
Kellan nods toward the bar. βReady?β He holds out his arm and itβs as if my body moves of its own accord. I take it and he leads me to the bar. βLet me guess, green beer?β
βPlease,β I scoff, waving him off, βitβs St. Patrickβs Day. I want a true Irish-inspired drink.β
The bartender walks over to us. βWhatβll it be you two?β
Kellan looks to me. βLadies first.β
βIβll take an Irish Eyes,β I say. The bartender nods and smiles and then turns to Kellan.
Kellan laughs at me. βIrish whiskey, huh? I think Iβll do the same.β The bartender pours the whiskey in a glass and mixes it with a little cream and green crΓ¨me de menthe. Kellan holds up his glass and looks in my eyes. βIt actually matchesΒ yourΒ eyes. But youβre not Irish.β
I shake my head. βNope. Got a lot of German in me though.β
Kellan takes a sip of his drink. βDonβt know why this is called Irish Eyes. The most common eye color among Irish is blue.β
Holding up my glass, I clank it against his. βJust like yours.β
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 donβt need my insides to be stirred right now, or even think of it for that matter. I should probably stop drinking.
βSo, tell me,β Kellan calls out, βhow long are you in town for?β
I take a sip of my drink, itβs loaded with Irish whiskey. βOnly till the wedding,β I respond, meeting his gaze again. βAfter that, I have to get back.β
His lips pull back slightly in that sexy grin of his. βSo, not long then. Hate to hear it.β Iβm 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. βToo much for you?β
I rub a hand over my face. The room feels hot, but thatβs probably because Iβm tipsy and heβs making me want things I shouldnβt. βActually, I was a little drunk to begin with. I think I need some air.β
Kellan takes my hand. βCome on. Thereβs a private area out back we can sit. Iβll grab you a bottle of water and we can go out there.β
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.
βBetter?β Kellan asks.
I nod. βMuch. I just needed some fresh air.β There are two wrought iron chairs and he guides me into one.
βHow much have you had to drink today?β
Groaning, I close my eyes. βWell β¦ I was forced into taking Jell-O shots in the limo. To be honest, Iβm not a huge drinker. Doesnβt take much to get me drunk.β Kellan laughs and it makes me smile. Thatβs one of the things I never forgot about him β¦ the way he laughs.
βWhat are you smiling about?β he asks, laughing again.
I turn to face him. βYour laugh. I remember it from a long time ago. You were always so fun to be around. I always thought youβd end up with Hannah one day.β
Smiling, he shakes his head. βNo. I always had my eye on someone else. Didnβt work out though.β
βYou mean Bridget?β I ask.
βFuck no,β he blurts out. βThat was over a long time ago.β
His smile fades and I can see a flash of pain in those blue eyes of his. βWhat happened?β
Sighing, he looks off into the distance. βShe did me wrong. Never thought Iβd get hurt, but I did. After she left me for someone else, I just didnβt give a shit anymore.β
βIs that when you started growing a beard? In the pictures Hannah and Hallie sent over the years, I thought you were a homeless man.β Thatβs not exactly true. Heβs always been good looking, but I really did hate the long, scraggly beard. Now, he looks sexy with just the stubble.
Kellan chuckles hard. βYou thought I looked homeless? Thatβs messed up, Hope.β
I shrug. βHey, you donβt look it now.β I glance down at his green get up. βRight now, you look like a leprechaun.β
He peers down at my green tutu. βAnd you look like a silly fairy.β But then he looks up at me and winks. βA cute one, by the way.β We watch the people walk by on the street and theyβre all having such a grand ole time. Itβs easy to get lost in the appeal. Feels like itβs been forever since Iβve let loose and had fun.
Kellan leans back in his chair. βSo, tell me about yourself. Whatβs changed since the last time I saw you?β
I shrug. βNot much. Got older and left town.β
His brows lift curiously. βDating anyone?β
βNo,β I reply, shaking my head. βI was seeing someone a few months ago, but it didnβt work out. We really didnβt have anything in common. He was all into trail riding on his bike and I just couldnβt get into it. I tried once and broke my wrist.β
Kellan snorts. βAnd did he wear that girly looking spandex shit?β
The thought makes me smile. βYep, but he wasnβt very masculine to begin with. Maybe thatβs why I really wasnβt attracted to him. Not that I need a man to protect me, but itβd be nice to have someone who could defend my honor if need be.β I roll my eyes. βOkay, I must really be drunk to say crap like that.β
He smirks. βI get it. A woman should feel protected when sheβs with her man.β
The door opens and Stewart steps out. βThere you both are,β he says, looking concerned.
Kellan stands and I do the same. βIs everything okay?β
Stewart sighs. βI think Hallieβs had too much to drink. Sheβs sick so weβre going to head back to the house. The limo should be here in five minutes.β
I nod. βWeβll be there.β
Usually, Iβd want the night to end, but I donβt want it to now. Plus, I donβt 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 donβt, sheβll handle it for me. My goal was to not go home until I knew she was asleep.
βWhatβs wrong?β Kellan asks.
With a heavy sigh, I meet his gaze. βI donβt want to go home just yet.β
He shrugs. βThen donβt. You can come with me and Iβll take you home later.β
The thought tempts me, but I donβt know if itβs a good idea or not. I trust Kellan not to do anything stupid, but the problem is me. Iβm the one I need to worry about.
βAre you sure?β I ask, second guessing myself, but then he opens his lips and talks to me in that sexy Irish brogue.
βCome on, lassie. Itβll be fine.β
How can I say no to that?
Only 99c!
Free in Kindle Unlimited
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Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters,Β and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels,Β including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
When writing isnβt occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughtersβ basketball games.
Heidiβs first novel,Β Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe,Β and openedΒ in theatersΒ onΒ January 19, 2018.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a childrenβs book with her daughter. Her favorite to write is romantic suspense, but sheβs also found a passion in romantic comedy. She loves to make people laugh which is why youβll never see her without a smile on her face.













