Kate Hoffmann - Riley

“I know,” Riley said, nodding. He took a long sip of his ale then noticed the group around the dartboards getting a bit rowdier than before. “I think it’s time to take her home. Before they all start drooling on her.”

As he wove his way through the patrons, Riley couldn’t help but wonder just what he was doing. Danny was right. Nan would be leaving in ten days. Falling in love with her would be an exercise in futility. But holding back his affections wouldn’t be right, either. He wanted to surrender to this crazy infatuation and see where it led. And if it led to sadness in the end, then he could handle it.

When Riley reached the group, he slipped his arm around Nan’s shoulder and whispered in her ear. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

“Up the yard, Quinn!” the boys shouted. “We’re in the middle of a tournament here. You can’t steal our star player away now.”

“Get back, you shower of savages,” Riley teased, pushing them aside. “She’s had enough of you warped eedjits.”

“Not without a fight, we won’t,” Donal Duffy said, stepping forward and raising his fists.

“I’m not going to fight you,” Riley said. He turned to see a fearful expression on Nan’s face. “He’s just joking.”

Donal puffed out his chest. “No fists. We’ll sing her a song and you sing her a song. She chooses the winner. And if she chooses us, she stays until the end of our little tournament.”

The rest of the boys got behind the scheme, lining themselves up and clearing their throats. “You really think you can beat me?” Riley said.

“The way I hear it, you’re not all that good,” Donal said.

“All right. You’re asking for a pint of humiliation, Donal Duffy. But I accept your challenge.”

Donal stood in front of his mates and began the verse of “Wild Rover,” a well-known pub song. As soon as he sang the first note, Riley knew he had him beat. What woman wanted to hear a drinking song?

“‘I’ve been a wild rover for many the year,’” Donal sang in a decent baritone voice, “‘and I spent all me money on whiskey and beer, and now I’m returning with gold in great store, and I never will play the wild rover no more.’”

The team joined him in the chorus, belting out the words with drunken glee, stomping to accent some of the words. “‘And it’s no, nay, never! No, nay, never, no more, will I play the wild rover. No, nay, never, no more!’”

The song went on for three more verses before it ended in a raucous finish that included a bit of dancing and some out-of-tune harmonies. When it was over, Nan clapped along with the crowd and congratulated the singers on a job well done. Then she leaned close to Riley and whispered in his ear. “Please tell me you have something better. I’m tired and I want to go home.”

“All right,” Riley said, holding out his hands to quiet the crowd. “This is an old song but one that’s perfect for the moment.”

“Oh, Jaysus, please tell me he’s not going to sing ‘I Love You, I Do,’” Donal muttered.

Riley smiled smugly. Everyone in Cork knew Riley had written the pop hit, a silly little ballad that had paid a tidy sum in royalties for the past five years. One of Britain’s most popular boy bands had recorded it, and when it hit the top of the charts, Riley had become a local celebrity. Unfortunately, it instantly became his most requested number whenever he performed.

He grabbed a chair and put it in front of him, then lifted Nan to stand on it. “I won’t be singing that song,” he muttered. The patrons grew silent as they waited for him to start. Standing in front of her, Riley began to sing the first verse of “Parting Glass,” a traditional Irish tune about saying farewell.

“Of all the money e’er I had, I spent it in good company.

And all the harm I’ve ever done, alas, it was to none but me.

And all I’ve done for want of wit to mem’ry now I can’t recall.

So fill to me the parting glass, good night and joy be with you all.”

Nan stared down at him, a smile playing on her lips, her eyes shining. He sang the second verse to the crowd, turning to the boys as the words turned to friendship. But for the last verse, he turned back to Nan. Summoning up all the emotion he could find, he took her hands and sang from his heart.

“If I had money enough to spend, and leisure time to sit a while,

There is a fair maid in this town, that sorely has my heart beguiled.

Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips, I own she has my heart in thrall.

Then fill to me the parting glass, good night and joy be with you all.”

The crowd was silent for a long time after he ended. Nan’s eyes were teary and when she jumped off the chair and threw herself into his arms, everyone erupted in applause. The sound of their cheers faded as Riley kissed her, his fingers tangling in her hair as he molded her mouth to his.

“So, I guess that means I won?” he murmured, looking down into her eyes.

“Take me home,” she said.

“That I will,” Riley said, the turned to shake Donal’s hand. “Good song.”

“Ah, I should have known better,” Donal muttered. “Ye even brought a tear to my eye.”

Riley wove his fingers through Nan’s, then drew her along to the door. When they got outside, they strolled up the street to where they’d parked the car.

“That song was beautiful,” Nan said softly.

“I sang it for you.”

“No one’s ever sung a song for me before.”

They stopped beside the car. “Well, I had to make it good,” Riley replied. “I was getting a bit tired of sharing you with those lads.”

He pulled open the door and waited till she was inside, then circled to the driver’s door. They drove out of the village and up the narrow road to the cottage. She hadn’t left a light burning, so he held tight to her hand as they walked up the dark front path. When they reached the door, she turned and faced him.

“Thank you for today. For everything you did to make my first day in Ireland memorable.”

He bent close and touched his lips to hers. “Glad to be of service,” he murmured. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

She opened the door behind her and backed inside, pulling him along with her. “You could help me find the lights,” she said.

He reached around the door and flipped the lights on in the parlor. “How’s that?”

“Better,” she said.

With every moment that passed, Riley found himself more determined to deny his need. They’d barely known each other twelve hours and all he could think about was pulling her into the bedroom and getting them both naked. He’d even put a few johnnies in his wallet just in case he needed them. “You’ll be all right up here by yourself?”

“Yes,” Nan said, nodding.

“I could stay a little longer, if it would make you feel more comfortable.” He slipped his arm around her waist and bent close to kiss her. It had almost become second nature, covering her sweet mouth with his, feeling her body in his arms.

As his tongue traced the crease of her lips, Nan sighed. She slipped her hands beneath the front of his jacket, pushing it over his shoulders. Riley tugged it off his wrists and let it drop to the floor. “I guess I’m going to be staying for a while?”

“A little while,” she said with a smile. She shrugged out of her own jacket, then drew him along to the sofa. “I don’t have anything to offer you to drink.”

“I’m not thirsty,” he said.

The need between them was growing with every fleeting touch. He sat down on the sofa, then pulled her down into his lap. Riley drew her mouth to his, hungry for her taste, his tongue plunging deep.

She tugged at his T-shirt and with a soft curse he pulled it off over his head and threw it aside. Her hands were all over him as he kissed her, smoothing over his shoulders, running down his chest. The sensation of her fingertips on his skin sent a flood of desire rushing through him.