I straightened in my seat, returning his gaze evenly and pulling the veil down on my feelings; being a besotted fool for Dan was one thing when I was by myself, being a besotted fool for Dan in front of his brother was quite another.
Seamus’s eyes flickered to where Dan was hunting for his tea at the far end of the kitchen and then back to me. “How’d you two meet?”
“None of your fucking business how we met,” came Dan’s grouchy response, shutting a cabinet louder than necessary.
“I used to work with Janie, the woman you tried to abduct.” I poured him a cup of tea and handed it over.
“I wasn’t trying to abduct Janie, I was trying to get my money back from her crazy bitch of a sister, Jem. You work at Quinn’s company?” Seamus’s tone during all of this was light, like we were discussing the best way to skin a fish, and when he picked up his teacup I couldn’t help but notice he kept his pinky finger straight.
“None of your fucking business where she works.” Dan shut another cabinet.
“I work at an architecture firm.”
Seamus leaned back in his chair. “You an architect?”
“None of your fu—”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. Nothing is my business.” Seamus rolled his eyes again, and I had to roll my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing.
Dan finally joined us, his movements jerky as he pulled out the seat next to mine and poured himself a cup of tea straight from the teapot. “There’s no Irish breakfast.”
Seamus, his posture once again lazy and relaxed, looked between us. “Who’s watching your dog? You still got that dog?”
“Wally?” Dan glared at Seamus over his tea. Dan also kept his pinky finger straight when he sipped his tea, muttering, “Fuck, that’s hot,” as he set it down.
“What’s his full name again?” Seamus was rubbing his chin.
Dan hesitated, glancing at me and then away. “Bark Wahlberg,” he grumbled.
My eyes bulged and I suppressed a laugh. And then I frowned, my mood shifting suddenly because, who would name their dog Bark Wahlberg?
Only the funniest, cleverest, most amazing man in the world, that’s who.
Dan being Dan was making this impossible.
Every time he opened his mouth he tugged on a string wrapped around my heart, bringing me—and him—closer and closer to calamity. Soon, I wouldn’t be able to help myself. I’d be completely and utterly in love with him, I was already teetering on the edge of disaster.
And this was a disaster because I had no outlet for these feelings. He wouldn’t let me do a single thing for him in return; he didn’t want my gratitude; he wouldn’t accept money. So I was left with a mountain of feelings and frustration.
Marie’s words from weeks ago echoed in my mind, “That’s not how relationships work.”
I released a silent sigh, wishing I had her here with me now.
“That’s right. Funny name. I love that name.” Seamus grinned at his brother, showcasing a mishmash of intense dental work and one missing canine. “What’d you used to say? About him not being allowed here?”
“It’s just a stupid joke,” Dan responded flatly.
“Yeah. And it’s fuckin’ hilarious. What was it? Why isn’t he allowed someplace?”
“It’s nothing.” Dan lifted his teacup and blew some steam away from the tea. I had to blink several times to keep from becoming mesmerized by the movements of his lips.
“Come on. Do the bit. Do the thing.” Seamus leaned forward and motioned to me. “Come on. She’ll love it.”
“Fine.” Dan set his cup down and crossed his arms over his chest, clearly irritated by Seamus’s pushing. Then, to me, he said, “Ask me why Wally isn’t allowed in Boston.”
“Why isn’t Wally allowed in Boston?” I asked, loving his eyes on mine, feeling like a junkie waiting for my next hit.
“Unpaid barking tickets.” Dan rolled his eyes even as he grinned, like he thought the joke was dumb, but also hilarious.
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. His grin widened, which made me laugh more. “That is funny.”
Seamus, however, was laughing his butt off, clutching his stomach, tears leaking from his eyes. “Unpaid barking tickets! Funniest fucking joke I’ve ever heard.”
“Yeah, well, you need to get out more.” Dan scowled at his brother over his teacup. But this time, I could tell he was forcing it.
Chapter Twenty
Executor: “The individual appointed to administer the estate of a person who has died, leaving a will which nominates that individual.” (Not to be confused with “Trustee”)