“Thank you…” Kieran singsonged to Devlin’s back.
“Hi, sis. How are things in the computer bizz?”
Nora forked a few beans and said, “Great! It’s awesome.”
“Are you studying computer science?” Teagan asked Nora.
“Yeah. I’ve always had a thing for computers. I’m weird like that.” Nora smiled as she glanced up from behind her long lashes.
“That’s not weird. It’s awesome you get to do something you love. I still don’t have a clue what to do with my life…” Teagan placed her plate on the grass next to her lounger and sat back in her seat. If she had eaten this amount of food in her parents’ kitchen, she would have unbuttoned her jeans to make room for her full belly.
“I see that you work at that pub, the Lucky Irishman?” Kieran said as he pointed his beer bottle toward the Lucky logo on her shirt.
Even though her cousin Brennan had understood when she called in sick earlier today, she was glad that she had the next three days off from work. The only thing she needed to do tomorrow was practice for the new showcase. Tristan had asked her for a do-over from their horrible last showcase.
She didn’t know why he would ever agree on dancing with her again. The guy was so talented that he could have picked any girl as his dance partner.
She remembered Kieran’s question and said, “Yeah. It’s my cousin’s pub. I work there as a waitress and I also work for his fiancée, Errin, in her dance studio.”
Devlin handed Kieran a full plate and said, “She also works for me at the Pink Flower.”
Kieran coughed after sprouting his gulp of beer on the grass.
Teagan narrowed her eyes at Devlin, as she knew he just wanted to fuck with his brother. Devlin gave her one of his rare smiles and picked her up from her seat before he plunked down in her lounger with her sitting in between his legs, her back resting against his chest.
“Didn’t see that one coming,” Kieran finally said when the coughing stopped.
“I’m a dancer by heart, and since I already teach pole dance classes at Errin’s studio, I can help out Devlin’s dancers. I’m not up on stage or anything like that.”
Devlin’s powerful arms engulfed her as he folded his arms over her chest. His unabashed way of showing his affection toward her in front of his siblings made her heart melt.
“From what you mentioned earlier, I take it this isn’t exactly what you’ve pictured yourself doing?” Nora cautiously asked her.
“I never had a clue what to do, honestly. I’ve worked on my parents’ farm all my life with horses, pigs, chickens, and I know a thing or two about growing vegetables. Waitressing is also not my calling. I love the pub, but people can be really mean assholes sometimes. After I’ve started working for Errin, I figured that new Dance Academy in Austin would be my thing. So I’ve dropped out of accountancy, much against my parents’ whishes.”
Devlin’s thumb grazed over her bicep in an obvious, reassuring measure, but it still gave her gooseflesh in a second.
“How do you feel about working at the Pink Flower?” Nora asked her.
Kieran busted out laughing. “Obviously she can’t tell you she hates it there while she’s sitting in her boss’ lap.”
She felt the rumble through Devlin’s chest before he would no doubtingly set his brother straight. Teagan laughed along with Kieran, as his wink made her see that he’d only meant it as a joke.
The doorbell rang and Teagan wondered if she should get the door since it probably was her sister, Emmy, dropping off her stuff. Before she could do so, Kieran stood from his seat.
“I’ll better get it before he decides to knock me on my ass,” Kieran said with a smile.
“Yeah. You’d better,” Devlin grumbled.
She shifted in his arms and kissed his bearded cheek. She watched his frown disappear from his face before he leaned in and kissed her lips.
“What do you mean, you live here?” Teagan heard her sister Emmy shout inside Devlin’s house. She scooted to the edge of the lounger and got up to find out what had upset her sister enough to make a scene.
“Like I said. This is my house, Emm. I should pick your fine ass up and toss you over my shoulder so you can’t run away from me again.”
“Oh, I’ll give you one chance to try. You’ll be coughing up semen for a week after I’m done with your balls.”
Kieran wasn’t in the least impressed by a fuming Emmy. He scratched the stubble on his jaw and said, “I remember how you used to—”