Cait grabbed another pint glass from the shelf as she kept her eye on the Guinness that she was currently building. Pulling the full glass from under the tap, she put it aside to settle and replaced it with the empty. Hand on the glass, she lifted her eyes to scan the length of the bar.

Patrons clustered around the bar, waiting their turn. The smaller pub tables scattered around the bar were full. Across the room, the band set up and the dinner tables had been pushed against the walls to make room for dancing. They had a good band tonight and people were already pouring in the door to get a spot.

Cait smiled at Patrick as he breezed past her, hands full of Harp bottles. He'd really turned into a valuable employee. Cait was glad that they had moved past their little misunderstanding. Seeing Aislinn enter the pub, Cait motioned her towards the far end of the bar.

"That'll be eight euros," Cait said and slid the Guinness glasses across the bar. Making change, she sidled down the bar and moved her stuff away from the seat she had saved for Aislinn.

"Bulmers?" Cait asked as Aislinn settled on the chair.

"Yes, thank you." Aislinn smiled up at her. Cait noticed that Aislinn had taken time with her appearance tonight. Her curvy body was tucked into a pretty red dress and a deep purple necklace popped against her throat.

"You look nice," Cait called to Aislinn, her eyebrows raised.

"As do you," Aislinn said, gesturing to Cait's outfit. Cait just shrugged and both women laughed at each other. They both knew exactly what they were about, Cait thought.

Cait slid Aislinn's glass across the bar. "Catch up with you in a bit," Cait said as she nodded to the cluster of people around the bar.

Cait fell into the rhythm of her pub and the tension in her shoulders eased. She ran a good establishment and was proud of her work here. She tapped her foot as a tin whistle picked up a lively beat and the crowd began to clap. Cait kept her eye on the bar as she filled glasses, wiped down tables, and made conversation with the locals. When the door opened and Shane stepped in, Cait could have sworn that the temperature in the room went up a notch.

Shane had changed after dinner and now wore a fitted button-down plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal tanned arms. Dark jeans fit his legs nicely and Cait couldn't help but take a glance at his bum as he turned to hug an old woman by the front of the door. Behind him, Baird blinked into the melee, looking somewhat taken aback. Today he wore a fitted black t-shirt that revealed what Cait had suspected – an exceptionally muscular chest. Cait sliced a glance at Aislinn and grinned at her cousin's slightly dazed expression.

As if on cue, the two men turned and zeroed in on them. Cait's heart skipped a beat as Shane crossed the room to her. Without hesitation, he snagged her hand off of the bar and pressed a kiss to her palm. Cait felt heat creep up her cheeks and snatched her hand back. She propped her hands on her hips and tilted her head at Shane.

"You think that you can just walk in here and skip these fine gentleman?" Cait said and gestured to three old-timers that sat on the stools in front of her.

"Skip them? Why, of course not. I was coming to offer them a pint," Shane said and the men all cheered Shane affably. Cait couldn't conceal her grin as she stepped to build more pints of Guinness for the men.

Cait watched as Baird moved to Aislinn and smiled down at her. Aislinn's hands fluttered in front of her face and Cait finished building the pints, laughing softly to herself. She'd never seen Aislinn so distressed over a man before. This was going to be fun to watch.

Cait worked her way through the bar, filling pints, pouring shots, and mixing drinks. After an hour, she cut a glance to Patrick.

"I'm taking a break, you got this?"

"Yes, ma'am. Show them how it's done, Cait," Patrick said as he nodded towards the dance floor. Cait just rolled her eyes at him and poured herself a half-pint of Bulmers. Aislinn had snagged a table near the dance floor for her and the men. Cait moved through the crowd, smiling and cracking jokes with the regulars until she got to the table. With a sigh, she plopped down into the chair that Shane had pulled out for her.

"Slàinte," Cait said and raised her glass to the table. Cait noticed that Baird kept glancing in Aislinn's direction and that her cousin was uncharacteristically quiet.

"So, Baird, how have things been for you this week?" Cait shouted over the music.

"Oh, you've met Baird?" Shane said, eyebrow raised.

"I have at that," Cait said with a cocky tilt to her head.

"We met at Aislinn's shop," Baird offered quickly.

"He rented my second-favorite building from you," Cait said and saw Shane's shoulders ease.

Relaxing back into his chair, Shane eyed her. "I only rent to great tenants."

"Well, I don't plan to be a tenant forever," Cait mumbled. Shane sat up and leaned close to her.

"Is that so? What do you plan to do? Buy the building?" Shane scoffed at her.

Cait felt her temper whiplash through her and she raised her chin at him. Meeting his eyes, she took a slow sip of Bulmers before answering.

"Aye, I do."

"Ha, that will take you forever," Shane said dismissively.

A frisson of anger washed through Cait.

"Oh, I'm sorry, master. Us paupers can't have dreams?" Cait said angrily.

She shoved back from the table and ignoring Shane, stepped onto the dance floor where she was immediately swept into the rhythm of step dancing. The steps as natural as breathing, Cait flowed into the repetition of hops and kicks that categorized traditional Irish step dancing. She laughed as the line of dancers moved forward and back, meeting up with partners, and circling away. Cait raised her chin as her next turn brought her face to face with Shane.

As seasoned of a dancer as she, Shane kept pace with her as their feet pounded the floor in time to the pipes and banjo that played voraciously around them. Cait stared Shane down as they both moved hypnotically to the beat, heat rising between them as they danced in step. Not even realizing that the dance floor had formed a circle around them, Cait stayed with Shane and matched him turn for turn, bounce for bounce. Together, they bounded through the song until they were both panting, in lust, and very aware. On an oath, Shane grabbed Cait to him and captured his lips with her own.

Shocked, her heart hammering in her chest, Cait tried to pull away. Shane increased the pressure of his kiss and Cait fell into his warmth. As the cheers surrounding them broke into their kiss, Cait stumbled back. Turning, she bowed to the clapping crowd and laughed, playing the kiss off as showmanship.

Cait dashed from the floor. Throwing a glance over her shoulder, she saw Shane standing in the middle of the dance floor, his eyes offering as much of a threat as a promise. A shiver ran through Cait and she ducked beneath the pass-through of the bar, determined to return to normal.

"Aye, so you let that one kiss you but not me?" Patrick demanded, half-joking.

Cait poked him in the ribs and moved to take a drink order.

"He owns the place, after all," she called lightly. The bitter truth of it hit her though and she swallowed against the anger that rose in her throat. Why did Shane think that she couldn't afford the building? Was she just some charity case to him? Her mother's words rising in her head, Cait tried to shake off her feelings of insecurity.

"Hey, what's with you?" Aislinn called from the end of the bar. With a sigh, Cait went to her.

"Nothing, why?"

"Um, I can read your feelings? Duh?" Aislinn said and knocked her fingers against her head.

"Yeah, well I can read your thoughts. Should I take a peek at what you think of Dr. Hotness?" Cait said bitchily.

Brushing off Cait's comment, Aislinn reached out and touched her hand.

"What's wrong, honey? Why are you feeling insecure? The kiss?"

Cait shrugged her shoulder and glared across the room at Shane's back where he sat with Baird.

"Shane laughed at me when I said that I wanted to buy this building. And, well, I went to see my mom tonight. She pretty much echoed the same sentiment about me not being good enough for the rich folk." Cait shrugged her shoulders and wiped at a spill on the bar.

"Cait Gallagher, that is nonsense. You are just as good if not better than every person in this town. You have good heart, a solid reputation, and this business is wonderful. Just look around you!" Aislinn gestured to the full pub of happy people dancing and drinking. "You did this."

Cait smiled at her cousin's enthusiasm. "You're right. I did do this."

"And that makes you a badass woman."

"Yes. That makes me a badass woman," Cait agreed with a wicked smile on her face. Leaning over she kissed Aislinn's cheek.

"You're good for me, cousin. Now, go flirt with the good doctor," Cait instructed.

"I think that I am just going to go. Have to open the shop early and all," Aislinn said and averted her gaze.

Cait raised an eyebrow at her but only nodded. Cait watched as Aislinn stood and walked to the edge of the dance floor. Instead of going over to the table, she waved at the men and then hightailed it from the pub. Cait gasped as Baird jumped up and followed her. Oh, she so wished that she could run out on the street to see what would happen!

Shane cocked his head at her in a question but Cait turned from him. She needed to think about her reaction to him and now was not the time. Mechanically, Cait moved through the motions as the evening wound down.

"Last call," Cait called, checking her watch. Most of the crowd had dwindled anyway. Some of the pubs around town locked the doors at closing time, allowing patrons to stay longer but no longer serving new customers. Sometimes Cait did that but not this evening. She needed some time to think.

Cait smiled and settled tabs until she felt like her face would crack. Finally, she blew out a breath and made her way over to wipe off a bar table.

"Cait," Shane said from behind her and Cait jumped and turned.

"Oh, I thought everyone was out," Cait said. Her pulse jumped as she looked into Shane's eyes.

"They are. Patrick is doing dishes in the kitchen," Shane said.

Cait's stomach did a little twist and she watched Shane warily as he walked towards her, backing her up against the bar. Cait put her hands up on his chest lightly to stop him.

"Shane, stop."

"Why? I want you. Come home with me," Shane asked, his lips inches from hers. Cait's head swam as lust pooled low in her stomach. She felt so tiny pressed against the bar, Shane's muscular body pressing into hers. Gently, she eased back from his lips.

"No, not tonight. Not like this," Cait whispered.

"Not like what? It's clear that we want each other. We are both single, unattached adults," Shane said, his arms braced on either side of Cait.

"I know. But, I don't know. Perhaps it isn’t best, you know, what with you owning the building that I work in and all that. Wouldn't want you to go slumming for an evening," Cait said and ducked under his arm. She jumped as he grabbed her arm and whipped her back to him.

"Slumming?" Shane asked dangerously.

"You know, having your fun with us poor people before you move on to something better," Cait said bitterly.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Cait," Shane said. Cait met his eyes and wished that she would let herself read his mind.

"I'm sure that you wouldn't," Cait murmured and eased her arm from his hand. Shane threw up his hands and backed up from her.

"You are, quite possibly, the most infuriating woman. Hot, then cold, hot, then cold. Figure it out," Shane shouted and stomped from the bar.

Cait's pulse hammered and she took a deep breath against the twist of unease in her stomach. Every inch of her wanted to run after Shane. Instead, she hefted a tray of glasses and called for Patrick. There was work to finish.