Chapter Seven
Jim was well aware his sister was having what she thought was some kind of clandestine conversation with Roisin, but he let it be. Kayla wouldn’t deliberately hurt his chances with Ro. She wasn’t a mean girl, and she loved him. Of that he had no doubt. Even if she was his pesky little sister, and still acted like it on occasion.
When Roisin rose to go back to the stage, Kayla told her she had to leave soon, so she’d say goodbye to Roisin now, rather than interrupt her set. The boys did the same, which meant they were being discreet. They were giving their older brother a bit of breathing room with his date, which he appreciated. Of course, they could just as easily have stuck around all night long making nuisances of themselves, but Kayla’s nod of approval meant the others had to follow her lead.
Jim would have to thank his sister later. He suspected he’d also have to undergo her interrogation about his relationship with Roisin, but he’d mentally signed on for that when he’d invited his siblings to join him here.
He still wasn’t totally sure why he’d done that. Part of him wanted to keep Ro to himself, but another part wanted to show her off to the people who mattered most in his life. Their night together last year had been like a dream. A phantom experience for which he had no proof but a dazzling memory. He didn’t want that to happen again.
No, this time, he wanted to be able to talk about her. To know she hadn’t just been a figment of his imagination. She was real, and his sister and brothers knew her name and had heard her talent for themselves. They’d seen him with her, and her with him. He had proof this time.
And maybe a little hope for the future?
“She’s really something,” Jeremy said, his voice deeper than Jim remembered it being.
Jim had been away from his family too long. That was one big factor in his upcoming decision. He’d really like to spend more time with his siblings, but that couldn’t be the only reason he left the military. He knew there had to be something more.
Jim looked to where Jeremy’s gaze followed Roisin as she picked up her guitar and began to strum a few delicate chords. He was right. She really was something.
“You’ll get no argument from me,” Jim said, both of them still watching Roisin as she prepared for her next set.
“I didn’t expect to like her style of music, but it’s really pretty cool,” Nolan added. “The girl’s got a real gift.”
Kayla put her phone down on the tabletop. “I just downloaded her new album.” That statement caused Jim to look over at his sister in surprise. She was grinning from ear to ear. “I really like her sound, plus, now I can tell all my friends that my big brother is dating a musician. They’ll never believe it.”
“Why not?” Jim wanted to know.
All three of his siblings just looked at him like he was nuts. It was Kayla who took pity and explained.
“Seriously, Jimmy? You’re the most buttoned-down of all of us. You’re a lawyer, for goodness’ sake. Everybody expects you to fall in love with an accountant or a Sunday school teacher, and here you are, inviting us to a pub, of all places, to meet your main squeeze. You have to admit, it’s out of character, counselor.” Kayla lifted her drink and toasted him before taking a swallow. She put the glass back down and continued, “That’s not to say that I’m not totally impressed and happy for you. She’s perfect. Just what you need, I think.”
“Yeah, man. You were in total danger of becoming an old fart way before your time,” Jeremy added. “I think Roisin is good for you.”
“Et tu, Nolan?” Jim asked, looking at his other brother.
“Yeah, that right there…” Nolan shook his head, looking down at the table for a moment as if in defeat. “Normal people don’t quote Julius Caesar over beers at the bar. You definitely have major old fart tendencies, Jim. Maybe, if you don’t scare her away, Roisin can help you with that.”
Jim had to give in and laugh at that one. “You might have something there, Nole. Besides, I agree that Roisin is probably the best thing that ever happened to me.” He made the revealing remark while watching her finish tuning her guitar, not really realizing until he said it how true the words really were.
“You say you only met once, a year ago?” Kayla asked.
When Jim didn’t respond, Nolan muttered. “That must’ve been one hell of a first date.”
*
Jim was both sorry when his siblings took off a while later and glad to see them go. He’d been happy to share Roisin with them for a little while, and to spend time with them himself, but he had big plans for the rest of the night. Plans that didn’t include his brothers or his sister, or really, anyone besides Roisin and himself.
Just to two of them. And her hotel room. And the bed. Maybe the shower. Possibly the bathroom countertop, as well. He couldn’t be sure of the exact sequence of events or what locations they’d actually wind up using. They were too explosive together to script, or even anticipate.
Maybe his siblings were right. Maybe Roisin brought out the spontaneity in him. Maybe she made him lose a bit of his normal decorum. If so, he didn’t mind in the least.
She made him feel alive in the most vital, incredible way. She made him want to experience all life had to offer. With her. Only with her.
He’d never felt that way before with any woman. And hadn’t in the year since he’d met her…until he saw her again. Roisin brought something truly special to his life, and he’d be a fool to let it go now. To let her go now.
Roisin saw Jim’s table empty as his siblings left. They waved to her, smiling, and she nodded as they turned to go. She’d enjoyed meeting them. They’d filled in a few of the many blanks about Jim she’d thought about over the past year. She liked his family, and it was clear they were supportive and loving of their eldest brother.
The bar had been hopping when she’d started her last set, but it was starting to thin out a bit now that the evening’s entertainment was drawing to a close. She only had a few more songs left in her set, and the edges of the room were emptying, though the crowd who’d come to watch her were still seated around the stage, enjoying themselves.
She’d fielded a few questions about her new album and even signed a CD cover or two, though mostly her music was downloaded off the net these days. Occasionally, people still went for the actual CD, but that was mostly the older crowd, or those who were really into Irish music and her new interpretations of the old standards.
These past two nights at Pat’s Pub had been very successful, she realized. She’d managed to generate some added interest in her new recording and spread her name a bit farther than her usual metro area. She’d checked internet sales a while ago, and there’d been a definite uptick in downloads of her new album since her arrival in Baltimore. The party she’d played that afternoon had been excellent exposure, and Pat’s Pub—which had a bit of a reputation among music fans since rock star Sky Mitchell had swept Teagan Collins off her feet—was the icing on the cake.
Professionally, the trip had been a total win. Personally? Oh, yeah. Big, BIG win there too. Hooking up with Jim again—even if it was just for this one weekend—had already answered a lot of questions she’d had in her mind for a solid year since they’d parted.
Wicked hot sex, good times spent in his company today and a romantic dinner with him were great memories she would add to the file in her mind labeled Jim. She didn’t know if that file was destined to grow larger or be closed tonight, but either way, she wouldn’t have missed this time with him for the world.
She was on her last song before she really knew it. Was she ready for their last night together to start in earnest? She wasn’t sure, but it looked like it was about to happen, no matter if she was ready or not.
She finished her last song, and much to her surprise and delight, the crowd demanded an encore. Giving in to their encouraging applause, she sat back down to give them another song. She wasn’t sure why, but something made her want to try ‘Wild Irish Rose’ again. She’d never really played with that tune too much, though she knew it as well as she knew all the standard Irish repertoire. She’d enjoyed playing it for the old man earlier, but she knew she could do better with the arrangement.
The tune was a proven crowd-pleaser, so she sat back down and did her best to come up with some creative flourishes for the small instrumental she introduced. She started the tune low, then modulated not once or twice, but three times, ending the whole thing with a crescendo that nearly brought the house down.
Roisin bounced up from her seat in front of the keyboard, knowing she’d done well with that on-the-fly arrangement. She’d have to remember it, because if she wasn’t much mistaken, she’d just found the title of her next album.
And wasn’t that a surprise? She’d only just finished her first solo recording, and now, out of nowhere, she’d been inspired to start thinking about a second. Pat’s Pub was a magical place, indeed.
As magical as the man who waited at the bottom of the steps to the small stage for her. Jim had gotten up during the applause and come over to escort her down off the small stage. Knowing she couldn’t top that last number at the moment, she declined any further encores, which the crowd took good-naturedly.
Someone had started a tip jar, and when it was passed up to the stage, Roisin was stunned to find it overflowing with larger denomination bills than she ever would have expected. She sometimes got tips—especially for playing requests—but nothing like this. There had to be several hundred bucks in that pitcher.
Realizing where the clean pitcher had come from, she looked over at the bar to find Tristan grinning at her. When she sent him a questioning look, he nodded at her. He’d started the pitcher making its rounds, the sly man. She’d have to give him a big kiss on her way out to thank him.
Not that they weren’t paying her for her appearance here, but the tips were a very welcome addition to the weekend’s take. She put the pitcher down on the stage, near her guitar stand, allowing Jim to help her down from the stage, though she really could have made it on her own. It was nice to have help, even if she didn’t need it. His gallantry made her feel feminine and cared-for in a way she’d seldom experienced.
She was aware of Jim’s solid presence behind her while she talked to the well-wishers who had stuck around after the last set to say a few words. She signed a few more CDs and helped one or two folks find her new album on their mobile devices. She also talked about where she normally played, and a lot of the people weren’t surprised to learn that she wasn’t local. They all wanted her to come back, though, which was incredibly flattering.
One even suggested she should have a website with tour dates—something she’d thought about but hadn’t really expected anyone to be interested in yet. Maybe this weekend was the turning point. Maybe this was the time to start that website and begin to take things to the next level. She certainly would think about it.
When the last fan had taken their leave, Roisin turned back to the stage to find that Jim had taken the wad of money in the pitcher in hand and sorted it all out into a tight, fat bundle of cash. He presented it to her with a flourish.
“I can’t believe this,” she told him, marveling at the wad of bills in her hand.
“I think they liked your performance,” he told her, grinning.
“Yeah… Ya think?”
They chuckled together as she put the money into one of her bags for safekeeping. She quickly packed up her gear, Jim helping as if he’d done this a thousand times. With his assistance, it took no time at all to break down her equipment and hit the road, but she didn’t leave before giving Tristan that big hug and kiss on the cheek.
She spent a few minutes taking her leave of the Collins, but in the back of her mind, she was already on her way to the hotel with Jim. She wanted more time with him. Desperately. She wanted every last minute they could wring out of this night…and then some.
As a result, she might’ve been a little shorter with Tristan and the others than she intended, but the amused glint in Tristan’s eyes as he looked from her to Jim and back again told her she wasn’t fooling anyone. He, at least, knew she had other things on her mind, and his promise to call and set up another booking after she got back home was all the cue she needed to take her leave.
She practically ran out into the night with Jim, heading for her room with the utmost haste. She couldn’t wait to be in his arms once more, naked and together. The way it felt like it was meant to be.