Wild Irish Dreamer (The Mystic Cove Series Book 8) Page 3

  “I really must be tired,” she said out loud. She stood, packing her things and neatly stacking the folders of contracts. It wasn’t like her to crave normalcy – well, that which she termed normalcy: husband, house, a couple of kids.

  Saying goodbye to the woman at reception, Fi wandered into the street and checked her phone for directions to the little secondhand shop she’d looked up earlier. It had promised vintage bridal dresses, and that was the theme Fi had decided on for Grace’s hen party. Turning the corner, she ignored the calls of various men as she walked past. She’d gotten used to the forward ways of Italian men, and when she was in the right mood she even indulged it, but today it only annoyed her.

  The dark red arched door of the vintage shop beckoned her and Fi gratefully dipped inside, ready to enjoy some retail therapy.

  “Ciao, benvenuta.” An older woman nodded in greeting, her dark hair threaded with grey. She wore a deep green dress and a gold necklace in the design of a snake.

  “I’m here to look at your vintage bridal gowns,” Fi said, and the woman nodded her head once more, toward a door that led to a room in the back. Appreciating the unfussy nature of the woman, who didn’t seem interested in chattering, Fi breezed through the shop to the back room. Two long racks lined each wall, bursting with dresses.

  “Oh, wow,” Fi crowed, and pulled out a notebook where she’d recorded everyone’s sizes. In less than an hour she’d amassed a pile of tulle and sequin that had even the clerk curious.

  “Can’t decide which one is for you?” the clerk asked, glancing at where Fi had piled the dresses on a chair.

  “Nope, those are for my friends. I’ll take all of them. I just have to pick mine out,” Fi said, strolling up and down the racks. Her eyes finally landed on a dress that looked like it was straight from a dominatrix store, not meant for a vintage bridal shop.

  “I think this will do. But I’d like to try it on first.”

  “That’s certainly a choice,” the clerk said.

  Fi bit back a smile. She didn’t have the heart to admit that she was picking the ugliest dresses she could find in order to have a spoof-wedding hen party.

  “I’ll just be right out,” Fi said and carried the dress into the fitting room. Pulling the mustard-yellow curtain closed behind her, she undressed quickly and slipped the dress over her head.

  “May I see?”

  “Sure,” Fi said, not seeing a mirror in the room. She stepped out to where the clerk stood by a long mirror on the wall next to the fitting room curtain.

  “It works for you,” the clerk said.

  Fi almost giggled when she realized the woman was absolutely serious. There was no way she’d ever be caught in… whatever this shiny material was. Then she turned, and her mouth dropped open when she saw herself in the mirror.

  It should have been ridiculous. The latex dress, dripping in sequins with a pouf of ruffles at the hem, hugged her body like a second skin. For once in her life, she looked like she had actual curves instead of the boyish figure she always complained to Grace about. Her eyes looked huge in her face, and oddly alluring.

  “I… I honestly was not expecting this to look this good,” Fi admitted, running a finger over the bodice. “It’s really not my style.”

  “Are these for a hen party?”

  “They are. I thought it would be fun if we all dressed up a little ridiculous in dresses that maybe we wouldn’t choose for ourselves.” There, she was being honest without insulting the woman’s entire stock.

  “This dress does not look ridiculous on you. However, I bet I can make it so. Give me a moment.” Turning, the woman bustled away, and Fi appreciated the fact that she was more interested in making a sale than in what the gowns were being used for. In a moment, the woman returned, her arms piled full with mounds of tulle and lace in a variety of colors.

  “A veil,” Fi said, and laughed when the woman plucked the gaudiest one from the top and placed it on her head. They both stared at the mirror, and nodded together.

  “Now it is ridiculous. But, I will say: When you marry, look for a dress in this cut. The shape” – the clerk kissed her fingers – “it is meant for you.”

  “That’s a long way out yet,” Fi promised her, though she caught herself staring in the mirror, admiring her body in the dress.

  “One never knows. Like a lightning strike, love can scorch your heart in an instant.”

  Chapter 5

  Gallagher’s Pub wasn’t open yet, but those who knew Cait well enough knew that the door was always unlocked in the mornings. Fi paused outside, admiring the new paint job on the shutters and trim that lined the pub’s tall narrow windows. Where the pub had once been green and red, now Cait had chosen a cheerful blue with a brilliant gold trim. Fi approved.

  “I see the pub’s gotten herself a fancy new dress,” Fi called as she pushed the door open. Cait’s head popped up from behind the bar and for a moment, Fi’s heart squeezed. She’d seen her mum behind the long expanse of burnished wood more times than she could ever count. Gallagher’s Pub was Cait, and in all her travels Fi had never found another pub that hit all the right notes like this one did. Perhaps she wasn’t objective, as it was her family’s pub, but that was neither here nor there as far as Fi was concerned.

  “You’re early!” Cait exclaimed, ducking under the passthrough and racing across the room to throw her arms around Fi. They matched each other in height and build, and rocked back and forth in an enthusiastic hug like two maddened pixies.

  “I am at that,” Fi agreed. “I finished up work a few days early and now my schedule is clear for weeks.” She pulled back to study her mum’s face. Perhaps a new wrinkle or two around the eyes, but Cait looked as beautiful as ever – if not more so – as she aged. Fi had always admired her mother, not only for her strong backbone and quicksilver mind, but how she’d never let her beauty get in the way of what she wanted. Over the years, Fi had watched many a woman stumble over obsession with their looks, often not realizing they had so much more to offer the world. Perhaps it was the careless way Cait carried herself, as if to say, ‘Sure, I’m lovely to look at, but have you read the latest news reports?’ Her mum had a wide grasp of knowledge on a dizzying array of subjects, and ran her business with a steel-minded ferocity. Beauty was appreciated, but business acumen was revered. It was a trait that kept Fi on track as a solo entrepreneur.

  “We get you for weeks! That’s fantastic. Your father has a surprise for you too.” Cait turned and whistled sharply over her shoulder, and Fi bit back a grin. It was the same whistle she’d heard for years and it could mean a variety of things, from “It’s time to come home for dinner” to “Stop fighting in my pub.”

  “Oh, is it the long-lost daughter of mine?” Shane said, swinging through the two doors enclosing the kitchen.

  “Da!” Fi laughed and embraced him, inhaling the scents of spice and Guinness that meant he was putting a stew together in the back.

  “You’ve lost weight,” Shane decided, having pulled back to examine his daughter.

  “Impossible. Not in Italy, at least.” Fi shrugged off his concerns.

  “I’ve a lovely Guinness stew brewing. You’ll have some,” Shane ordered.

  Fi rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe Mum is letting you in the kitchen these days. Don’t you have enough to do with all your properties?”

  “We’ve hired a property manager. It’s taken a load of work off, I’ll admit it,” Shane said as they walked toward the bar. The bar was the focal point of Gallagher’s Pub, its wood shined to perfection and worn from years of use and love. Behind the bar, bottles lined the wall on glass shelves, and a mirror reflected the restaurant back. Cait had insisted on the mirror so she could keep an eye on her customers at all times. Spreading back from the bar was a long room with cozy nooks and booths, all set up so people could cluster together in private or pull tables together for a night of music. More often than not, people would wander in with their instruments and take up residence
in a booth, playing a lively tune for the crowd that inevitably gathered. None of this was ever planned, and there was no schedule posted proclaiming live music. It was just an accepted fact that music was always welcome at Gallagher’s, and Cait had left the musicians to sort the details out themselves.

  “And put the man right under me feet all day,” Cait griped, popping under the passthrough and coming to stand behind the bar. “Tea?”

  “Perfect, thanks,” Fi said, settling onto a stool and putting her purse on the bar. There was just something about a pot of Irish tea. She always missed it on her travels.

  “You like having me around,” Shane argued. “Just look at all the projects I’ve finished for you.”

  “I will admit, it has been nice to get a few things fixed here and there. But you’re here all the time now.”

  “And you love it. When I wasn’t here, you’d complain about me being too busy.”

  “Well, I can’t have you working yourself into an early grave, can I?”

  “Some could say the same of you, working here every night.”

  Cait waved that away. “’Tis hardly work, is it now? Just pulling a pint or two.”

  “You’re still on your feet long hours.”

  “Which is good for me health.”

  “You owe me a holiday. An extended one.”

  It was always the same with them, Fi thought, smiling as she added a dollop of milk to her tea. They’d bicker back and forth like this for hours if she didn’t intervene.

  “A holiday sounds lovely, Mum. Have you actually considered it? Who would watch the pub?”

  “Patrick would be fine to handle things,” Shane pointed out.

  “Aye, he would,” Cait agreed, “but where would we go?”

  “There’s so many places to see,” Shane said. “What about South America? Or Africa?”

  “Could I see elephants?” Cait’s face lit up with excitement. “I must say, I’ve always wanted to see the elephants.”

  “You could on a safari. I’ll look into it,” Shane said, pulling out his phone and typing something in.

  “There, that’s a lovely idea, isn’t it? Going to see the elephants,” Fi said. “I bet you’ll have stories for weeks to tell everyone when you get back.”

  “Keelin and Flynn just did that world cruise, as you know. Though why they’d go on those monstrous polluting germ-havens, I do not know.”

  “They are pretty gross, and they’re destroying the oceans. You should see them in Italy – tourists just swarm the cities and barely spend any money. If anyone books a cruise thinking they’re helping the local economies, they’re dead wrong.”

  “I heard Venice finally got the cruise ships to stop docking at their ports,” Shane said.

  “Finally. Who would even want to go on those things? You’re locked into a schedule, you can barely explore the towns you go to, and you’re stuck on a ship with thousands of people.” Fi shuddered. “It’s my worst nightmare.”

  “I will say, Keelin and Flynn weren’t as charmed by it as they thought they’d be. Even though Flynn’s a sailor, well, I guess he thought the experience would be different. He said he felt like he was on a double-decker bus slogging through the ocean.”

  “Plus, I don’t think they were happy to be gone when Gracie was going through that mess with Dylan.”

  “No, Flynn was about ready to fly back and punch the man,” Shane agreed.

  “How are they getting on now?” Fi asked.

  “Good enough, it seems. Now that all the plans and motives have come to light –”

  “And since Dylan made right on gifting Grace with her cottage,” Cait interjected.

  “– they seem to be getting on maddeningly well,” Shane finished.

  “That’s good, then. I wouldn’t want to be on Flynn’s bad side,” Fi said. “Actually, Keelin’s either. They’re both a bit scary.”

  “Formidable would be the word I’d use,” Cait chuckled. “Now, tell us your plans for your stay.”

  “Yes, do we get you for more than a weekend this time?” Shane asked.

  “Yes, you do. I’ve a few weeks here. I have a few proposals I’m considering, but I haven’t technically booked another client just yet. I wanted to spend some time here and help Grace with planning her wedding. Do you mind if I stay in one of your apartments out back? I don’t want to be under your feet for weeks.”

  “You’re never under our feet.” Cait gave Fi a stern look.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “About that,” Shane said. He glanced at Cait, who nodded in return. “We have a surprise for you.”

  “So Mum said. What’s this about?”

  “It’s an early birthday present.”

  “My birthday isn’t for months yet.”

  “Well, we never know when you’ll be home. Either way, shall we go take a look?”

  “At what? What have you done?” Fi narrowed her eyes at Shane, but jumped when Cait smacked her palm hard on the bar.

  “No mind-reading, Fi. Let the surprise be a surprise.”

  “Fine, but you know I hate surprises.”

  “Which is why we rarely do them for you. Indulge me.” Shane slid his arm around her shoulder, squeezing her to him once more.

  Fi sighed, leaning into his warmth. “Fine. You may surprise me. Let’s see what this is all about, then.”

  “Grab your coat. We’re going back out.”

  Chapter 6

  She’d always loved this street.

  Keeping her mental shields up so as not to ruin her parents’ surprise, Fi wandered the village of Grace’s Cove with them, stopping every few minutes to chat with someone they knew. That was the way of things in Grace’s Cove, Fi thought, smiling as another neighbor popped her head out of the bakery. There was no bustling about and getting anything done in a timely manner. Everybody knew everybody, and the gossip mill was a demanding mistress. Within the hour, everyone would know she was back in town. It saved her from having to send out text messages, so there was some benefit to the gossip chain.

  They’d turned down a cobblestone street that fronted the harbor, where a long row of semi-detached homes and apartments clambered over each other for prime water views. Each place was painted a different color, creating a vibrant and fun atmosphere, and Fi had spent many a day strolling this waterfront walkway and admiring the beauty of her town. That was the thing of it: Although she craved adventure and world travel, her heart of hearts still belonged to Grace’s Cove. It would always be home.

  “Here we are then,” Shane said, stopping in front of a neat two-story building painted a cheerful burnished yellow, its windows and shutters done up in a pretty red trim. Flower boxes lined the windows, though it was still too early in the season for any buds to be peeking out. An arched doorway, painted a shiny red with a doorknocker in the shape of a gargoyle, was tucked to the left of the windows.

  “And who lives here?” Fi asked, stepping back to look up at the building. “It’s lovely.”

  “You do,” Shane said, barely containing the glee that flashed across his face as he waited for her reaction.

  For once in her life, Fi was truly and honestly gobsmacked. It was as if someone had doused her with a bucket of ice water, and she gasped for air.

  Cait gripped her hand, worry etching her pretty face. “See, I told ye it would be too much for her.” She glared at Shane.

  “It’s not too much. Just give the lass a chance to catch her breath.”

  Fi stepped back and looked at the house once more as emotions crashed through her – the most surprising of which was that she wanted this house. How could that be? She’d never thought she’d live here full-time. It wasn’t time for her to settle, her brain argued, though her heart screamed, “Take it!”

  “I… I honestly don’t know what to say. You’ve gone and left me speechless, you have,” Fi said. “You can’t possibly mean you’re gifting me a house.”

  “I am. Well, it’s more of an apartment
building. It’s two flats. Want to take a look and I’ll tell you what I’m thinking?” Shane asked, pulling a key from his pocket.

  “This is prime real estate. On the water. You should keep this for your portfolio,” Fi argued.

  “Bah, that man has enough properties. He can’t even keep them straight.” Cait waved her concerns aside.

  “That doesn’t mean you just give them away,” Fi said.

  “It does when it’s for your daughter.” Cait grabbed her hand and tugged her inside the stoop. “Just have a look around before you tell us no.”

  “This has to be the most extravagant birthday present anyone has ever been given. You can’t possibly think I can accept this,” Fi protested, refusing to step inside.

  Cait turned to Shane. “I told you her pride would stop her.”

  “You’ve never let us pay for anything,” Shane said, his eyes on Fi. “Not even your rent when you were in uni. You’ve worked since you were a child, saving and scrimping and never once asking us for anything. We’re incredibly proud of you, and it would be an honor if you would let us gift you with this property.”

  “You don’t make it easy for a girl to say no,” Fi said, tears springing to her eyes.

  “Don’t you start,” Cait warned.

  “I’m not, I’m not.” Fi swiped the back of her hand across her eyes. “Well, let’s at least have a look at the place then.”

  “Wonderful. Just have a look around, see what you think. I’ll tell you why I thought of this property for you.” Shane clapped his hands and turned so he faced the entryway. The arched door opened to reveal a small entry hall, with a narrow staircase on the left and a door on the right. In the hall sat a small table with a pretty ceramic lamp in shades of blue and cream. “As you can see, the house is split into two flats. Each is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom flat with its own kitchen and living space, and there’s a shared backyard garden.”