Wind Chime Café (A Wind Chime Novel) (42 page)

Read Wind Chime Café (A Wind Chime Novel) Online

Authors: Sophie Moss

Tags: #love, #nora roberts, #romantic stories, #debbie macomber, #Romance Series, #Romance, #Paranormal Romance, #love stories

“We lost it.”

“What about the one Ronan’s mum gave you a week ago?”

His daughter’s eyes lit up.

“It’s on top of the fridge.”

Her face fell.

“You found it?”

“That’s the one we just lost.”

Dominic hooked his arm around her daughter’s waist and swung her upside down so her blond curls just brushed the floor.

“Dad!” she protested, giggling and trying to wiggle free.

“You know what you are?” he asked, still holding her upside down.

“What?”

“Trouble.” He flipped her right-side up and set her back on her feet. “Now go upstairs—all three of you—and wash up. I’ll ask Caitlin to fix you something to eat.”

When Ronan stuck out his tongue, Tara couldn’t help but laugh. Dominic’s eyes snapped to the sound, his smile fading as he caught the wistful expression on the newcomer’s face.

“They’re adorable,” she said, her gaze lingering on the stairs after the children clamored up them. “Are they all yours?”

“No.” Dominic stepped back behind the bar. “Just Kelsey.”

“How old is she?”

“She turns eight next month.”

Caitlin poked her head through the window connecting the kitchen to the bar. “Did I just see Ronan O’Shea stick out his tongue at my cooking?”

Dominic tossed an empty bottle of whiskey into the trash and glanced at Caitlin. “I don’t know, but I think you could take him.” He ducked as a dish rag flew past his head. Smiling, he twisted the cap off a bottle of stout, slid it down the bar and turned, pulling another bottle off the highest shelf.

Tara picked up the plates Caitlin slid through the window. “Where do these go?”

Dominic took the plates from her hands, set them back on the counter. “Like I said, the position’s been filled.”

“Why don’t we treat it as a test run?” Tara offered. “If I do okay tonight, you’ll hire me. If not, I’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”

“I’ve made up my mind.”

“It’s one night,” Tara protested.

“Then why not enjoy it? I’ll bring you a pint. You can sit here and listen to the music that’ll start up soon enough. Then you can be off in the morning and find work somewhere else. There’s other islands to choose from. Coastal villages on the mainland if all you’re looking for is a quiet place.”

“I want to work here.”

“Why?”

“Because…it feels right.”

“Right?” Dominic started another pint of Guinness, then leaned back from the taps. “Is that how you live your life, then? Doing what feels right?”

“Yes,” Tara replied slowly. “Recently that is exactly how I’ve been living my life.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you.” He finished the pint and set it on the bar. “But the only thing I’ve to offer at the moment is a bar stool and a pint. You’ll have to look for work somewhere else.”

Available in paperback and eBook.

Coming soon to audiobook.