been released from prison?
“Ally?”
“I’m fine,” she replied. “It was rough at first but I’m good now.”
“Liar.” Karly’s voice held a tinge of humor but mostly concern for her friend. “I need to see you. I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me you’re fine.”
“I’m fine. I promise. And I’ve met someone.” Ally smiled as she heard Karly’s sharp intake of breath.
“Seriously? OMG! This is big. I want to hear all about him.”
“I could use a drink. Want to meet somewhere? ”
“That sounds great! I am so ready for a beer.”
“How about Jameson’s Pub? In about thirty minutes? He works there on Tuesdays. Maybe you’ll get to meet him.” It was a bold move on her part. She didn’t take emotional risks, or at least she hadn’t before she met Jack. Maybe he would be there, maybe he wouldn’t. All she knew was that she needed to see him again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ally stood in front of Jameson’s Pub, stricken with a case of nerves. An elegant English tavern, famous for its variety of ales and “pub grub”, Jameson’s was a favorite watering hole for the upwardly mobile after-work crowd. Once she had been part of that crowd, but that had been over a year ago, long before her life went pear-shaped. Now she felt awkward as she hesitated at the entrance, wondering if Karly was already inside. Just knowing that Jack was inside made her palms sweat and butterflies skitter in her stomach. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She thought briefly about walking the other direction, but any qualms she had were soothed when Karly bounded up to the front door like an overzealous cocker spaniel, her strawberry blond curls springing with every step. When she reached Ally, she threw her arms around her neck and squeezed with surprising strength. Unsettled by the emotional greeting, Ally smiled and gently disentangled herself.
“I thought you might chicken out,” Karly said in her croaky voice that was much too big for her petite stature. At five-six, Ally towered over the tiny girl. She was like a pixie on steroids; miniature, vibrant, and bursting with personality.
“Are you kidding? And miss out on you? You’re crazy,” Ally said. The smile on her face felt genuine for the first time in weeks, since she’d gone out with Jack.
Karly stepped into the golden light of the pub. Ally followed, blinking against the dimness after the brilliance of the summer sun, enjoying the rush of cool air conditioning. Warm and inviting with lots of dark wood paneling and brass details, Jameson’s was the perfect place for conversation and casual business luncheons. Half a dozen intimate booths surrounded the perimeter of the main room. A beam of sunlight glanced off the ornate mirror behind the long, antique bar and momentarily blinded her.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she scanned the room. No sign of Jack. Maybe he wasn’t there. She took a seat at the bar and breathed a sigh of relief and disappointment. She ran a hand over her hair, which was swept back in a sleek ponytail, tapped a fingernail on the bar and contemplated her drink options. Over the past week, she’d made a concerted effort to avoid hard liquor, but under the circumstances a little liquid courage might ease the strain.
Someone came through the double swinging doors from the kitchen into the bar area. Ally looked up and stared into the twinkling brown eyes of Captain Mayhem himself. Her cheeks flamed and her mouth went dry. If he was surprised or happy to see her, he didn’t show it. He put down the glass he had been holding, wiped his hands on the white apron tied around his narrow waist, and flipped a checkered bar towel over his shoulder as he strode toward her.
With a ghost of a smile on his lips and the flicker of anger in his eyes, Jack stopped in front of her and leaned one elbow on the counter to study her. He looked more handsome than ever in a crisp white dress shirt, tailored
“Ally?”
“I’m fine,” she replied. “It was rough at first but I’m good now.”
“Liar.” Karly’s voice held a tinge of humor but mostly concern for her friend. “I need to see you. I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me you’re fine.”
“I’m fine. I promise. And I’ve met someone.” Ally smiled as she heard Karly’s sharp intake of breath.
“Seriously? OMG! This is big. I want to hear all about him.”
“I could use a drink. Want to meet somewhere? ”
“That sounds great! I am so ready for a beer.”
“How about Jameson’s Pub? In about thirty minutes? He works there on Tuesdays. Maybe you’ll get to meet him.” It was a bold move on her part. She didn’t take emotional risks, or at least she hadn’t before she met Jack. Maybe he would be there, maybe he wouldn’t. All she knew was that she needed to see him again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ally stood in front of Jameson’s Pub, stricken with a case of nerves. An elegant English tavern, famous for its variety of ales and “pub grub”, Jameson’s was a favorite watering hole for the upwardly mobile after-work crowd. Once she had been part of that crowd, but that had been over a year ago, long before her life went pear-shaped. Now she felt awkward as she hesitated at the entrance, wondering if Karly was already inside. Just knowing that Jack was inside made her palms sweat and butterflies skitter in her stomach. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She thought briefly about walking the other direction, but any qualms she had were soothed when Karly bounded up to the front door like an overzealous cocker spaniel, her strawberry blond curls springing with every step. When she reached Ally, she threw her arms around her neck and squeezed with surprising strength. Unsettled by the emotional greeting, Ally smiled and gently disentangled herself.
“I thought you might chicken out,” Karly said in her croaky voice that was much too big for her petite stature. At five-six, Ally towered over the tiny girl. She was like a pixie on steroids; miniature, vibrant, and bursting with personality.
“Are you kidding? And miss out on you? You’re crazy,” Ally said. The smile on her face felt genuine for the first time in weeks, since she’d gone out with Jack.
Karly stepped into the golden light of the pub. Ally followed, blinking against the dimness after the brilliance of the summer sun, enjoying the rush of cool air conditioning. Warm and inviting with lots of dark wood paneling and brass details, Jameson’s was the perfect place for conversation and casual business luncheons. Half a dozen intimate booths surrounded the perimeter of the main room. A beam of sunlight glanced off the ornate mirror behind the long, antique bar and momentarily blinded her.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she scanned the room. No sign of Jack. Maybe he wasn’t there. She took a seat at the bar and breathed a sigh of relief and disappointment. She ran a hand over her hair, which was swept back in a sleek ponytail, tapped a fingernail on the bar and contemplated her drink options. Over the past week, she’d made a concerted effort to avoid hard liquor, but under the circumstances a little liquid courage might ease the strain.
Someone came through the double swinging doors from the kitchen into the bar area. Ally looked up and stared into the twinkling brown eyes of Captain Mayhem himself. Her cheeks flamed and her mouth went dry. If he was surprised or happy to see her, he didn’t show it. He put down the glass he had been holding, wiped his hands on the white apron tied around his narrow waist, and flipped a checkered bar towel over his shoulder as he strode toward her.
With a ghost of a smile on his lips and the flicker of anger in his eyes, Jack stopped in front of her and leaned one elbow on the counter to study her. He looked more handsome than ever in a crisp white dress shirt, tailored
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