follow, the number one rule being not to get involved with employees.
Devlin turned to study the pub. “Nice place. How’s business?”
“Good,” Sean answered. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that his father was standing in front of him. “How long’re you here for?”
Devlin moved to take a seat at the bar. “Few days. I probably should’ve called first, but I didn’t want you to tell me not to come.”
Sean immediately went on the offensive. “Why would you say that?”
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like you’ve ever invited any of us here before.”
Staring at his father, Sean realised how different the two of them looked. With dark blond hair, rounded facial features and brown eyes, Devlin O’Brien looked like all the other O’Brien’s, including Sean’s brothers. Sean had been told by more than one family friend that he resembled his mother remarkably, but Sean had never paid much attention. There were no pictures of his mom in the house, and since no one in his family spoke about her, Sean had never felt a connection to the woman he’d never known.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Sean confessed. “Guess it was easier not to invite you than to have you turn me down.”
Devlin pointed towards the tap of Guinness. “Build me one, would ya ?”
Sean picked up a glass and slowly went to work. He wondered if his dad was actually thirsty or if it was some sort of stupid way to test his skills as a bartender. Sean didn’t need his dad’s approval. He knew for a fact he was damn good at what he did. When he’d finished, he slid the glass towards his dad. “There you go.”
“You don’t like me much, do you?” Devlin asked, holding the glass of Guinness up to the light before taking a sip.
“I don’t really know you enough to answer that,” Sean replied.
“I suppose that’s my fault,” Devlin mumbled. He slapped his palm on the bar, making Sean flinch. “Well, that’s what I’m here to change.”
Sean wanted to tell his dad not to bother. He’d given up on his family years ago. Instead he turned his attention to the room. Moby was looking right at him, but as soon as they made eye contact, Moby lowered his head and continued to clear one of the tables.
He had to get his dad upstairs so he could talk to Moby about the Christmas plans they’d made. Sean returned his attention to his dad. “When you’re finished, why don’t you go on to my apartment upstairs? I’m sure you’re tired after your flight.”
Devlin’s eyes narrowed slightly but nodded. “I’m not interrupting your plans am I?”
“Kind of, but I’ll take care of it.” Sean hoped he could anyway.
* * * *
By the time Moby cleared the last table; his mom had her coat on and was waiting by the door. He felt awful about keeping her up so late, but it seemed most of the single men and women in town hadn’t wanted to return to their empty houses. Who could blame them?
After Sean had informed him he wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas morning with them after all, Moby shut down. He should’ve known better than to get his hopes up. Evidently he was good enough to fuck, but not enough to introduce to Sean’s father. Sean’s explanation of O’Brien rules meant absolutely nothing to Moby. Well, except for the fact they seemed to mean more to Sean than he did.
He carried the tub of dirty dishes into the kitchen and set them on the counter. Fuck Sean if he thought Moby was going to stay long enough to wash them. He strode to the time clock and punched his card before grabbing his coat.
Before he could get out of the kitchen, Sean blocked his path. “Get out of my way,” Moby ordered, trying to go around.
“Please. Don’t do this. You know my dad’s arrival was a complete surprise to me.”
“Yeah, I know that. That’s why I asked you to invite him to spend Christmas with us. But then you informed me it wouldn’t work because a boss wouldn’t normally spend such an
Devlin turned to study the pub. “Nice place. How’s business?”
“Good,” Sean answered. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that his father was standing in front of him. “How long’re you here for?”
Devlin moved to take a seat at the bar. “Few days. I probably should’ve called first, but I didn’t want you to tell me not to come.”
Sean immediately went on the offensive. “Why would you say that?”
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like you’ve ever invited any of us here before.”
Staring at his father, Sean realised how different the two of them looked. With dark blond hair, rounded facial features and brown eyes, Devlin O’Brien looked like all the other O’Brien’s, including Sean’s brothers. Sean had been told by more than one family friend that he resembled his mother remarkably, but Sean had never paid much attention. There were no pictures of his mom in the house, and since no one in his family spoke about her, Sean had never felt a connection to the woman he’d never known.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Sean confessed. “Guess it was easier not to invite you than to have you turn me down.”
Devlin pointed towards the tap of Guinness. “Build me one, would ya ?”
Sean picked up a glass and slowly went to work. He wondered if his dad was actually thirsty or if it was some sort of stupid way to test his skills as a bartender. Sean didn’t need his dad’s approval. He knew for a fact he was damn good at what he did. When he’d finished, he slid the glass towards his dad. “There you go.”
“You don’t like me much, do you?” Devlin asked, holding the glass of Guinness up to the light before taking a sip.
“I don’t really know you enough to answer that,” Sean replied.
“I suppose that’s my fault,” Devlin mumbled. He slapped his palm on the bar, making Sean flinch. “Well, that’s what I’m here to change.”
Sean wanted to tell his dad not to bother. He’d given up on his family years ago. Instead he turned his attention to the room. Moby was looking right at him, but as soon as they made eye contact, Moby lowered his head and continued to clear one of the tables.
He had to get his dad upstairs so he could talk to Moby about the Christmas plans they’d made. Sean returned his attention to his dad. “When you’re finished, why don’t you go on to my apartment upstairs? I’m sure you’re tired after your flight.”
Devlin’s eyes narrowed slightly but nodded. “I’m not interrupting your plans am I?”
“Kind of, but I’ll take care of it.” Sean hoped he could anyway.
* * * *
By the time Moby cleared the last table; his mom had her coat on and was waiting by the door. He felt awful about keeping her up so late, but it seemed most of the single men and women in town hadn’t wanted to return to their empty houses. Who could blame them?
After Sean had informed him he wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas morning with them after all, Moby shut down. He should’ve known better than to get his hopes up. Evidently he was good enough to fuck, but not enough to introduce to Sean’s father. Sean’s explanation of O’Brien rules meant absolutely nothing to Moby. Well, except for the fact they seemed to mean more to Sean than he did.
He carried the tub of dirty dishes into the kitchen and set them on the counter. Fuck Sean if he thought Moby was going to stay long enough to wash them. He strode to the time clock and punched his card before grabbing his coat.
Before he could get out of the kitchen, Sean blocked his path. “Get out of my way,” Moby ordered, trying to go around.
“Please. Don’t do this. You know my dad’s arrival was a complete surprise to me.”
“Yeah, I know that. That’s why I asked you to invite him to spend Christmas with us. But then you informed me it wouldn’t work because a boss wouldn’t normally spend such an
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