Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance (26 page)

“I have done something stupid, and for that I am heartily sorry. I have hurt the girl
hiccup
; I love and am now feeling very sorry for myself. Sooooo, I went out for a pint or two,
hiccup,
and now I am a tincy wincey bit drunk.” He made a gesture with his thumb and forefinger moving them together.

“Come down off that chair, you big eejit.” Gearóid O’Malley, was standing in the doorway smirking at his son. “Dad, dad! Come sing a tune with me. Oh-wait! Wait I feel a little bit-”

And then he puked. Cass eyes widened as she watched him projectile vomit across the room. “Told you it would be good,” Annie whispered into Cass’s ear.

Cass watched as the family gathered around Rory, Rian and Darragh grabbed Rory’s arms and lifted him off the chair. His father knelt down and began to clean up the mess.

“Come on Ror, to bed with you.” Rory was dragged still singing from the room without even glancing in Cass’s direction. “Cassidy, I can only apologize.” Louisa moved over beside Cassidy and made a face. “Again,” said Annie half under her breath. Louisa turned to Annie and pointed in the direction of the door.

“Out Annie!” Annie opened her eyes wide and without a backward glance left the room. Cass stood biting her thumbnail and feeling out of place and alone.

“Um, I think I will go back into town and find a bed and breakfast, if I could just call a cab?”

“Not at all darlin' I won’t hear of it. He will be right as rain in the morning and you’ll not get a bed and breakfast this close to Christmas in the town anyway. I have a bed made up for you in the spare room and no one will bother you there. Get some sleep eh? Rory, will be very sorry in the morning no doubt. You are our guest here as long as you would like to stay.” Cass nodded at Louisa and managed a weak smile.

(Cass)

A good word never broke a tooth.

Irish proverb

C
ass woke up to birds singing and the winter sun beaming through the curtains. She crawled out of bed and stretched looking out the window. Where the hell was Rory? There was a soft knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Louisa stepped into the room with a bundle of clothes in her hands.

“Morning lovey, I have some clothes for you here. I saw that you didn’t bring any with you.”

“Um. I left in a hurry and didn’t bring anything with me. I can go to a shop and pick up a few things if you point me in the right direction.”

“Not at all Cass. I have some spare clothes here that my sister left. You are about the same size. I’ll leave you to it and breakfast is on the table. Young Rory will be having a bit of a lie in I’d imagine, and a few hangover cures as well. I must apologize for his behaviour last night. He’s not a drinker you know. Something must have burrowed well under his skin for him to lose the head like that.”  Louisa looked at Cass and softly and put her hand on her shoulder.

“What he did was appalling Cass. And we are so sorry for the pain that this has caused you and your family. I know his heart was in the right place, but his brain seems to have left the building temporarily.” Cass put her hand over Louisa’s hand and smiled at her.

“I know Louisa. I know his intentions came from a good place.”

“There is no pressure here Cass. You are free to speak your mind and to come and go as you please. I hope you’ll be staying for Christmas. It would be a pleasure to have you here.”

Louisa started to tear up and her hands were shaking slightly. Cass hugged Louisa to her and felt her sob slightly against her.

“Of course I’ll stay; I’d be honoured to spend time with your family.”

“Right, ladies, sob fest over?”

Cass raised her head to find Rian leaning on the doorframe grinning at them.

“Come on ma, let her go. I’m bringing Cass into the village to show her the castle.”

“All right, all right,” Louisa laughed.  “Off you go young ones and have fun.”

Cass studied Rian, he was all cheeky boy to Rory’s man.

“Cass, I’ll give you five minutes to change and then meet me in the kitchen. I’ll show you the local sites while big brother is nursing his sore head. It’ll do him no harm to wake up and find out that you’re here, in County Clare.”

He nodded in Cass’ direction and left the room.

Cass threw on the skinny blue jeans, black Ugg boots and a black ribbed polo neck Louisa had left her. She left her hair down and added her grey winter hat and gloves. The Irish wind was like the Devon wind. Deceptive in its bite. While the sun shone down, the wind would have the nose frozen off you in minutes.

She tiptoed passed the room where the lads had deposited Rory the night before. She stopped and pushed lightly against the door. It gave easily and she snuck her head around the room and spotted Rory naked asleep on the bed. The smell of Guinness and whiskey made her crinkle her nose. He was sleeping soundly.

“Doesn’t he make a lovely sight altogether?”

Cass jumped and looked around to see Aoife standing behind her. Cass noticed how thin she was, how fragile. She was more like Darragh in colouring. Red wavy hair and golden eyes. She was breathtakingly beautiful and waif-like.

“Sorry,” said Aoife, holding her hands up. “Didn’t mean to scare you. He’s such an eejit at times, but something tells me you already know that.”

Cass nodded at her smiling. “He is one of a kind for sure Aoife.”

“You’d think so, but there are three others just like him under this roof at the moment. Well I should discount dad from the number. He at least thinks with his brain more than with his dick.”

Cass dropped her mouth open. The words coming out of the gentle mouth didn’t fit.

“Oh sorry Cass, sometimes it just slips out.” Cass burst out laughing and shut Rory’s door.

“Rian’s going to bring you around Bunratty today. To see the castle and the old folk park and Durty Nellies. I might join you both if that’s okay?”

“Of course, I’d love that. Durty nellies?”

“It’s our local pub. Nice little place, great food and some craic too. They have impromptu sessions, singing and the like. One of the oldest pubs in Ireland.”

“Sounds great, am I dressed okay?”

“You’re grand. Come on, we’ll make a day of it. It'll do Rory good to wake up and find out we kidnapped you for the day.” She winked and elbowed Cass in the ribs.

“Is Annie coming too?” Cass had taken to Annie straight away and felt comfortable in her company.

“Nah, she works on a Saturday and Mama and Dad mind the twins. She might come down later though.”  Cass nodded at her. “Oh right, she a veterinarian isn’t she?”

“She is, I see you’ve been kept up to date by big brother.”

“Girls, come on for heaven sake!” Rian's voice came from the kitchen. Aoife rolled her eyes, “Come on Cass, best not keep the cranky arse waiting.”

The three of them got into a jeep and drove off down the lane leaving Louisa standing watching them with a look of relief on her face. Maybe Aoife would open up to Cass. Maybe it would be the start of the healing process for them all, Cass included. She went into the house, picked up the phone and rang directory enquires.

(Rory)

Good as drink is,

It ends in thirst.

Irish proverb

R
ory woke up holding his head in his hands.

“Jaysus wept,” he muttered.

What the hell had happened last night? He tutted loudly screwing his eyes up at the sounds around him. Tick, tick, tick. Why was the damn clock so loud! His phone was vibrating on the nightstand. He threw out his right hand and grabbed it to his chest, keeping his eyes closed he pressed the accept button and brought it to his ear.

“O’Malley.”

“It’s Paul, where the heck were you last night? I’ve been trying to get hold of you.”

Rory shot up straight in the bed. “What’s happened? Is it Cass? Is she okay?”

“She’s gone.” Rory opened his eyes and rubbed a hand over his face.

“What the fuck do you mean gone, Paul? Gone where?”

“To Ireland. She took a flight to Shannon airport yesterday. I tried ringing you all last night.”

Rory ended the call, bounded out of bed and pulled open his bedroom door. He ran up to the kitchen where his parents and his granny O’Malley were enjoying a cup of tea.

“Did someone come here?  A girl named Cass. Is she here?”

His father looked him up and down. “Jesus Ror, do they not supply clothes in London?” Rory starred at him and then dropped his eyes to his naked body.

Granny O’Malley chuckled.

“Gearóid, it’s nothing any of us haven’t seen before. Although, everything seems to have increased in size since I last saw it. A good thing surely?” Rory groaned and grabbed a tea towel from the stove covering himself. Louisa stood up and poured her tea down the sink. “She came last night, while you were in the pub. You were so bladdered by the time you came home, you never even noticed her here. She’s gone to Bunratty with Rian and Aoife, about three hours ago.” Rory slapped his forehead.

“Three hours ago! Why didn’t you wake me, for God sake? What the hell did she go with Rian for? Oh for the love of God mam!”

Gearóid laughed. “Son, you have it bad. They are probably in Nellie’s having a pint at this stage. Why don’t you take a leisurely walk into the village and meet up with them?”

Rory took off down the corridor and jumped into the shower, his head still pounding as he turned the dial to cold and let it wash over him.
Cass here! At my house. Why the hell did I have a drink last night? You didn’t you had ten. Damn it all to hell!
Rian too, of all people! He’d better keep his cheeky Irish chappie routine away from Cass. Rory has seen his brother in action and was all too aware that Rian could charm the knickers off a nun! Brushing his teeth, and drying himself at the speed of light, he pulled on a sweater and a pair of jeans hopping from foot to foot. He raced back to the kitchen and grabbed the keys of his car, stopping to steal a slice of toast from his dad's plate, despite his protestations. He shouted “Bye Lads,” and left the house driving out the gate in the direction of the village.

Rory stood at the door of Nellie’s pub and looked over to the group of people sitting beside the fire in the old pub. He smiled when he saw Cass. She was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe properly. Rian was regaling them with a story of a blind date that he had tried to set Annie up on. The pub was busy and Rian stood up and started to make his way to the counter to order some drinks. He called back to the group.