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Had she really wrapped her legs around his waist and rode him like…like she had no self-control at all? Iris blushed at the memory, pulling a pillow over her face and screaming into it. This…this was not a woman she knew. She’d never done something so depraved in her life before.
“It’s about time you started,” Ophelia said in her mind.
“Oh wow, okay. So now my spirit guides are chiming in on my sex life too? Cool,” Iris complained.
“We celebrate love in all its forms,” Ophelia reminded her. She sounded prim, if an ethereal spirit being could be prim.
“News flash, it’s not love,” Iris said and muted Ophelia.
An hour later, Iris strolled into Gallagher’s Pub in her pre-approved outfit and had to admit that John knew what he was talking about. The color of the shirt popped her eyes and worked with her newly colored red hair, and the scoop neck was just low enough to be sexy without making her feel like she had to tug the neckline up every ten minutes. She’d thrown on some large gold hoop earrings and had lovingly waved goodbye to her purple boots before leaving the apartment. If things went well, she’d be in her new place by next week – pending the delivery of a new mattress.
The rush of images and voices that greeted her whenever she walked into a packed restaurant always gave her pause as spirits clamored to speak with her to reach their loved ones. Years ago, Iris would take the time to greet the guides and ascertain if she needed to approach someone with the information they wanted to pass on – to mixed results. After one too many times when a person had left visibly upset, Iris had stopped doing that. She would only approach a stranger and offer her insight in extreme cases. Still, it always took her a moment to steady herself and add an extra layer of noise protection, so to speak, in her mind before she was comfortable in crowded spaces.
“Are you okay?” Kane asked, jolting her, and she turned to smile up at him.
“Yes, just fine. I, uh, it’s just a…” Iris pointed at her head and made a swirling motion with her finger.
“Your guides are talking to you?” Kane gripped her elbow and directed her neatly through the crowd to two seats at the bar next to an old man who Iris instantly recognized as the man from the photo in Aislinn’s shop.
“Not my guides. Everyone else’s,” Iris said. She smiled as Cait skidded to a stop in front of her behind the bar.
“Iris! I’ve been meaning to come by and talk to you. We’ve been mad busy after that festival ended a few weeks ago. Everyone seems to have taken an extended holiday. Wine?”
“Sure, great, thanks,” Iris said.
“Pint of Guinness?” Cait asked Kane and began to build it before waiting for his answer. It made sense. Even if he didn’t want it, someone would likely order a Guinness by the time the pint was finished building.
“Thanks,” Kane said with a nod. “You look nice.”
“Thanks,” Cait and Iris said simultaneously, and Iris laughed when Cait winked at her and bent to grab a bottle of wine. The pub was hopping tonight, and Cait seemed to be doing ten things at once. A glass miraculously appeared before her, and Cait poured her wine.
“This one’s on me. To welcome family. Plus, I hear you’ll be opening a shop here. We like to support local,” Cait said, and Iris’s mouth dropped open. Immediately, panic slipped through her.
“How did you…but I haven’t…”
“Small town, honey. We’re all very excited about it.” Cait patted her hand. “You’ll get used to everyone knowing your business soon enough.”
“Are you the psychic then?” The man next to her smiled. “I heard you’re setting up shop next to Beatrice. Lovely woman. She won’t give me the time of day, but I still try.”
“That’s because you’re about two decades too old for her, Mr. Murphy,” Cait called.
“A man can dream, can’t he?” Mr. Murphy shook his head sadly. “Everyone calls me Mr. Murphy. And you are?”
“Iris, and this is Kane,” Iris said, pointing to where Kane had remained silent at her side.
“Nice to meet you both. I’m pleased you’re taking over the space next to Beatrice. I don’t like to think of her being alone in that building. Plus, a psychic shop sounds like a fun job. Do you enjoy it?”
“I…I do,” Iris admitted. She took a sip of her wine and let the cool liquid slip down her throat. Right, so the word was out about her business. No going back now. And, if she was reading this correctly, it seemed like people would be welcoming.
“Well, sure, and that’s all that matters, isn’t it? Life goes by so quickly. Why waste it at a job that you don’t enjoy?” Mr. Murphy shrugged.
“Every job has parts that aren’t great about it,” Cait weighed in as she slid Kane’s pint to him.
“Naturally, but you just have to find one where the parts you don’t like are far outweighed by the parts you do,” Mr. Murphy said. “Plus, she’ll get to be next to Beatrice all day, which is a big plus in my book.”
“And Bubbles,” Iris chimed in, amused with them both. “We can’t forget Bubbles now.”
“Please tell me you’re opening that strip club after all?” Kane whispered in her ear, a hopeful note in his voice.
