Page 62 of Beneath the Quiet

“What can I get you, Roísin?” Holly interrupts us, wiping her hands on a towel.

“I’ll have a G&T, thanks, Holly.”

While Roísin pays for it, I can’t help but look back at where I left Aidan. He’s no longer sitting at our table but standing next to it. His furrowed brow and the unhappy set to his mouth grab my attention, and I look towards the man opposite him. They are both prime examples of testosterone about to explode, and I tense as they stare hard at each other. I turn my attention to the man I don’t recognise. He looks about the same age as Aidan. His dark-brown hair is on the longer side, with the ends curling over the collar of his dark-grey flannel shirt, and it’s difficult to see his lips as they move because of the impressive beard he’s sporting. His eyes are pulled tight, and when he fists his hands, my back goes taut, and I take a step away from the bar. I can’t read the man’s lips, but when he shoves his fist on Aidan’s chest, trying to push him back, I don’t hold back. I put down my drink on the bar and move on instinct.

“I’ll be back, Roísin.”

Without waiting for her reply, I leave her and walk towards the two men. Aidan crosses his arms over his chest, and there’s a tense set to his jaw as if he’s holding himself back from talking to the other man. When pain crosses his features, my own breath catches, but I set aside my strange reaction to examine it later. I pull out my ID card from my back pocket, ready to use it if I have to.

Aidan glances at me when I reach them.

I wedge myself between the two men, my back to Aidan’s front, and give the stranger a well-practiced polite smile.

“Is everything all right here?”

The stranger doesn’t even look at me before he takes a step back. “Just talking.”

“It didn’t look like that to me. When people start pushing other people in a crowded pub, I have no choice but to act.”

“Why the hell are you interfering, woman?”

The hidden insult isn’t lost on me, but I smile sweetly at him and hold my card up in front of him. His eyes flick down, then snap up in surprise.

“It’s my job. I get paid to interfere, and right now, I’m telling you that you either back off and let the rest of us enjoy our evening, or you get to spend a night down at the Garda station.”

Finally, he looks down at me.

“Think you can handle me, lady?”

I take a step closer until we’re toe-to-toe. “I know I can. Are you sure you want to go down that road? Be my guest.”

“Now, easy there,” Aidan mutters behind me.

I shrug off his hand on my shoulder. “I haven’t made an arrest in six months. I’m way overdue one.”

Goosebumps ripple along my skin as his breath brushes the nape of my neck.

“Be that as it may, there’s no need. Niall was on his way home.”

I raise an eyebrow at Niall. “Have a nice evening.”

His eyes flicker over my shoulder, his stare as steady as it is hard, and his jaw is clenched tight, so I don’t ease up. After the longest five seconds have ticked by, he nods slowly and shuffles another step back before he turns away and saunters out of the pub. I watch the pub door for a couple of seconds, making sure it stays shut, before I turn back to Aidan and give him a hard stare.

“I know you meant well, but when I use my card, you need to stay in the background.” I take a deep breath and soften my tone. “Okay?”

Aidan’s eyes remain thoughtful, but he nods. “Right.” He visibly relaxes and gives me a crooked smile. “Not that I hope there’ll be a next time, but if there is, I promise I’ll be good.”

“Thank you. Do I need to worry about the two of you?”

He clenches his jaw but shakes his head. “No. Niall’s just hurting right now and felt I was the perfect target this time.”

“Good.” In need of easing the tension, I give him a smile. “I don’t want to have to arrest my new BFF.”

I make to move past him, but his hand on mine makes me stop close to his side. I blink when the warmth from his touch spears through me, and I meet his gaze. The laugh lines at the corner of his eyes are on full display, and if I were prone to swooning over a man, this would be the perfect time. He turns his head, and I lock my suddenly shaking knees in place when the warm puff of air from his mouth fans across my ear.

“Thank you for coming to my rescue even though I didn’t need it, Mae.”

There it is again, that name…Mae. But when spoken to me in his rough and soft tone, it sets off another round of shivers along my skin, warming me.