Tempted by the Sinner

I got out and met him on the sidewalk. He gave me a look, his eyes roaming my body, and I felt self-conscious of my low-cut white shir and my tight ripped jeans.

“Steven’s an old friend,” he said. “But we’re going to talk business. So just nod your head and smile.”

I clenched my jaw at that. “I know how to listen,” I said.

“I know you do.” His face softened. “I just mean that he might not be as forgiving of you as Dante was, and I really need to hear what he has to say.”

I looked way and nodded. “I understand,” I said.

“Good.”

He turned and walked toward the awning. I followed, keeping close. We stepped beneath it and he stopped at a large, heavy-looking wooden door with an old-fashioned black wrought iron handle. The sign above the door read O’HARE’S with a little stylized Celtic cross at the end.

He pulled open the door and I followed him inside. The bar was dim, but surprisingly crowded for the middle of the morning. There were maybe six guys sitting on stools and nursing beers, a few more sitting at tables and in booths, most of them sitting alone, though there were a few couples. Some were eating, fried eggs and toast, scrapple and bacon, and the whole place smelled like delicious grease and potatoes.

Irish flags covered the walls. There were shamrocks, little leprechauns, pretty much anything Irish was represented in some way. I saw pictures of James Joyce behind the bar and a copy of Finnegan’s Wake was lined up with the whiskey.

Vince walked to the far end of the bar and leaned against it. I followed and sat on the stool next to him. The bartender turned toward us and smiled a little as she wiped down a glass.

She had bright red hair and deep green eyes. Her shirt was black and tucked into black jeans. She was beautiful, really pretty, especially when she smiled. It almost took me by surprise, but Vince gave her a wary look as she approached.

“Hi there,” she said. “I think I know you.”

Vince cocked his head. “You’re Colleen,” he said.

She nodded. “That’s me.”

“You’re Steven’s wife.”

She laughed. “So I do know you.”

“Not really,” he said. “I know your husband, we were friends back in the day. But I’ve been away for a while.”

“You’re Vincent,” she said and pointed at him. “You’re the one in New York.”

He laughed and nodded. “Got me.”

“Oh, this is so cool,” she said and put down the glass she was cleaning. She held out her hand and Vince shook it. “Really nice to meet you. Steven says good things sometimes.”

“And he says bad things the other times, I’m sure,” Vince said.

Colleen laughed and shook her head. “No way.”

“I’m sorry to ask you this, but do you know where he is?” Vince asked.

She sighed and nodded. “Of course,” she said. “Is this a business thing?”

“It’s a business thing,” Vince said.

“Okay.” She put her hands on her hips. “It’s always business with you boys.”

“Can’t escape it,” Vince said.

She looked at me and smiled again. “What about you? You seem mixed up in all this.”

I held up my hands and nodded. “Guilty as charged.”

“You better be careful,” Colleen said. “They pretend like they’re all big and bad, but then they make you fall in love.” She laughed and waved as she walked out from behind the bar and disappeared down a side hallway.

I watched her go then looked at Vince. “Is that true?” I asked. “You make us fall in love?”

He looked at me, a sly little smile on his handsome face. “Might be true,” he said. “What, you feeling it already?”

“Not even close,” I said.

“I don’t know. I’ve seen the way you look at me.”

“With loathing and disgust.”

He laughed and leaned closer. “More like lust.”

I opened my mouth to answer but Colleen appeared in the back hallway door.

“He’ll see you guys,” she said. “If you want to come back with me?”

I jumped off my stool and walked toward her. Vince followed behind me, and I heard him laughing. I wanted to turn and tell him off but I kept moving after Colleen instead. She smiled at me, her head tilted to the side, and she must’ve noticed the look on my face because she shot Vince a little smile. We walked down a short hallway, up a flight of stairs in the back, and paused outside of a door.

“Here we are,” she said. “Vince, go on in.”

Vince slipped past me, and he trailed a hand along my midsection as he went. I glared at him but he only smirked, opened the door, and went inside.

Colleen put a hand on my arm before I could follow.

“He wants to see Vince alone first,” she said, giving me an apologetic smile. “Do you mind waiting here?”

“That’s fine,” I said and leaned back against the wall.