Escape With Me (With Me in Seattle 16)

“Yes! And I don’t know why it made me giggle. But it did. And then I just couldn’t stop.”

Now that we’re dressed in our comfy clothes, he crosses to me and frames my face in his hands. “It’s glad I am that this isn’t average for you.”

“Definitely not average. Not at all.”

A smile tickles his lips before they descend on mine. He takes his time, kissing me long and slow before pulling away.

“We need food,” he says.

“I can cook breakfast.”

“I didn’t know you could cook.”

“You never asked.” I toss him a sassy smile and lead him out of the bedroom suite and down to the kitchen. “You just sit there and look handsome while I pull this together.”

He rests his chin in his hand as I bustle about, retrieving a pan and the ingredients for a classic American breakfast.

I’m pleased to find frozen hash browns in the freezer, fresh eggs, bacon, and bread for toast.

“How do you like your eggs?” I ask.

“Whatever’s easiest for you is fine.”

I raise a brow. “How do you prefer them?”

“Over-medium.”

I nod once and get to work. It’s not a time-consuming meal, you just have to keep an eye on things so you don’t overcook anything. Timing is everything.

Before long, I’ve plated his meal and slide it over to him.

He takes a bite of the perfectly crisp bacon, then stares at me as if I hung the moon.

“It’s just bacon, Keegan.”

“I should have you in the kitchen, not the bloody bar.”

“Don’t you dare take me out of the bar.” I take a bite of my breakfast. “I like it too much. The regular customers are fun, and I’m just now getting the hang of it.”

“I can’t keep anyone in the kitchen,” he admits. “That’s why Shawn and Lexi are in there so much. I had a part-time helper, but he moved to Seattle to be with his girlfriend. I need more staff.”

I watch as he works his way through his plate. “Do you have a high turnover for any specific reason?”

“The kitchen can be demanding,” he admits. “We have a good-sized menu, and when it’s busy, it’s busy. I’ve never had another bartender because I’m usually there. If Da’s in town, he’ll cover if need be. Shawn or Maeve can help in a pinch. If I’m gone for more than a day or two, I shut the bar down.”

I frown at him. “That’s a lot of pressure on you, Keegan.”

“I own the pub.”

“Yes, you do. Which is why you need to hire employees you trust to help you. Bartend every day if you want to, but you shouldn’t have to close down just because you’re taking a holiday.”

He sighs as he finishes his plate. “I’ve given some thought to bringing in more help. I’ll think on it more.”

“I suspect you think about things until you drive yourself crazy.”

“Sometimes.” He stands and carries his plate to the sink, then leans over and kisses my cheek. “Thank you for this delicious breakfast.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Would you like to join me on a hike?”

“Hell, yes.

* * *

“This is incredible.” I prop my hands on my hips as I try to catch my breath. We just made it to the top of a trail that led us to the top of a hill that offers the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen. “I can even see the house from here.”

He nods and rests his foot on a boulder and leans on his knee. “When Kane and I came up here to check out the property, we found this trail and followed it up here. As soon as we stood here and saw the view, we knew we had to buy it.”

“You and Kane are close.”

“We’re only a year apart in age,” Keegan says. “He was my first friend and still is my best friend. He’s always been the more serious one, the artistic one. When we were small and still in Ireland, before our parents came to the US, he loved to spend hours upon hours in our uncle’s barn, firing glass.”

“It’s fascinating to me. I’ve never seen how glass is made.”

“I’m pretty sure we could show you how it’s done, if you’re interested.”

“I would have to be an idiot to turn down the chance to watch Kane O’Callaghan at work.”

“You’ve heard of him, then?”

“Of course. I’ve seen his work before. It’s all over the world.”

“We’re all damn proud of him.”

“I think you’re all worth being proud of.”

He laces his fingers with mine and raises my hand to his lips. “Let’s get back to the house so I can get you naked and pick up where we left off in the shower this morning.”

“Not a bad idea at all. Let’s go.”

We hustle down the trail and make it back to the trailhead in half the time it took us to hike up. Just as we walk into the house, we hear Keegan’s phone ringing, but then it stops.