A Date for Good Luck. Out Today!
Title: A Date for Good Luck
Series: Dating #3
Series: Dating #3
Authors: Heidi McLaughlin & LP Dover
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 9, 2020
Blurb
Kiss the Blarney Stone, Hope Dunn is going to
need some good ole fashion Irish luck! In the chaos of tax season the
Arizona accountant is pulled away to stand in her cousin’s wedding. All it
takes is one step back in the Big Apple, and she regrets making the trip. True
to character, her mother uses their time together to hound Hope about getting
married and settling down.
need some good ole fashion Irish luck! In the chaos of tax season the
Arizona accountant is pulled away to stand in her cousin’s wedding. All it
takes is one step back in the Big Apple, and she regrets making the trip. True
to character, her mother uses their time together to hound Hope about getting
married and settling down.
Still, Hope fulfills
her bridesmaid obligations by joining the bridal party for a shamrock wearing,
pint chugging St. Paddy’s day blow out. There she runs into best
man—and smokin’ hot ginger—Kellan Townsend. Far too much green beer later,
she finds out exactly what that fine Irish lad keeps under his kilt.
her bridesmaid obligations by joining the bridal party for a shamrock wearing,
pint chugging St. Paddy’s day blow out. There she runs into best
man—and smokin’ hot ginger—Kellan Townsend. Far too much green beer later,
she finds out exactly what that fine Irish lad keeps under his kilt.
Afterwards, Hope
wants nothing more than to walk of shame her way into a dark room and nurse her
hangover. Unfortunately, wedding demands won’t allow it. As if facing Kellan
isn’t awkward enough, her mother picks that moment to launch into a fresh
guilt-trip over her lack of grandbabies. Like a lucky little Leprechaun, Kellan
cuts in with a magical offer.
wants nothing more than to walk of shame her way into a dark room and nurse her
hangover. Unfortunately, wedding demands won’t allow it. As if facing Kellan
isn’t awkward enough, her mother picks that moment to launch into a fresh
guilt-trip over her lack of grandbabies. Like a lucky little Leprechaun, Kellan
cuts in with a magical offer.
A pretend romance to
get her mother off her back seems like a wish granted. But Kellan has an agenda
all his own. Can he use this opportunity to jig his way straight into Hope’s
heart? Or will he need a four-leaf clover to get past this workaholic’s
defenses?
get her mother off her back seems like a wish granted. But Kellan has an agenda
all his own. Can he use this opportunity to jig his way straight into Hope’s
heart? Or will he need a four-leaf clover to get past this workaholic’s
defenses?
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Excerpt
Kellan nods toward the bar. “Ready?” He holds out his arm
and it’s as if my body moves of its own accord. I take it and he leads me to
the bar. “Let me guess, green beer?”
and it’s as if my body moves of its own accord. I take it and he leads me to
the bar. “Let me guess, green beer?”
“Please,” I scoff, waving him off, “it’s St. Patrick’s Day.
I want a true Irish-inspired drink.”
I want a true Irish-inspired drink.”
The bartender walks over to us. “What’ll it be you two?”
Kellan looks to me. “Ladies first.”
“I’ll take an Irish Eyes,” I say. The bartender nods and
smiles and then turns to Kellan.
smiles and then turns to Kellan.
Kellan laughs at me. “Irish whiskey, huh? I think I’ll do
the same.” The bartender pours the whiskey in a glass and mixes it with a
little cream and green crème de menthe. Kellan holds up his glass and looks in my
eyes. “It actually matches your eyes. But you’re not Irish.”
the same.” The bartender pours the whiskey in a glass and mixes it with a
little cream and green crème de menthe. Kellan holds up his glass and looks in my
eyes. “It actually matches your eyes. But you’re not Irish.”
I shake my head. “Nope. Got a lot of German in me though.”
Kellan takes a sip of his drink. “Don’t know why this is
called Irish Eyes. The most common eye color among Irish is blue.”
called Irish Eyes. The most common eye color among Irish is blue.”
Holding up my glass, I clank it against his. “Just like
yours.”
yours.”
His blue eyes twinkle and I avert my gaze to my drink. The
way he looks at me makes things stir inside of me and I really don’t need my
insides to be stirred right now, or even think of it for that matter. I should
probably stop drinking.
way he looks at me makes things stir inside of me and I really don’t need my
insides to be stirred right now, or even think of it for that matter. I should
probably stop drinking.
“So, tell me,” Kellan calls out, “how long are you in town
for?”
for?”
I take a sip of my drink, it’s loaded with Irish whiskey.
“Only till the wedding,” I respond, meeting his gaze again. “After that, I have
to get back.”
“Only till the wedding,” I respond, meeting his gaze again. “After that, I have
to get back.”
His lips pull back slightly in that sexy grin of his. “So,
not long then. Hate to hear it.” I’m starting to hate it too. Shaking my head,
I try to drive all indecent thoughts out of my mind, but all I can think about
is hearing his voice in the dark, whispering in my ear as he touches me. I push
the drink aside and Kellan laughs. “Too much for you?”
not long then. Hate to hear it.” I’m starting to hate it too. Shaking my head,
I try to drive all indecent thoughts out of my mind, but all I can think about
is hearing his voice in the dark, whispering in my ear as he touches me. I push
the drink aside and Kellan laughs. “Too much for you?”
I rub a hand over my face. The room feels hot, but that’s
probably because I’m tipsy and he’s making me want things I shouldn’t.
“Actually, I was a little drunk to begin with. I think I need some air.”
probably because I’m tipsy and he’s making me want things I shouldn’t.
“Actually, I was a little drunk to begin with. I think I need some air.”
Kellan takes my hand. “Come on. There’s a private area out
back we can sit. I’ll grab you a bottle of water and we can go out there.”
back we can sit. I’ll grab you a bottle of water and we can go out there.”
He asks the bartender for a water and hands it to me. We
walk out of the private room into the hallway and I guzzle the water as we head
toward the door. When Kellan opens it, it leads out onto a balcony that
overlooks the river. There are people everywhere and I can hear their
chattering, but the cool air feels good on my skin.
walk out of the private room into the hallway and I guzzle the water as we head
toward the door. When Kellan opens it, it leads out onto a balcony that
overlooks the river. There are people everywhere and I can hear their
chattering, but the cool air feels good on my skin.
“Better?” Kellan asks.
I nod. “Much. I just needed some fresh air.” There are two
wrought iron chairs and he guides me into one.
wrought iron chairs and he guides me into one.
“How much have you had to drink today?”
Groaning, I close my eyes. “Well … I was forced into taking
Jell-O shots in the limo. To be honest, I’m not a huge drinker. Doesn’t take
much to get me drunk.” Kellan laughs and it makes me smile. That’s one of the
things I never forgot about him … the way he laughs.
Jell-O shots in the limo. To be honest, I’m not a huge drinker. Doesn’t take
much to get me drunk.” Kellan laughs and it makes me smile. That’s one of the
things I never forgot about him … the way he laughs.
“What are you smiling about?” he asks, laughing again.
I turn to face him. “Your laugh. I remember it from a long
time ago. You were always so fun to be around. I always thought you’d end up
with Hannah one day.”
time ago. You were always so fun to be around. I always thought you’d end up
with Hannah one day.”
Smiling, he shakes his head. “No. I always had my eye on
someone else. Didn’t work out though.”
someone else. Didn’t work out though.”
“You mean Bridget?” I ask.
“Fuck no,” he blurts out. “That was over a long time ago.”
His smile fades and I can see a flash of pain in those blue
eyes of his. “What happened?”
eyes of his. “What happened?”
Sighing, he looks off into the distance. “She did me wrong.
Never thought I’d get hurt, but I did. After she left me for someone else, I
just didn’t give a shit anymore.”
Never thought I’d get hurt, but I did. After she left me for someone else, I
just didn’t give a shit anymore.”
“Is that when you started growing a beard? In the pictures
Hannah and Hallie sent over the years, I thought you were a homeless man.”
That’s not exactly true. He’s always been good looking, but I really did hate
the long, scraggly beard. Now, he looks sexy with just the stubble.
Hannah and Hallie sent over the years, I thought you were a homeless man.”
That’s not exactly true. He’s always been good looking, but I really did hate
the long, scraggly beard. Now, he looks sexy with just the stubble.
Kellan chuckles hard. “You thought I looked homeless? That’s
messed up, Hope.”
messed up, Hope.”
I shrug. “Hey, you don’t look it now.” I glance down at his
green get up. “Right now, you look like a leprechaun.”
green get up. “Right now, you look like a leprechaun.”
He peers down at my green tutu. “And you look like a silly
fairy.” But then he looks up at me and winks. “A cute one, by the way.” We
watch the people walk by on the street and they’re all having such a grand ole
time. It’s easy to get lost in the appeal. Feels like it’s been forever since
I’ve let loose and had fun.
fairy.” But then he looks up at me and winks. “A cute one, by the way.” We
watch the people walk by on the street and they’re all having such a grand ole
time. It’s easy to get lost in the appeal. Feels like it’s been forever since
I’ve let loose and had fun.
Kellan leans back in his chair. “So, tell me about yourself.
What’s changed since the last time I saw you?”
What’s changed since the last time I saw you?”
I shrug. “Not much. Got older and left town.”
His brows lift curiously. “Dating anyone?”
“No,” I reply, shaking my head. “I was seeing someone a few
months ago, but it didn’t work out. We really didn’t have anything in common.
He was all into trail riding on his bike and I just couldn’t get into it. I
tried once and broke my wrist.”
months ago, but it didn’t work out. We really didn’t have anything in common.
He was all into trail riding on his bike and I just couldn’t get into it. I
tried once and broke my wrist.”
Kellan snorts. “And did he wear that girly looking spandex
shit?”
shit?”
The thought makes me smile. “Yep, but he wasn’t very
masculine to begin with. Maybe that’s why I really wasn’t attracted to him. Not
that I need a man to protect me, but it’d be nice to have someone who could
defend my honor if need be.” I roll my eyes. “Okay, I must really be drunk to
say crap like that.”
masculine to begin with. Maybe that’s why I really wasn’t attracted to him. Not
that I need a man to protect me, but it’d be nice to have someone who could
defend my honor if need be.” I roll my eyes. “Okay, I must really be drunk to
say crap like that.”
He smirks. “I get it. A woman should feel protected when
she’s with her man.”
she’s with her man.”
The door opens and Stewart steps out. “There you both are,”
he says, looking concerned.
he says, looking concerned.
Kellan stands and I do the same. “Is everything okay?”
Stewart sighs. “I think Hallie’s had too much to drink.
She’s sick so we’re going to head back to the house. The limo should be here in
five minutes.”
She’s sick so we’re going to head back to the house. The limo should be here in
five minutes.”
I nod. “We’ll be there.”
Usually, I’d want the night to end, but I don’t want it to
now. Plus, I don’t want to go home. My mother will still be awake and all too
ready to finish her conversation about how I need to get busy with my life and
find a husband. And if I don’t, she’ll handle it for me. My goal was to not go
home until I knew she was asleep.
now. Plus, I don’t want to go home. My mother will still be awake and all too
ready to finish her conversation about how I need to get busy with my life and
find a husband. And if I don’t, she’ll handle it for me. My goal was to not go
home until I knew she was asleep.
“What’s wrong?” Kellan asks.
With a heavy sigh, I meet his gaze. “I don’t want to go home
just yet.”
just yet.”
He shrugs. “Then don’t. You can come with me and I’ll take
you home later.”
you home later.”
The thought tempts me, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea
or not. I trust Kellan not to do anything stupid, but the problem is me. I’m
the one I need to worry about.
or not. I trust Kellan not to do anything stupid, but the problem is me. I’m
the one I need to worry about.
“Are you sure?” I ask, second guessing myself, but then he
opens his lips and talks to me in that sexy Irish brogue.
opens his lips and talks to me in that sexy Irish brogue.
“Come on, lassie. It’ll be fine.”
How can I say no to that?
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