gave her a sour look. “Believe me, I’m well aware of that. I’ve had to field more than one question about the red-haired angel with the ready smile. You’ve drawn more attention around here today than the turkey.” He didn’t sound especially pleased about it. “I was referring to your popping up just now. Were you eavesdropping on a private conversation?”
“Nope, just bringing out more pies,” she said, holding up the armload she’d retrieved from the kitchen. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you were saying. You’re hiring them?”
He shrugged as if it were nothing. “They need work. I can take on a couple of extra people at this time of year. It’s no big deal.”
“I’m sure it is to them.” Then, to avoid prolonging a topic that obviously made him uncomfortable, she asked, “I understand you’re responsible for providing all this food every year. It’s very generous of you.”
“I have a restaurant. Rory likes to cook for people who appreciate a fine meal,” he said. “Why not help out a good cause?”
Once again he’d dismissed his good deed. She probably should have been impressed by his humility, but she found it oddly worrisome, instead. “Why aren’t you comfortable accepting a compliment?” she asked.
“Maybe it’s because I don’t deserve it,” he said. “I wasn’t the one basting turkeys and pouring pumpkin custard into pie shells all night long. Rory did that, as he has ever since he came to work for me.”
“But I imagine you paid for the ingredients and for Rory’s time,” she countered.
“For the ingredients, yes, but not for Rory’s time. He knows, as I do, what it’s like to do without on a holiday. We try to make sure that at least some people don’t have to know that feeling.”
She studied him intently. “How long have you been doing this?”
“Not that it matters, but ever since I opened the pub. And that’s enough of that,” he said, closing the door on the topic. “I’m sure Father Francis is grateful to you and your family for coming to help out today.”
“It’s been...” She searched for the right word. While helping out had been rewarding, it was what she’d discovered about Ryan Devaney that had been truly important to her. “It’s been enlightening.”
His gaze narrowed at her comment. “I’m glad we’ve been able to provide a bit of entertainment for your holiday,” he said with a touch of bitterness. “Excuse me. I have things to do.”
He brushed past her, but Maggie reached for his arm. When she touched him, she felt the muscle jerk beneath her fingers. Only when he turned to face her did she speak. “You know that I did not mean that to be insulting,” she said quietly. “Who did this to you? Who made you distrust everyone the way you do?”
Ryan hesitated, his expression still angry. “It’s a long story, and today’s not the time,” he said finally, his voice tight.
Maggie’s gaze was unrelenting. “Will there be a time?”
His gaze locked with hers, and for the longest time she thought he was going to say no, but eventually he sighed heavily.
“I imagine you’ll insist on it,” he said.
Maggie laughed at the note of resignation in his voice. It wasn’t a very big opening, but it was enough. “Yes, Ryan Devaney, you can count on it.”
Because despite all the roadblocks he’d set up and all the alarms going off in her head warning her away, she was very much intrigued with everything about this man.
4
Ryan was still reeling from the fact that Rosita Gomez, the cook who barely spoke English and knew nothing about Irish food, also happened to be seven months’ pregnant. Father Francis had delicately neglected to mention that fact to Ryan when he’d been touting her for a job at the pub. Ryan could hardly wait to see Rory’s face when he found out. Thankfully, he’d been able to keep the two of them apart at the shelter yesterday. Rory had been too busy to spend much time in the dining room.
But it wouldn’t be long now. Rosita and her husband were due at the pub at two to fill out the necessary paperwork. When Ryan heard the tap on his office door, he assumed it was his two new employees. Instead, he found himself staring at Maggie O’Brien. A sigh escaped before he could stop it.
“You again,” he murmured.
“I hope this isn’t a bad time,” she said.
Ryan desperately wanted to think of an excuse to run her off, but none occurred to him.
“No, it’s fine,” he said, trying to hide his reluctance. “I have a few minutes before my next appointment. Come on in. What brings you into Boston today?”
She held up an armload of shopping bags. “The sales,” she said. “Surely you know this is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Black Friday, when businesses expect to go from red ink to black for the year.”
“I believe I have read that somewhere,” Ryan said dryly. “An ad or two, maybe? Every TV newscast since last week?”
She laughed. “Probably so.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here. Don’t tell me you happened to have another flat outside my pub because your car’s overloaded.”
“Nope. I have four brand-new tires, thanks to my brother. Matt took the car in this morning, muttering the whole time about how irresponsible I was to let the tires get into such sorry shape in the first place. It made him feel very male and very superior, so I suppose there was a blessing to be had.”
“Well—” Ryan began.
“Don’t you start. Not when I’ve coming bearing gifts.”
Ryan’s gaze narrowed. “Gifts?”
She frowned at him. “Not for you. While my sisters and I were at the sales, we saw a few things we thought Rosita might be able to use for herself and the baby. That is who you’re expecting this afternoon, right? I spoke to her briefly after you and I talked yesterday. I know she wasn’t able to bring much with her to the shelter. Wait till you see.” She poked around in the shopping bags and started pulling out baby clothes, an expression of pure delight on her face. “Aren’t these the cutest things you’ve ever seen? Look at this.” She held up a tiny little knit cap in pale yellow. “And this.” She retrieved an outfit with ducks embroidered across the front.
When she had his entire desk covered with baby clothes, she sat back. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re amazing,” Ryan blurted, then regretted it when he saw the smile that spread across her face. “I meant that Rosita is going to amazed. Why did you do it? You must have spent a fortune.”
“Everything was on sale,” she reminded him. “And we couldn’t resist.” She held up another huge bag. “There are a few maternity outfits in here for Rosita. These are new, but I have another bag in the car of Colleen’s old maternity clothes. She swears she will never need them again, but if you ask me Daniel
