Title: A Date for Good Luck
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 cousinâs 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. Paddyâs day blow out. There she runs into best manâand smokinâ hot gingerâKellan 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 wonât allow it. As if facing Kellan isnât 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 Hopeâs heart? Or will he need a four-leaf clover to get past this workaholicâs defenses?
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Kellan nods toward the bar. âReady?â He holds out his arm and itâs as if my body moves of its own accord. I take it and he leads me to the bar. âLet me guess, green beer?â
âPlease,â I scoff, waving him off, âitâs St. Patrickâs Day. I want a true Irish-inspired drink.â
The bartender walks over to us. âWhatâll it be you two?â
Kellan looks to me. âLadies first.â
âIâll take an Irish Eyes,â I say. The bartender nods and smiles and then turns to Kellan.
Kellan laughs at me. âIrish whiskey, huh? I think Iâll do the same.â 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. âIt actually matches your eyes. But youâre not Irish.â
I shake my head. âNope. Got a lot of German in me though.â
Kellan takes a sip of his drink. âDonât know why this is called Irish Eyes. The most common eye color among Irish is blue.â
Holding up my glass, I clank it against his. âJust like yours.â
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 donât need my insides to be stirred right now, or even think of it for that matter. I should probably stop drinking.
âSo, tell me,â Kellan calls out, âhow long are you in town for?â
I take a sip of my drink, itâs loaded with Irish whiskey. âOnly till the wedding,â I respond, meeting his gaze again. âAfter that, I have to get back.â
His lips pull back slightly in that sexy grin of his. âSo, not long then. Hate to hear it.â Iâm 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. âToo much for you?â
I rub a hand over my face. The room feels hot, but thatâs probably because Iâm tipsy and heâs making me want things I shouldnât. âActually, I was a little drunk to begin with. I think I need some air.â
Kellan takes my hand. âCome on. Thereâs a private area out back we can sit. Iâll grab you a bottle of water and we can go out there.â
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.
âBetter?â Kellan asks.
I nod. âMuch. I just needed some fresh air.â There are two wrought iron chairs and he guides me into one.
âHow much have you had to drink today?â
Groaning, I close my eyes. âWell ⦠I was forced into taking Jell-O shots in the limo. To be honest, Iâm not a huge drinker. Doesnât take much to get me drunk.â Kellan laughs and it makes me smile. Thatâs one of the things I never forgot about him ⦠the way he laughs.
âWhat are you smiling about?â he asks, laughing again.
I turn to face him. âYour laugh. I remember it from a long time ago. You were always so fun to be around. I always thought youâd end up with Hannah one day.â
Smiling, he shakes his head. âNo. I always had my eye on someone else. Didnât work out though.â
âYou mean Bridget?â I ask.
âFuck no,â he blurts out. âThat was over a long time ago.â
His smile fades and I can see a flash of pain in those blue eyes of his. âWhat happened?â
Sighing, he looks off into the distance. âShe did me wrong. Never thought Iâd get hurt, but I did. After she left me for someone else, I just didnât give a shit anymore.â
âIs that when you started growing a beard? In the pictures Hannah and Hallie sent over the years, I thought you were a homeless man.â Thatâs not exactly true. Heâs always been good looking, but I really did hate the long, scraggly beard. Now, he looks sexy with just the stubble.
Kellan chuckles hard. âYou thought I looked homeless? Thatâs messed up, Hope.â
I shrug. âHey, you donât look it now.â I glance down at his green get up. âRight now, you look like a leprechaun.â
He peers down at my green tutu. âAnd you look like a silly fairy.â But then he looks up at me and winks. âA cute one, by the way.â We watch the people walk by on the street and theyâre all having such a grand ole time. Itâs easy to get lost in the appeal. Feels like itâs been forever since Iâve let loose and had fun.
Kellan leans back in his chair. âSo, tell me about yourself. Whatâs changed since the last time I saw you?â
I shrug. âNot much. Got older and left town.â
His brows lift curiously. âDating anyone?â
âNo,â I reply, shaking my head. âI was seeing someone a few months ago, but it didnât work out. We really didnât have anything in common. He was all into trail riding on his bike and I just couldnât get into it. I tried once and broke my wrist.â
Kellan snorts. âAnd did he wear that girly looking spandex shit?â
The thought makes me smile. âYep, but he wasnât very masculine to begin with. Maybe thatâs why I really wasnât attracted to him. Not that I need a man to protect me, but itâd be nice to have someone who could defend my honor if need be.â I roll my eyes. âOkay, I must really be drunk to say crap like that.â
He smirks. âI get it. A woman should feel protected when sheâs with her man.â
The door opens and Stewart steps out. âThere you both are,â he says, looking concerned.
Kellan stands and I do the same. âIs everything okay?â
Stewart sighs. âI think Hallieâs had too much to drink. Sheâs sick so weâre going to head back to the house. The limo should be here in five minutes.â
I nod. âWeâll be there.â
Usually, Iâd want the night to end, but I donât want it to now. Plus, I donât 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 donât, sheâll handle it for me. My goal was to not go home until I knew she was asleep.
âWhatâs wrong?â Kellan asks.
With a heavy sigh, I meet his gaze. âI donât want to go home just yet.â
He shrugs. âThen donât. You can come with me and Iâll take you home later.â
The thought tempts me, but I donât know if itâs a good idea or not. I trust Kellan not to do anything stupid, but the problem is me. Iâm the one I need to worry about.
âAre you sure?â I ask, second guessing myself, but then he opens his lips and talks to me in that sexy Irish brogue.
âCome on, lassie. Itâll be fine.â
How can I say no to that?
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Heidi McLaughlin
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
When writing isnât occupying her time, you can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughtersâ basketball games.
Heidiâs first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
LP Dover
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
She loves to write, but she also loves to play golf, go on mountain hikes, and has a passion for singing. Her youngest daughter, who sheâs also written a childrenâs book with, expects a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres, including a childrenâs book with her youngest daughter, but her favorite to write is romantic suspense. However, she has found a new passion in romantic comedy, especially involving sexy golfers. Who knew the sport could be so dirty and fun to write about.
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