Mulligan Stew by Deb Stover

Author:Deb Stover [Stover, Deb]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, General, Contemporary, Fiction
ISBN: 9780739426241
Google: fKVIcNVp1uwC
Amazon: 0739426249
Publisher: Jove Book
Published: 2002-12-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Riley took another bite of what Bridget called a "chicken-fried steak" and almost moaned aloud. As much as he hated to admit it—again—the woman's cooking could bring entire armies to their knees.

He'd planned to walk into Ballybronagh to eat at Gilhooley's, just to avoid this. And her. Aye, and hadn't that been a good plan, too? He took another bite. Then another. Aye, it had been an excellent plan.

Mulligan, you're weak. He'd been felled by a piece of beef and gravy rich enough to make a grown man weep with joy. Mum had made his favorite fried cabbage with rashers crumbled in it, and he really hoped there were no afters. If he ate like this every day, he'd be too heavy to ride Oíche.

"Maggie made the dessert," Bridget said, smiling.

"Oh?" I'm saved. Riley could easily resist sampling something his sister had prepared. "I don't think I'll have room for afters."

"Aye, you will." Mum's eyes twinkled mischievously, and she turned her attention back to Bridget. "Bridget, tell me again how you make this meat with your sourdough? I can't believe it could taste any better."

"The sourdough helps make the outside even crispier," Bridget explained. "I dip the meat in the sourdough starter, then dredge it in flour and spices like I did this time."

"Then you cook it the same way?"

"Yes. I'm glad y'all like it." She smiled and her entire face glowed.

Riley's throat threatened to close around a half-swallowed piece of meat. The woman's smile did things to him—different things than looking lower would do. Heat rose to his neck and he took a sip of cool water before his entire face turned crimson.

Something swelled within his chest as he watched her chat with Mum about cooking. She obviously loved to cook, so it wasn't hard to understand why she'd thought of opening a restaurant.

A restaurant in Caisleán Dubh. Had he ever heard a more ludicrous notion?

At least Jacob hadn't blathered on about the wretched castle all day. In fact, the lad had behaved himself in every way after his little disappearing act. Riley cast a sidelong glance at his nephew—master con-artist—who shoveled mashed spuds and gravy into his mouth faster than old Seamus Doone could down a pint after Lent.

"Riley, are you listening?" Maggie asked, spearing his attention.

"Aye. What?"

All three women snickered. Would this be another of those "Funning Riley" evenings? He drew a deep breath and vowed that he would not let them bother him this time.

"No," he said, smiling at his sister. "What did you say?"

"I asked if you're ready for the afters."

The expression on Maggie's face reminded Riley of the time she'd begged him to teach her how to ride his bike. Of course, it had been much too tall for her, but she'd finally managed to ride it to the road and back. Had he ever seen her look as proud as she had that day, with her missing tooth and her hair curling wildly around her freckled face?

Aye, he was really going soft. Eejit.

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