When Sparks Fly by Jo McNally

Author:Jo McNally
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2022-04-14T12:53:14+00:00

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“SON OF A BI—” Mike glanced at his seven-year-old niece, Katie, and grimaced. “I mean son of a bee, that hurt!” She giggled, and he pretended to be offended. “What’s so funny about your uncle Mike hurting himself?”

“Uncle Mike, you were going to swear!” Katie pointed at him, her other hand on her hip. Mary’s daughter was a carbon copy of her, with the same self-righteous attitude. “Momma says we swear a lot ’cuz we’re Irish. Do you think we swear ’cuz we’re Irish?”

“Total blasphemy!” Finn O’Hearn stepped out onto the patio, where Mike was attempting—and failing—to repair a loose railing. Owen Cooper was right behind him. Finn, who was actually born in Ireland, gave Katie an exaggerated look of seriousness. “Ireland is the land of poets.” He winked. “And even when we curse, we elevate it to artistry.” Finn then frowned at Mike. “Oi, you’re bleedin’, lad.”

Mike glanced at the cut on his palm, where the screwdriver had grazed him when it slid off the screw head. It burned, but it wasn’t deep enough for concern.

“I’m fine. Damn wood on this deck is tough as steel. I told Mary I’d secure the railing, but I don’t want to leave the screw sticking out where one of the kids can bump it and I can’t get the fu—” Katie was still watching with interest. “...freakin’ thing to set all the way.”

Owen stepped forward, his hand out. “Give me the screwdriver.” He knelt on the step and leaned into the effort, getting all three screws in and flush with the wood. He stood, handing the screwdriver back to Mike with a grin.

“Don’t feel bad, boys. The world needs lawyers and professors, even if you can’t build anything.”

Finn scoffed. “Says the lad who plants flowers for a livin’.”

“I like flowers!” Katie announced proudly.

Owen tapped her nose with his finger. “As you should, young lady. That’s why the world needs landscapers and flower shops.” He pointed to Mike and Finn. “But we’ll still keep these fancy boys around, just because we like them, okay?”

The girl’s auburn curls bounced as she nodded in agreement before running back inside. Finn handed Mike one of the beers he was holding, giving another to Owen. They sat at the patio table and tapped the bottles together lightly in a toast before drinking.

There weren’t many things better than a cold beer on a hot June afternoon. It was Father’s Day, and Mary had insisted on having a house party, even though her husband Sam was practically immobilized by the contraption he was strapped into after having shoulder surgery a few days ago.

She wasn’t handling the work of entertaining alone—their grandmother, Maura, was in the kitchen with Finn’s wife, Bridget. Owen’s wife, Lucy, was sitting with the book club seniors at the dining room table, sharing some funny bridezilla stories from the flower shop. Mary was making Sam, a state legislator, comfortable in the recliner while Hazel did her best to keep up with their three kids. And Hazel’s mom was walking toward the open sliding doors to the deck.

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