Lucky Star

by K. L. Shandwick

  “Did you hear our new single on the radio, on the way here?” Paddy asked with a smug grin on his face.

  “No, I didn’t. What was the feedback?”

  “Radio hosts are predicting a number one,” Bernie chimed in.

  “As it should be. The amount of procrastinating that went into that song,” I replied, chuckling.

  “Is this the first song from the new album?” Catrina asked.

  “Yeah, ‘Daisy Restrained’,” I replied with the title, and the twins both chuckled.

  “Hm, I wonder what inspired that?” Ryan mused and smirked.

  “You think that was Uncle Jamie’s wishful thinking or from memory?” Nick queried, sarcastically.

  “Enough,” Catrina snapped, but chuckled regardless of her attempt to admonish the boys.

  “What, mom? Was that Daisy’s safe word or something?” Nick asked again, and the boys cracked up laughing again.

  “For the record, I’ve never restrained, Daisy,” I replied, grinning and holding my hands out as if to say honest, believe me.

  “Yet… or you’re a very good liar,” Ryan said, looking like he was considering my answer. Paddy grinned.

  “Hey, are you sure we never had an affair, Catrina? These could be my kids the way they go on,” Paddy asked.

  Catrina choked back a laugh. “Paddy, I’d just like to remind you that he’s your best friend,” she said, laughing. “I don’t think my little brother would have been too pleased with you if—”

  “Gotcha,” Paddy replied, winking at Catrina, like they shared a secret. I knew it was all talk, because Paddy and Bernie were a match made in heaven, as our elders would say.

  Each of us stowed our carry-on items and took a seat ready for take-off. Once our large baggage was placed in the hold and the aircraft was secured, we were quickly air bound, headed for Dublin.

  After our inflight attendant served us some drinks, Paddy and I took the opportunity to catch up, while Catrina and Bernie talked about Christmas traditions on Bernie’s side of the pond.

  “The album is being released this Friday and you already know everyone is speculating who the woman behind Daisy Restrained is. It’s such a catchy tune, it’ll be one of those timeless songs people will still be singing in fifty years,” Paddy speculated. “If I were you, I’d be thinking about the next interview you do because they are all going to want to know, who was the inspiration behind that song.”

  I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. Worried again, what effect my fame would have on Daisy. Part of the pleasure of our relationship was the normality and privacy.

  “Can’t we just say it's about your wonderful wife Bernie,” I asked.

  “We could, but it's not, it's about your feelings for Daisy. Plus, there’s a huge hint in the title of the song, since Daisy’s name is right there. They’re going to find out sooner or later,” he reminded me.

  That thought depressed me because I didn’t want her to lose the innocence of us. I, more than anyone, knew the consequences of that. I shook my head.

  I wasn’t ready for that kind of publicity. We’d barely gotten back on an even keel after I’d been on my extended creative lockdown. The last thing I needed was to give Daisy more reasons why we were a bad idea.

  My brow furrowed, and stared pointedly at my bandmate, feeling instantly worried about how Daisy would react. “I know, but it worries me that she will be forced to change, and I don’t want that, I love her the way she is.”

  “Bernie and I are spending Christmas at Bernie’s parents. Her ma has invited my family for a festive shindig. Afterward, we’re coming down to Dublin for the New Year, so I’ll ask Bernie to spend some more time with her. You can’t ignore what’s coming. We all need try to prepare your girl for what might happen when the story breaks,” he insisted.

  “You’re right. I’m being selfish, but I’m still a little reserved about what it’ll mean. Bernie talking to Daisy sounds good, as long as she doesn't frighten her off.”

  My hands drifted to my seatbelt, the restriction of it suddenly felt as tight as the knot in my stomach because of the topic of conversation about my future with her. I felt anxious about her reaction again.

  Daisy was a kick ass girl, but knowing how skittish she felt about making us work, I had yet to figure out the best way to take our relationship public that would have the least impact as possible.

  “I’m glad you’re seeing sense,” Paddy said.

  “We all know you want to keep her to yourself, but it would be wise to give her some pointers in case the wheel comes off when you’re not around. She’s an ordinary girl doing a tough job. The last thing she needs is to be inundated by paparazzi when there is no one around to protect her,” Catrina told me.

  After I promised to talk to her, we all began to talk about Ireland, and the sites Catrina and the boys should visit while they were there.

  By the time we’d had a bit of banter, a few stories from Paddy and the twins, eaten and had a sleep, we had touched down in Dublin before we knew it. At 7:00 a.m. the airport was extremely busy with people returning home and flying out for the holiday.

  We said our goodbyes to Paddy and Bernie after we were rushed through immigration control, and they went off with an escort for the short helicopter journey up to Belfast.

  A chauffeur driven car picked us up and transferred us to the hotel my family were staying at.

  “Wow, this place looks very grand,” Catrina mused in wonder as her eyes ticked over the grand architecture of the Clayton Hotel. It had an historical stately home feel that I knew would impress her. That wasn’t the reason it had been chosen though. It was because it was tucked out of the way and had a great reputation for discretion.

  After checking my family in, I quickly left them to settle and unpack, grab showers and the like and headed over to see Daisy. My heart pumped excitedly in anticipation of seeing her again.

  The weeks had dragged since the last time I’d held her in my arms. When I noted she had a couple of hours before her bar opened for business again, I wanted to spend every minute possible with her before then.

  “Would you mind if I put the radio on for traffic updates?” the driver asked as I sat in the back of the car on the way to see Daisy at The Lucky Shamrock, the pub she managed.

  “Sure,” I replied.

  As the radio burst into life, the sound of one of DistRoyed’s songs filled the car.

  “These fellas aren’t bad at all,” he informed me turning the music up a notch. “Did you know they've got a Northern Irish drummer? He makes all the difference to that band, I think,” the driver, who’d introduced himself as Connor, said with an air of someone in the know.

  I looked out the window at the gray sky above and smirked that he hadn’t realized who I was.

  “Yeah, what’s his name again?” I asked, playing along.

  “Paddy,” he replied, as he made eye contact with me in the rear-view mirror.

  “That’s it. Yes, I agree, he’s the bomb, but I hear their singer is very fond of your traditional Irish music that's played here in the back-street pubs.”

  “Is that right? Well, if I’m lucky enough to pick him up one day, I’ll put that to the test and sing him the Irish Rover… that’s a famous old-style Irish song.”

  I bit back a chuckle and nodded, relishing in the anonymity Ireland afforded me. Even with my voice coming out of the radio the driver hadn’t put two and two together.

  For the rest of the journey Connor talked nonstop, pointing out places of interest as we winged our way to the pub.

  “As you obviously have a lot of historical knowledge about your city, after Christmas is out of the way, would you give my sister and her boys a guided tour for a day or two?” I asked.

  Connor agreed, and I paid him as he left my bags on the sidewalk. As I watched him drive away, I picked them up in my hands and took a deep breath to calm my excited heart.

  Chapter 4

  Standing on the sidewalk outside
the entrance doors, I took a moment to enjoy the happy feelings that coursed through my mind and body at the prospect of being able to hug and kiss Daisy again. That feeling was better than the anticipation of running out on stage in front of tens of thousands of fans.

  Stepping forward, I pushed open the doors and my eyes immediately fell on her, as she stood with her back to me on my side of the bar. Terry looked past her, and I quickly placed my index finger to my lips to shush him as I snuck toward her.

  When I reached her I swiftly turned her around and lifted her up. A sharp yelp of surprise left her lips and I chuckled at the startled look on her face. Dipping my head, I whispered in her ear. “Hello, beautiful.” Drawing my head back to look into her eyes, I smiled at the wide beam on her face and the look of adoration she gave me.

  Hugging her tightly in my arms, I took her lips in the most intimate slow kiss I had in me, and when we finally broke the kiss, I chuckled at how breathless she was. She had that certain shine in her eyes I had learned to recognize, it let me know how much our kisses affected her.

  When Terry broke into our moment, it was like a needle scratching a vinyl record at a favorite bridge of a song.

  “Sorry to burst your bubble Barney, but we’ve got a sit-down lunch for forty in less than fifteen minutes. So, you’re going to have to keep your desire in your pants and pick up a glass cloth if you want to hang around,” he muttered, as he unscrewed an optic measure from an empty gin bottle and attached it to another.

  His interjection interrupted the reunion I’d imagined in my mind on the way to the pub that would have rivalled Richard Gere in ’An Officer and a Gentleman.’

  “What time are you closing?” I asked.

  “8:00 p.m. A lot of pubs continue until normal closing time, but I shut down early on Christmas Eve. It lets the staff get home to spend time with their families. It’s bad enough I have all agency staff and the manager who stepped in at Thanksgiving running the place tomorrow,” she told me, pouting. “You have me all day then,” she said, but it sounded a poor consolation, for the hours I’d have to wait to have her alone.

  “Maria and Frances will be here any moment,” Daisy said, turning to Terry. “If the three of you can’t manage forty people between you then I need to be looking at scrapping you three and hiring better staff,” she said, smugly.

  “Frances is still around?” I asked, feeling a little betrayed that she hadn’t booted her ass like she’d threatened.

  “Only because I need the help, or I’d be working full days for the week you’re here.”

  “Then she’s forgiven for holding onto my letter, but I’m going to feel free to hate her again after the New Year,” I replied, not happy about her being around, but accepting the terms of her working that week.

  Wandering around the other side of the bar she picked up her cell and nodded for me to go back there with her.

  “So, you’re leaving us to it?” Terry challenged with his eyebrows raised in alarm once he’d realized she was taking me upstairs.

  “That I am, Terry. You think I’m going to choose you lot over him?” she asked, sweeping her palm down my face. “Now, my man has had a long journey and I’ve missed the hell out of him. You all know I’ve been dying to see him… not that I need to explain this to you.”

  “But Daiz—” Terry began.

  “Do I need to send you outside that door to remind you who the boss is?” she replied, cutting him off. “Last time I looked it said Daisy O’Donnell, Licensee, not Terence Brogan.”

  “Look at you getting all sassy in front of your lover boy,” Terry replied, goading her good naturedly, “it won’t be like that next week when he’s gone and you’re trying to persuade me to do a Sunday night so that you can curl up in your bed with your kindle and your pot noodle by 7:00 p.m.”

  Daisy pulled a warning face like she was pissed, but I knew her well enough to know she wasn’t serious toward her barman. Reaching out she grabbed my hand, squeezed it tight and grinned.

  “I can’t believe you’re finally here.” She hunched her shoulders excitedly like a little kid. “Come on Barney, I need you to myself, and yeah, Terry, I’m going to make the best of it. Lord knows when we’ll get time by ourselves over the next few days between relatives and the diehard post-Christmas crowd determined to keep on celebrating.”

  Pulling me hurriedly toward the stairs, she stumbled twice, and cursed at her lack of finesse. We barely reached the landing before I tugged her hand, pulled her into me and lifted her off the floor.

  “Are you sweeping me off my feet, Jamie Fontaine?” she asked, playfully as I carried her into her bedroom and flung her down on her bed.

  “Nope, we’re past that point,” I ground out as I tugged on my belt buckle and watched her eyes open wider.

  “No foreplay?” she asked, suggestively as her fingers deftly worked open the five little buttons on the silk blouse that she wore and tugged the hem of it from the little thigh length denim skirt she had on.

  Snagging the button, I unzipped my fly as my greedy eyes took in the satin skin on her long shapely legs. I growled. “Damn, do you know how long I’ve been imagining this?” I asked, shoving my jeans to the floor, quickly dragging the T-shirt over my head and casting it aside.

  “About four weeks?” she asked, playfully. The naughty twinkle in her eyes made me smile.

  “I’d say that’s about right,” I agreed, chuckling as I placed one knee on the bed. The moment the mattress dipped, I grabbed her by her feet and yanked her down to the bottom of the bed. A small gasp left her throat and she chuckled, her tits jiggling even though they were still restrained in her little white lacy bra.

  “Fuck, you wore this especially for me?” I asked, pulling the cups down to reveal her gorgeous firm breasts with her amazing, stud-like nipples. Taking one in my hand, I leaned over her and sucked it into my mouth.

  “Oh, Jamie,” she said through a sigh, pulling a grin to my mouth.

  “Oh, Jamie, is right,” I reaffirmed, before sealing my lips around it again and sucking it hard.

  Daisy dropped onto her back, lifting her legs and wrapped them around my back. She pressed her heels into my ass, dragging me down on top of her.

  “Who else would I be wearing it for?” she mumbled, her hands sliding into my hair and yanking me off her breast to look at her.

  “That’s the correct question, baby. Don’t you forget it. These girls are mine,” I muttered, squeezing her breasts in both hands before my tongue slid over her still wet nipple and I swapped breasts, licking the second to tease the other.

  When I pulled my mouth away to look at Daisy, her eyes were drunk with lust as she leaned up and latched her mouth onto my neck. A shiver of delight flashed through me and made my dick pulse.

  “Like that is it?” I teased, pulling her head away and shoving her back onto the bed. My fingers quickly traced up her thighs and grabbed the small white lacy thong she had on. I ripped it clean off when I clumsily tried to pull it down her legs.

  The following ten minutes were full of touching, feeling, tongues, teeth and white-hot heat from the moment I sank inside her. Surrounding me, tight and warm.

  “Oh, my God, I’ve missed this… missed you,” I ground out. I’d have liked to have taken her gently, but it had been weeks since we’d last had sex and our hunger for a release didn’t afford us the soft and tender approach.

  Sex was rougher than I’d ever had with her, her grabbing chunks of flesh on my ass to the point of pain. I gave it to her hard and fast until she tore into my back with her painted nails and ended in her screaming my name.

  “Wow, welcome to The Lucky Shamrock,” Daisy mumbled, heaving breathlessly as she lay on her back and chuckled. Sweat glistened like tiny diamonds over her body, her skirt like a small band around her waist, her hair damp around her face. One look at how she glowed, her eyes bright and clear, looking up at me with complete trust and my heart melted immediately.

  “Thank you. You know, you’re
an amazing landlady, so… accommodating,” I whispered, rolling onto my side and finding my playful side as I trailed a finger down her ribs. She shivered and I grinned. “And responsive,” I added, chuckling.

  Chapter 5

  “Daisy, when you’re done, we could really do with a hand down here. The bar is packed out, Frances is late, and we are in danger of going under.” Terry’s sharp tone broke into our blissful state. Daisy stiffened in my arms.

  Sitting up sharply, she ran her fingers through her hair with a shocked look on her face. I snorted at her reaction.

  “When I’m done? What the feck does he think I’ve been doing?” she asked, her cheeks pinking up as she slid off the bed and swiped her bra off the floor.

  I cracked up laughing. “Well, you sure as shit didn’t drag me up here to show me your knitting,” I replied, edging off the bed and padding into her bathroom. I grabbed a washcloth and took it back to the bedroom, I saw her standing holding her head, momentarily stunned by Terry’s comment.

  Wandering over to her I chuckled again and turned her around to face me. After tenderly wiping smudged mascara from under her eyes, I kissed her nose, then placed the wash cloth between her legs. “Here, clean yourself and straighten up. I’ll go help him downstairs while you get yourself together.”

  Leaving her to straighten up, I went to the bathroom and did the same to myself. After wetting my hands, I ran them through my hair, and once I had a clean T-shirt on, I headed downstairs to the bar.

  “Is she coming?” Terry asked, glancing past me, looking for his boss.

  The sentence on my lips was that I’d already taken care of that, but I nodded, grinning and without being told, I grabbed an apron from a peg beside the bar and concentrated on stacking the glasses.

  “Jesus, fifteen minutes away and the place has gone to shit,” Daisy snapped, bustling around, moving bottles, emptying slop trays and doing anything, quite frankly, to keep the conversation away from the possibility of drawing attention to what we had been doing upstairs.