Flawless by Heather Graham Page B

door to the office behind them. She noticed that he’d brought a clean wet bar rag with him and looked at him questioningly.
    â€œYou’re still wearing a fair amount of dirt. You roll in an alley or something?” he asked.
    He was watching her with his arms crossed over his chest again. Even so, she could tell that he was truly grateful to see her alive and well.
    She could also tell that he knew there was more to the story.
    â€œYou were buying diamonds?” he asked her. “Instead of coming to work?”
    She accepted the bar rag from him, sank into the chair behind the desk and studiously scrubbed at her face. “No, and I’m sorry. I didn’t think that the bar would be this busy. I—”
    The door burst open. Danny rushed in and hurried over to her, dropping to his knees by the chair. “You’re really all right?”
    She nodded. “I’m fine.”
    â€œOh, my God, when I saw...” Danny sounded sick and shaky.
    She patted his red hair gently, reassuringly.
    â€œKieran, you went there to talk to Gary Benton, didn’t you?” Declan demanded.
    She went very still, looking at Danny. “Yes,” she said.
    â€œKieran, we all love Julie. She’s been our friend since we were children. I don’t like Gary one bit myself, and the way he’s treating her is awful. He’s a total jerk, and we should all be looking forward to the day when Julie is finally rid of him. I should have expected... Well, he was in here this afternoon, right? You don’t need to answer. Bobby O’Leary told me he was. And then you got upset and went to tell him... Well, I don’t care what you thought you were going to tell him. It’s only by the grace of God that you’re alive and well. Kieran—let this be a lesson. Stand by Julie. Be there to listen to her, to hold her hand. Help her make the split final. But stay away from Gary Benton.”
    â€œYou’re right,” she said, still staring warningly into Danny’s eyes. He opened his mouth as if he was going to admit the truth. She shook her head and looked up at Declan. “You’re right. It’s just that... He had the nerve to come here!”
    â€œAnd if he comes again, we have to let him in. And we won’t throw him out unless he starts causing trouble or gets in a fight or something—and there’s no spitting in his food or his drinks, either. All three of you—you and Danny and Kevin, too—are off pursuing careers, which is wonderful. But the bar is my livelihood—and it’s all our heritage and what you have to depend on, too, if life doesn’t work out for some reason. We will not discriminate against anyone, do you understand me?”
    â€œIt’s not illegal to discriminate against assholes,” Danny said.
    Declan shook his head in aggravation. “Danny!”
    â€œSorry. All right, if the jerk comes in, we won’t show him the door,” Danny said.
    â€œKieran?” Declan said.
    â€œHey, I served him coffee without throwing it on him—or even accidentally spilling a single drop,” she said.
    â€œGood. But in future, stay away from him, let someone else take his order. Please,” Declan told her.
    She nodded grudgingly.
    â€œNow go home, kid—you don’t need to be here. Mary Kathleen is on the floor with Danny, and I have the bar. We’re fine. Kevin’s been behind the bar with me, but as soon as things slow down I’ll send him home, since he has an audition tomorrow. So go home. And not to be rude, but I suggest you take a bath.”
    The door opened again. It was Kevin this time.
    â€œIt’s slowed down. Maybe the crowd was just waiting to applaud Kieran and now they’ve all gone home to talk about her. I’ve got my car, so I can drive Kieran home on my way.”
    â€œI can get home—” Kieran began.
    â€œWith me,” Kevin said.
    â€œDeclan said