Icebreaker by Deirdre Martin

hockey,” she said, smarting at the memory.
    “Maybe he’s uncomfortable being represented by a woman.”
    “Well, he has no say in the matter. His employers hired me. End of story. I’m hopeful that when I understand the game to his satisfaction, he’ll be more cooperative.”
    “You care what he thinks of you,” Oliver said slyly.
    “As a client. Even if I was attracted to him,” Sinead said with a sniff, “it’s not like I would do anything about it.”
    “Why not?”
    “Ethics, Oliver.”
    “Screw ethics. Has dating a client ever prevented me from being amazingly brilliant in court?”
    “I love your humility.”
    “Well?” Oliver prodded.
    “ No , but I’m not you.”
    “Too true,” Oliver said with a sigh.
    “You’re such an ass,” Sinead said affectionately.
    “What are you doing tonight?”
    “Why?”
    “I’ve got nothing going on, and I know for a fact you don’t, so why don’t we go have a drink at your parents’ pub?”
    “Okay.” She’d call Quinn and see if he wanted to join them, since he and Oliver got along well. Going to the Hart would let her see her folks, too, so if she needed to bow out of Sunday dinner, her mother couldn’t bitch that they hadn’t seen her all week.
    “What time do you think you’ll finish up here?” Oliver asked.
    “Sevenish,” said Sinead.
    “Perfect. We can head over there together.”
    “There’s a new part-time bartender now, you know. Christie. She’s actually a firefighter.”
    Oliver’s eyes lit up. “Hot?”
    “Yup.”
    Oliver looked mischievous. “Maybe I’ll set my head on fire, and she’ll throw herself on me to put out the flames.”
    “Bit extreme. I’m sure if you just exude your normal, manipulative charm, you could talk her into a date.”
    “Your faith in my abilities never fails to move me.”
    “See you at seven.”

    Mission accomplished, Sinead thought to herself. Leaving poor Christie to deal with Oliver, she popped back to the kitchen to chat with her folks. She loved them, but they worried about her too much. You look tired. How’s your blood pressure? Here with Oliver, hmm? Why don’t you go out with him? He’s nice. He makes money.
    She walked out of the swinging doors of the kitchen, wishing she could turn right back around. There, sitting at the bar next to Oliver, was Adam Perry. Shit .
    The smile on Oliver’s face was unmistakably impish as Sinead joined them.
    “Ah, here she is, the lovely Ms. O’Brien,” he said jovially. “I was just telling your client that your folks own this place.”
    Adam nodded approvingly. “Nice. Has a real neighborhood feel. Do you spend a lot of time here?”
    Not anymore, Sinead thought. If she could have gotten away with pinching Oliver hard, she would. She knew him: any minute now he was going to claim he had some work to finish up and he’d leave her alone with Adam, a ploy so painfully obvious that Mr. Ego would probably think she’d told Oliver she was attracted to him.
    “I’m usually here to visit my parents,” Sinead told him. “And I waitressed here with my sister when we were in high school.”
    “You guys play Toronto tomorrow night, right?” Oliver asked Adam.
    “Yeah. It will be a tough game,” said Adam, accepting the beer Christie handed to him.
    “Bullshit,” Oliver responded, shocking Adam. “Toronto blows.”
    “You a hockey fan?”
    “Not hard-core, but yeah,” said Oliver. “I was there when the Blades won their last Cup. Amazing night.”
    Adam regarded Sinead. “I can explain to you why it was such an amazing game, if you’d like.”
    “No thank you,” Sinead said politely. “I’m in the process of figuring out the game on my own.”
    “You should go to one,” Adam continued helpfully.
    “Will there be a quiz afterward?”
    Adam cracked a small smile. “No. I’m sure you’ll figure it out on your own.”
    “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
    Sinead ordered a martini for herself, uncertain of what to do. She