Irish Chain Read Online Free PDF

trying to figure things out. It wasn’t just the physical part that was intimidating, though after being married all my adult life to my high-school sweetheart, the thought of even taking my clothes off in front of another man was terrifying. It was really the emotional part that frightened me. I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to love anyone again the way I had loved Jack. It was too hard when they left you. Fortunately, Gabe hadn’t pushed it except in jest. He’d been happily divorced for seven years and wasn’t even sure if he was staying in San Celina. His friend Aaron Davidson, San Celina’s official police chief, had been diagnosed with liver cancer a month or so ago. Talking about the future was something Gabe and I both had reason to avoid. I stepped out of the dress and reached for my flannel shirt.
    “Well, speaking of your love life, guess who’s back in town?” Elvia’s black eyes glittered with mischief.
    “Forget my love life, and who?”
    “Clay O’Hara.”
    “You’re kidding.” I sat on the bed and pulled on my jeans. Clay O’Hara. He hadn’t crossed my mind in years, even though I knew he was Brady O’Hara’s great-nephew. He had been the love of my life one whole summer when I was seventeen and mad at Jack for some reason I can’t even remember now. Clay O’Hara, with the thick-lashed, wounded brown eyes, long, sandy sideburns and insolent pirate smile. “I wonder what he’s doing here.”
    “Apparently seeing to his uncle’s financial business. He came into the bookstore yesterday. When he saw me, he walked right up and the first question out of his mouth was about you.”
    I buttoned my shirt and tried to sound casual. “What did he ask?”
    She inspected her long red acrylic nails. “Just wondered where you were living now. What you were doing. All I told him was where you worked. He knew about Jack.”
    I couldn’t resist the obvious question. “How does he look?”
    “Actually, pretty good. He still has his hair. And that killer smile. Remember the night he crashed the Senior Farewell Dance and cut in on you and Jack? If Jack had been wearing his buck knife that night, Clay O’Hara would be singing soprano now.” We grinned at each other. That night they both ended up with bruised knuckles and swollen mouths and I didn’t get a goodnight kiss from either one of them.
    “That was a long time ago,” I said, tucking my shirt into my jeans. “He’s probably married with six kids.”
    “He didn’t walk like a married man.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” I laughed and threw a patchwork pillow at her. “You’re a real troublemaker, Elvia Aragon.” I checked my watch. “Shoot, I gotta go. I have to get Gabe’s suit and drop by Oak Terrace and make sure those kids are actually getting the decorating done. And since I forgot to tell Gabe about Oralee and Mr. O’Hara, I better leave him a note.”
    “Picking up suits,” Elvia said, tsking under her breath. “Sounds pretty domestic to me.”
    “I’ve picked up your dry cleaning a time or two,” I pointed out. “I’m thoughtful to all my friends.”
    “Well, don’t forget, a certain chief of police is a pretty hot commodity on the singles block in this town. In between refereeing senior-citizen fights and pouring punch, you might try to fit in a dance or two with him. You might also consider making this a night to remember.”
    “Pretty corny, Elvia. Wasn’t that the theme for the Senior Farewell Dance? Wonder how long it took them to come up with that gem.”
    “Watch it, I was chairman of the dance committee. Besides, it was a night to remember for you.”
    “No kidding.” Besides the fight between Clay and Jack, it was the first time Jack told me he loved me. He spoke the words from behind lips so swollen they could barely move, but got out “I love you” nonetheless. Then we broke up two days later for the rest of the summer. “I can’t believe it was seventeen years ago.”
    “You know,