Page 86 of Experiments in Offline Dating

The server came, and we ordered another round of Murphy’s and half of the food menu. We sipped and listened to the music, and I didn’t feel my usual frantic need to fill the silence but found myself speaking anyway.

“So, is your first time in Dingle living up to expectations?”

He nodded. “The Murphy’s doesn’t hurt.”

“If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?”

He ran a hand across his beard in a way I liked, and his eyes drifted as he gave it some thought. “Well, I dunno. I’m a homegrown sort of person, so I guess I’d like to see as much as I could of Ireland and the North. I’ve never been to Northern Ireland before, if you can believe it. This will be my first time. It’s part of why I agreed to come. Even though”—he gestured toward me—“it was clearly a mad lapse in judgment that I will regret for the rest of my life.” I smiled maybe my first real smile since I was in the Shire, ordering the Legolas Lover’s Latte. I loved it when people gave me a hard time. Old Tadhg was cutting—this was still sharp, but there was a smile in his eyes that dulled the edge of the blade. “But I’d also love to see Europe.”

“Yeah? Like where?”

“My mom always talked about Rome—I don’t like big cities, but I’d like to see it for her, and I’d love a lasagna. And Switzerland is supposed to have lots of farms and good chocolate.”

I laughed. “Are all of your travel plans related to your stomach?”

“Pretty much. But since I will have won the lottery by that point, obviously, why not fly a little farther while I’m at it?”

“For tacos?”

He pointed at me. “Yes! But no. The biggest sheep show in the world is in New Zealand. I’ve heard they have more sheep than people there.”

“Stomach still in charge, I see.”

“Not quite. I just would love to be there. There are several breeds I’ve never seen in real life. And there would be so much knowledge and experience gathered all in one place, like.”

“Sheep knowledge?”

He smirked. “Sheep knowledge.”

“Yeah, New Zealand would be really cool.”

Three different appetizers arrived to the table, and we flew at them.

“Oh my God, try these.” I pushed over a plate with mini lobster rolls, and he pushed over the steak-and-mushroom bruschetta. He picked a bit of meat off his piece and fed it to Finn, who had woken up when the food arrived and had sat up immediately to stare at Tadhg and remind him what a dutiful companion she was.

Damn, his bruschetta was good. “I’m surprised a man like you shares his food.”

“Oh, my baby gets whatever she wants.” My eyes went wide. Baby? “I’d go hungry before she would.” Oh, God, he’s talking about Finn!

I laughed out my relief. “I mean with me, you big oaf!”

“Ah, yeah. That’s a different story entirely! I almost stabbed your hand with the fork there a minute ago when you reached out.”

“Don’t joke. You’d be surprised how many dinner dates I go on where men refuse to share their food. It’s a major red flag. And it’s always a fair trade. It’s not like I’m saying, ‘Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly eat any dessert! I’m far too dainty,’ then eating their entire crème brûlée. What kind of fucking monster doesn’t want to taste as many dishes as possible? It’s just basic logic.”

“Maybe it’s something to do with the way your eyes get all shiny when the food arrives. It’s the same face Finn makes. They’re worried there won’t be any left for them when you’re done.”

I scoffed. “What do you expect? The food is always the best part of the date.”

He laughed at that. “None taken.”

“Oh, for our date, the fish pie was the clear winner. Mostly because it was the least salty thing at the table.”

I got a slow smile then, a real one. It made his eyes sparkle. It made my stomach flip. I shouldn’t have brought the date up! I shouldn’t be looking for sparkles in his eyes! Why do I always say the wrong thing? I searched for a neutral topic—one that did not have me thinking of going on a date with Tadhg, then maybe being walked home by Tadhg, then maybe he’d push me up against the door and . . . Fuck!

“So, lay some sheep knowledge on me. What’s so special about this ram?”

“Which ram?”