PROLOGUE
Renner
Five Years Ago
This is my last night in Dublin and while I've had the best time hanging out with my cousin, Cady and her best friend, Teagan, I'm ready to head home. I miss my mom and dad. Hell, I even miss my pain in the ass brother, Flynn, and my cousins, Nix and Linc, but I'd never admit that to them in a hundred years. I've lived my whole life in the shadow of the Caldwell boys and it's been nice just hanging with girls for a change.
I've been here all summer, visiting with my mom's family. She was born and raised in Dublin but has been in the States since her college days. This trip is my parents' high school graduation present to me, and I've had more fun than a soon-to-be-eighteen-year-old should be having. Cady and Teagan have gone overboard showing me a good Irish time, and I'm getting ready to head out for another evening of flirting with and gawking at cute Irish boys.
Unfortunately, Teagan has headed off for a short holiday with her parents in London, so it's up to me to keep Cady in check tonight. They are both wilder than I am, but since I only have Cady to watch over, it shouldn't be too difficult tonight.
Putting on the finishing touches to my makeup, my bedroom door flies open and Cady walks in, plopping down on my bed. She looks hot in a pair of skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder t-shirt that is knotted at her stomach, exposing several inches of skin. I glance down at my outfit and feel almost school-marmish in comparison. I'm wearing a pair of khaki pants, a white silk blouse, and a pale green cardigan with mother-of-pearl buttons. At least the sweater makes my green eyes go a shade lighter, and that’s something, right?
Turning to Cady, I slip on my watch and latch it. "So, what are we doing tonight?"
Cady turns on her back and blows a large bubble from the chewing gum in her mouth. When it pops, she draws it back into her mouth and says, "The question is, dear Renner, what aren't we going to do tonight? I'm feeling the need to get into some trouble."
I roll my eyes at Cady but smile as I listen to her musical lilt. She's a mischievous devil. She wears her dark—almost black—hair in a shoulder-length bob but the bottom two inches is bleached blond. Uncle Keefe always grouches to her that he's going to sneak in her room one night and cut the ends off so it's all the same color again. He’s only teasing though. He pretty much lets Cady do whatever she wants, and she's fond of reminding him that she gets good grades in school and has not been arrested even once in her young life. Besides, Cady's idea of getting into trouble is sneaking beers to me at the nightclub we'll likely be hitting tonight and flirting outrageously with any guy that will accept such attention.
Standing up from the chair that sits in front of my vanity table, I walk over to the antique mirror in the corner. I do a once-over and can't help but sigh. I look fifteen years old in my outfit. If our goal tonight is to do a bunch of shameless flirting, no boy is going to look twice at me dressed this way.
"Want me to lend you some clothes?" Cady says from behind me, reading my mind. I glance over my shoulder and she's avidly watching me peruse myself in the full-length mirror.
For just a split second, I think about taking her up on her offer. For just one night, go a little crazy. Maybe show a little cle**age or some leg. But the moment is fleeting and I just shake my head at her. When it boils down to it, I don't have the same courage that Cady does. I don't feel natural in my body or with the way I look. I'm hoping one day I can grow some confidence, but for now, I'll be content to stay in her shadow tonight.
Cady pops off the bed and grabs my hand. "Well...come on then. We'll say goodbye to Mam and Da, and be on our way."
***
"Are you sure this is the right place?" I ask as we step inside the dingy pub. I grimace as my shoes stick to the floor with every step I take. I'm hoping it's just spilled beer and not some type of bodily fluid.
"Yes," Cady acknowledges with a grin. "This is the place."
Ordinarily, this isn't the type of pub that Cady would bring me to, but she said a friend of hers that’s in a band is playing here tonight and she wants to see him. We manage to elbow our way to the bar and Cady orders two Beamish Stouts for us. The bartender doesn't look twice at me but he gives Cady an appreciative once over.
"Here ye are, darlin'," he says as he hands over the pints glasses. Cady gives the bartender a wink and then leads me over to a table near the stage. It says "Reserved—Cady" on a piece of paper sitting on it.
"What's the band's name?" I ask.
"Over The Edge," she replies as she glances around, checking out the scenery.
"You have a reserved table. Are you like a groupie or something?"
Cady laughs and then takes a sip of her beer. "No. But my parents took Cillian in for few years when his parents were having some issues and I'm like a baby sister to him. He told me he'd have a table set aside for us."
"Hey! Isn't Killian a beer?"
Cady just looks at me like I'm an idiot. "Silly, Yank. It's Cillian with a 'C'. Killian with a 'K' is the Anglicized version of the Irish name and I believe you're right... ye Yanks do have a beer by that name."
I flash her a saucy grin and take a seat at the table beside her. Glancing around, I can see the pub is quite packed with an eclectic mix of people. I have no clue what sort of music Cillian plays but if I had to take a guess, the sheer number of tattooed and pierced Irish in the bar leads me to believe rock or punk.