hair touched by a reddish sheen. He was a good-looking fellow, on stage now with the band, playing along with the violinist. He saw Daniel and gave him a wave and a grin, beckoning to him. Daniel nodded and smiled in return, motioning that he would join them all soon. Patrick nudged Jeff Dolan, lead guitarist and group leader, and Jeff, too, nodded Danâs way.
Still scanning the room, Dan saw a lone man in a business suit seated at a far corner table, a darkened table. A stranger. Dan had the feeling the man was surveying the occupants of the pub, just as he was doing himself.
âWhat are you drinking yourself?â Eamon asked him.
âWhatâs he drinking?â Seamus said indignantly. âGive him a whiskey and a Guinness!â
âNow, Seamus, Iâm in the grand old USA,â Dan protested. âA Bud Lite on draft, if you will, Eamon. It may prove to be a long nightâback with a party of Bostonâs black sheep!â
âHowâs the place look, Danny?â Liam asked. âYou miss it when youâre away?â
âWhy, the pub looks just fine, and old friends look even better,â Dan replied. He lifted the stein Eamon had brought him. âSlainte! To old times, old friends.â
âAnd to the old country!â Eamon declared.
âAye, to the old country,â Dan said softly.
Â
The sky was overcast when Moiraâs shuttle from New York to Boston made its initial descent for landing. Even so, she stared out the window for a birdâs-eye view of the city where she had grown up, and which she still loved so much. Coming home. She was excited; she loved her family dearly. They were all entirely crazy, of course. She was convinced of that. But she loved them and was happy at the prospect of seeing them.
But thenâ¦then there was this whole Danny thing.
The plane landed. She was slow to take off her seat belt and slow to deplane. No one was picking her up; she had made the last-minute decision to take an earlier shuttle than the rest of the cast and crew, who would be taking the last flight. When the people in the seats behind her had filed out, she grabbed her overnight bag and walked out, thanking the flight attendant and the pilots, who were waiting for her exit to leave themselves.
Outside Logan, she hailed a taxi. Once seated, she realized that the driver, a young man of twenty-something with a lean face and amber eyes, was staring at her by way of the rearview mirror.
âYouâre Moira Kelly!â he said, flushing as she caught his eye.
âYes.â
âIn my cab! Fancy that. You just travel on a regular plane and get in a regular taxi?â
âSeems to be the best way to get around,â she told him, smiling.
âYou mean you donât have a private jet and a limo waiting?â the man demanded.
She laughed. âI donât have a private jet at all, though sometimes we do hire private cars.â
âAnd no one recognizes youâand hounds you?â
âIâm afraid that all of America doesnât tune in to the Leisure Channel. And even those who do donât necessarily watch our show.â
âWell, they should.â
âThank you. Very much.â
âWhat are you doing in Boston?â
âIâm from here.â
âWow. Right. And youâre Irish, right? Are you home to see family, or are you going to film stuff here?â
âBoth.â
âWow. Well, great. Hey, itâs a privilege. If you need more transportation while youâre here, call me. Iâve got the cleanest cab in the city. I grew up here, too. I know the place backward and forward. No charge, even. Honest.â
âIâd never take advantage that way of anyone making a living,â Moira said. âBut give me your card, and I promise when we need transportation weâll call you.â In fact, he did seem to be a good driver. Bostonâs traffic was as crazy as ever. There