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considerations. He wanted to read Albert as he spoke, figure out what he could before Nate met with his attorney.
    There was a lot of money at stake. Building commercial crap paid well. The firm had a great reputation. But it wasn’t going to be close to a handshake deal. Albert had run the business. He’d made the deals, set the terms, got the financing. Nate’s father had designed the buildings, coordinated the construction plans. Albert had many, many friends. He was good with people and he was smart. No doubt he wanted a sizable amount.
    What he’d get was his fair share. Nate headed to the restaurant, four blocks from the construction site, prepared to be read in return. He was up for it. He wasn’t afraid of much these days. Too much time spent facing reality.
    He had to admit, though, he was looking forward to the game. He’d always liked chess.

4
    D ESPITE THE HORRIBLE DAY , as Shannon reached the entrance to Molly’s Pub, her pulse and breathing quickened. Nate was there already. He’d texted her ten minutes ago, which was a good thing, as she’d been so caught up in looking at the receivables she’d lost track of time.
    He’d said not to worry, he was relaxing with a pint. She glanced at the window that announced with green lettering that this was Molly’s Shebeen before she opened the heavy wooden door.
    It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, and there was Nate, sitting three booths from the wood-burning fireplace that was fed and stoked all winter. She hung up her coat, then went toward him, her excitement mounting.
    It would be fun to talk to him, was all. She wasn’t even thinking about how he’d looked in that towel this morning. Okay, she was thinking a little about that, but she wasn’t dwelling. That would be wrong. Foolish. The minute she started truly contemplating Nate as more than a friend, things got uncomfortable. He was family, and while it wasn’t technically inappropriate, it was close enough to make her squirm.
    His grin, however, made her light up. “Finally. I’m starving to death.”
    “Why didn’t you order something, then?” she asked as she slid into the seat across from him.
    “Because I’m polite.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re only polite when you want something. Is Danny coming?”
    “Nope.” Nate took a swallow from his half-empty Guinness. “It’s just you and me.”
    She picked up the menu although she didn’t need to look at it. Molly’s was literally just down the street from her house, and she’d been coming here long before she’d been legal. Not that they’d let her sit with the customers. She’d been escorted to the back room, where she’d been fed and given cold milk with her dinner, and no matter how she’d explained that in Ireland even kids got to drink beer, she was denied the pleasure until she’d hit her twenty-first birthday. Or so she’d have her family believe.
    “How was your day?” she asked, content to listen to Nate all evening.
    “Interesting.” He pulled out the New York Times classified section where he’d circled a bunch of listings. “It’s never not going to be insanely expensive to live in this city.”
    “You’re right,” she said as she noticed Ellen coming over with two beers on a tray.
    “How are you, Shannon?”
    “Good, thanks.”
    Ellen put a perfectly chilled and poured Guinness in front of her, then gave Nate another. “You two want food?”
    “God, yes,” Nate said. “Cheeseburger with blue for me.”
    Shannon started to order her regular spinach salad, but said, “The same for me, please,” instead.
    Nate’s brow rose first, then Ellen’s.
    “I’ve had a bad day. I’m hungry. So you can both be quiet.”
    Ellen left, and Nate leaned forward, elbows on the table. “What happened?”
    “Don’t want to talk about it. Tell me what you’ve found in the paper.”
    “Ah,” he said, frowning at the real-estate section. “Everyone told me this is the best time to buy, because