Chapter 1

Deirdre Murphy stepped out of the international terminal at O’Hare Airport, into the blustery wind of Chicago. She disliked the crowds and held no love for the cold, but as soon as she stepped to the curb, she felt freedom. It had been months since she’d left this city to return home to Ireland, but something about this place put her at ease. Or maybe it was simply escaping her family and the responsibilities she’d left behind.

She scanned the curb for her cousin Maggie and, for the life of her, couldn’t remember what Maggie’s car looked like. Suddenly, loud honking preceded a pickup truck whipping into a spot in front of her. Deirdre looked up and saw Maggie’s smiling face.

Deirdre grabbed her suitcases and her shoulder bag, but before she got to the curb, Maggie was flying at her and wrapping her arms around her. If her hands hadn’t been full, Deirdre would’ve returned the embrace. Maybe.

“I’m so glad you’re back! And just in time for St. Paddy’s Day.” Her cousin chuckled. “You thought you were coming to hang out, but I had ulterior motives in getting you here. You can work at the bar with us. It’s a blast.”

Deirdre clenched her jaw. Working at O’Leary’s Pub was the last thing she wanted to do. Her entire life had been about her own family’s pub, and that was the single most important reason she’d wanted to leave home.

Maggie pulled away but nudged her...