In this scene from my upcoming novel, Someday in Dublin, Amy is at a pub on her first night in Ireland, accompanied by Michael, who’s doing his best to figure her out.

“You’re not thinking of leaving again, are you?” Michael asked. “I can get you over to where the stories are, you know.”

She tilted her head, looking at him curiously. “And where is that, exactly?”

“We have to move up to the bar, luv,” he suggested. “The whole pub will notice you when you’re sitting at the bar, particularly if you’re a pretty girl with very green eyes.”

She flushed. “I only want to talk.”

“You’re in Ireland. We all want to talk. And we’re all great craic when we get going.”

“Okay,” she said, reaching for her wallet. He put out a hand, stopping her.

“I’ve got this. You can buy me a fresh pint at the bar.”

He tossed down a few bills and grabbed what was left of his beer, drinking it down.

“Come on, then,” he encouraged. Amy grabbed her cider and her journal and followed him over. Michael managed to find an open stool and a bit of the bar for himself to lean on, and as soon as she set her drink down, he turned to a woman next to him in a tweed coat and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Amy is on holiday from America – her first time in Ireland,” he said, gesturing to her.

It was all he had to say. The woman and her two female companions turned in unison and started giving Amy recommendations on the best places to eat, sights to see, and streets to avoid. A man on the other side of her and his wife chimed in, asking her if she lived near Cincinnati, because they had a nephew there. Within minutes, Amy was knee-deep in conversation, and from the look of her, she was having the time of her life.

“What brings you to Dublin?” asked an older gentleman with a hat, who’d just come up to the bar.

“It’s a bucket list thing,” she said. “Coming to Ireland. I have some things I want to see. And then I’m visiting a friend.”

“You said you didn’t know anyone in Dublin,” Michael reminded.

“My friend’s not in Dublin.” Amy answered. “I’ll be taking some day trips. I fly home on Tuesday morning.”

“That’s not much of a holiday,” said the man. “Friday to Tuesday. How much of Ireland are you planning to see?”

Amy picked up her journal, leafing through the stack of folded papers within and sliding a piece of paper out from it – the same paper she’d glanced at earlier.

“I have a list.”

“Well, now,” the hat man gestured with his pint. “Let’s hear it, then.”

“Yes, let’s hear it,” echoed the others.

Amy unfolded the paper, then took a drink and cleared her throat before reading.

“Howth Head Walk, the beach at Bray, The Long Stone – which I can check off now, The Cliffs of Moher and someplace called Dun Aengus.”

“What?” Tweed coat woman looked surprised. “No Book of Kells? No Blarney Stone?”

“No Guinness tour? Michael asked in mock outrage.

“I don’t usually drink beer,” Amy answered. “But I did see the Book of Kells today and it was beautiful. And as for the Blarney Stone – I’ll pass, thanks.” She finished the last of her cider, setting the glass down.

“Maybe you don’t drink beer because you’ve only had American beer,” one of the others pointed out.

“I suppose that’s possible,” Amy laughed. “I did try a Guinness first thing when I got here. It was all right but I still can’t say I like it. Just not my thing.”

“And what is your thing?” Michael asked.

Amy glanced down at the list again. “I’m still trying to figure that one out. That’s part of why I’m here. I needed to get away.”

“Ah.” Michael took a sip of his beer. “Now we come to it.”

“Aye,” agreed the hat man. “The real reason.”

Michael leaned in. “I think it’s her unspoken need for adventure.”

You’ll get to see Michael uncover that adventurous spirit. Someday In Dublin will be available on May 11th via Amazon for Kindle, and Smashwords for all e-reading devices and PC. The print edition will be available by the end of May – watch here for details!