Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Mr. O’Reilly wants to see you in his office, Una. Now.”
“Oh.”
He took the pen from my hand. “Don’t keep him waiting.”
I knocked on the door, fear gripping me. This was it. Finn was fed up with my brother and with me. He was going to let me go. End us once and for all.
Would he let me tell him what Brian had said?
Would he care?
“In,” Finn called.
I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. Whatever happened, I had my pride. I would figure it out.
Except when I walked in and saw Finn leaning against his desk facing the door, my bravado left me. He appeared to be furious, his arms crossed over his chest. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked as exhausted as I felt.
We stared at each other in silence.
Finally, I blurted it out. “I was trying to soothe him, Finn. He was impossible to deal with. I mean, I’m sure Logan did ogle her, but I think I did too. It’s rather hard not to.”
He blinked then shook his head.
“I don’t give a fuck about that asshole. He’ll never be welcome here again. In fact, he’s going to find it hard to book a room in any decent hotel by the time I’m finished with him.”
“What?”
He stood straight. “Are you all right, mo chroí?”
I started to tremble. Tears gathered in my eyes.
He frowned, taking a step toward me. “Una,” he murmured, his voice tender and low. He opened his arms, and I ran straight into them, feeling myself shudder with relief as he held me in his grasp. For the first time since he’d let me walk away, I felt completely safe. My tears came, hot and heavy, and all I could do was clutch Finn and let him hold me.
I realized right then that Finn O’Reilly was my home. His embrace was my soft landing.
And I never wanted to leave it.
FINN
I held her tight, myriad emotions coursing through me. Relief she was in my arms. Comfort from the feel of her nestled against me. Worry over her emotional state. Fury in the knowledge that something aside from the asshole at the front desk had caused the tears currently soaking into my shirt.
And pain knowing a lot of her tears were no doubt on account of me.
I bent slightly, picking her up and heading to the sofa. I sat down, still holding her, running a hand up and down her back, making low noises in my throat, trying to figure out how to comfort her the best. I needed her to calm down enough to tell me what was happening.
She was shaking, her body a mass of tremors. Her skin felt too cool under my touch, and I stroked her arms, feeling her tense even more. I ran my hands along her head, rocking slightly.
I hated her tears. I hated them even more because they were almost silent. Her shoulders shook, and the softest of pained sounds escaped her mouth, but there were no harsh, loud sobs the way some women cried.
Somehow, I thought I would have preferred that. Her low cries cut me to the quick, my chest aching with her pain, as if I were feeling it with her.
I found my phone, calling the front desk.
“Yes, Mr. O’Reilly,” Philip answered, ever the professional.
“Ms. Murphy will not be returning this week,” I informed him. “I need you to replace her.”
“Of course.” He paused. “Friday night?” he asked, letting the words hang between us.
“I think she’ll perform.”
“Very good.” He cleared his throat. “Maybe some tea to be delivered to the office?”
“Good idea. Thank you.”
“Of course, sir. Right away.”
I hung up, grateful he was in charge. Tea would be good for Una.
I pressed a kiss to her head, crooning her name. “It’s all right, Una. I have you.”
She kept crying, and I kissed her again. “Please, mo chroí, I need you to tell me what’s wrong. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s happened.”
She shuddered, dragging in a deep breath. “That’s it,” I encouraged. “Another one, Una. Take another breath.”
She did, the sound almost painful, and she let her head fall back. She was beyond pale, her freckles standing out on her skin. Dark circles were under her eyes, and when they fluttered open, they were red-rimmed and distressed. I traced a finger down her damp cheek.
“Hush now,” I murmured. “I’m here, and everything is going to be okay.”
A discreet knock on the door startled her, and I shook my head. “Tea. Go wash your face, and I’ll get it.”
She slipped from my lap, and I waited until she had gone into the washroom to open my office door. I took the tray, not surprised to see a plate of small sandwiches and treats on it. I offered a silent thanks to Philip, mentally reminding myself to send him and his wife on a weekend away. I’d arrange something with Roman, who had commented more than once on Philip’s capabilities.