Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
“I meant what I said,” I tell her. “It would be better if we didn’t do this. I never wanted you to see this side of me.”
“At least I know the truth now,” she murmurs, reaching for her neck… for the small ring I first slipped on her finger years ago.
“You’re wearing the necklace again,” I say, moving closer.
“I feel strange without it. I didn’t start wearing it until after Mom passed. The world seemed less bleak because of it. It made things seem more manageable. It reminded me that even if I was lost and a storm was raging, there was a way out.”
“I can’t be the person I was back then,” I tell her. “That was never who I really was. That was a good deed to make me feel better about being a mob guy.”
“It’s one of my most special memories. Don’t downplay it. Anyway, enjoy your clover…” She turns, then pauses. “Unless you want to come inside?”
I swallow. “If I do, Lucy, we can’t expect anything. No matter what happens—”
“Nothing’s going to happen,” she whispers. “I just don’t see the point of you hiding away out here.”
“Are you sure nothing’s going to happen?” I growl. “Because I’m not. I spent so many months lying to myself, telling myself you were just the friendly bakery owner, nothing more. But now, Lucy, I’ve tasted you, touched you…”
“I’ll make sure you try nothing. Sound like a plan?”
I know it’s wrong. I know this can’t have a happy ending. But I step forward and loop my arms around her, anyway.
She shivers against me. My manhood surges as I feel the luscious plumpness of her ass. “What are you doing?” she moans.
“I was going to offer you a bite,” I say, bringing the pastry to her lips.
She laughs, then takes a big bite. “See—I’m gross. Talking with my mouth full. You can’t be interested.”
That’s where she’s wrong. Her playfulness, her naturalness makes her so different from the stuffy society women who are always trying to impress me.
“Tomorrow isn’t promised, Lucy. Just tonight.”
“Believe me, after Mom, I know nothing is guaranteed. And you’re the one making this…”
I playfully nudge her. “Do you have an idea how annoying it is when people leave sentences unfinished?”
“Steamy,” she murmurs, then quickly walks ahead of me like she’s embarrassed by what she’s just said.
I follow her, certain of two conflicting ideas at the same time. This is the best and worst decision I have ever made.
Eleven
LUCY
Clover leaps down from the couch and starts barking at Killian when we enter the apartment. Ronan stands up from the chair, speaking in Gaelic. Killian replies in kind, and then Ronan leaves the room.
“He’s going to wait downstairs, watch the street,” Killian explains once Ronan is gone. He kneels, looking at Clover. “I guess you fear me now, huh, girl?”
Clover’s fur stands on edge, her little mouth opening and closing as she gnashes her teeth.
“It’s okay,” Killian murmurs. “I will not cause another scene. You’re a good girl.”
I watch in awe as Clover slowly moves toward Killian. It’s difficult to believe that this version of Killian is the same man who savagely beat Shane yesterday. He seems so much gentler, caring, and romantic. Clover is still growling as she approaches Killian. But when he strokes her, she settles down.
Killian sits on the ground and lets Clover climb into his lap, looking up at me with an almost boyish smile on his face, the lamplight dancing in his blonde-silverish hair. “Somebody has forgiven me. How old is she?”
“Nine,” I tell him. “She can be pretty grouchy with people. She hasn’t snuggled up to Ronan yet… oh, by the way, did you tell him we were in a relationship?”
Killian stands, smiling indulgently when Clover yaps to be picked up. He leans down and scoops her up. “No, why?”
“He just seemed super keen to make sure I knew he had a girlfriend and he would never try anything with your woman.”
“Is that what he called you—my woman?”
“Pretty much.”
“People have noticed a change in me,” he murmurs, walking over to the couch.
I sit next to him, my leg brushing against his. Just that, a simple brush of the leg, but it’s enough to make the tingles go into overdrive. I squeeze my thighs together, my sex aching, begging. Get a grip, girl…
“What sort of change?”
“Ever since I started coming here, I’ve gone from grumpy to… slightly less grumpy.”
“You’ve never seemed grumpy to me.”
“That’s because I’m with you.”
Clover wriggles and then hops down from the couch like she wants to give us some alone time together. His hand moves across the couch. I know where this is going to lead. Nerves twist through me. He knows how old I am, twenty-three… What would he think if I told him?
“I was going to make sure you behaved yourself,” I remind him.