Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“What do we have here?” I ask as I pull the tissue paper from the bag.
“I got ya a wee gift to bring a smile to your face.”
I look into the bag and gasp. It’s a bottle of my favorite wine and salted caramel chocolates. Both from two of my favorite places in Brooklyn. I had mentioned both at the bar that night when I was talking to his brothers.
“You got me a bottle of red and chocolate truffles. How the heck did you get these?”
“I had to make a quick trip to New York for business. On my way back home, I thought of ya. I stopped in Brooklyn to get ya the gift.”
I bite my lip. Fucking this man will be messy. He’s one of my best friend’s boyfriend’s uncles and I’m not looking for anything serious.
“What exactly are you looking for in return?”
“Ach, ya wound me. It’s a gift. No strings attached.”
I side glance him. “That’s a bit hard to believe. Everyone wants something.”
“I like yer company. If ya feel ya need to give me something in return, come to dinner with me. Ya can tell me what that look is about.”
“What look?”
“It’s not the same sad look from when ya arrived. Something else is going on. I’ll be all ears, I will.”
Ugh. I don’t want to talk. I want to listen to him. The musical way his words come out is so enchanting. I could listen to him for hours.
But you’re not supposed to want anything to do with him, Dean. He is not for you. Period.
“There isn’t enough time in the world for me to unburden my life on you.”
“Try me, love. I have time.”
“Time you shouldn’t waste on me. It’s not going to happen, Ronan. You’re a nice guy, but I have too much going on to get involved.”
He reaches for my chin and turns my face toward him. Once again, he’s looking me deep in the eyes. After a few beats, he nods to himself.
“Aye, ya need a friend. Ya came to the right place. I’ll be a shoulder for ya to lean on. We’re going to dinner.
“Two friends shooting the shit. After, we can open that bottle and polish off those chocolates. You’ll be here in my home for the next year.
“Why not become friends? We can pass the time together whenever I’m here,” he breathes.
His minty breath brushes my lips. I want nothing more than to lean in and kiss him. However, the situations that chased me here flash in my head and I think better of fucking up my new safe space.
“Two weeks haven’t been enough,” I murmur to myself.
“What’s that, love?”
“Nothing, thinking out loud.”
“Come on, Dean. You know you want to.”
I tilt my head to the side. “What happened to your accent?”
“I want to make sure you understand every word I have to say to you.”
“Um. Okay, Ronan. You might be right. I do need a friend. Kaye is busy taking care of business. Maybe you can be the shoulder I lean on.”
“Grand. For now, I can be that friend. Give it some time and you’ll want more,” he says and winks.
“Can I give you some advice?”
“I’m all ears.”
“You don’t want me. I come with a whole lot of crazy.”
“Sometimes I like crazy. If you can match mine, then I know we belong together.”
I can’t help but laugh because I know he’s dead-ass serious. I haven’t missed that look in his eyes, this man has secrets of his own and I don’t doubt that he’s hiding a bit of crazy too.
I think that’s what’s drawing me to him. That should tell you a lot about me. I have a thing for the crazy ones.
Ronan
“You ask a lot of questions,” Dean says with a smile on her lips.
“Isn’t that how ya get to know someone? I want to get to know ya.”
I keep lying to myself about how much I want this woman. No matter how much I tell myself this is a bad idea, one look at her and I forget all that. I feel myself breaking my rules as I think about having her.
I don’t date for long and I never commit—I might keep one or two on standby, but they know the deal. Dean has me second-guessing my rules. She’s absolutely gorgeous.
From the freckles, I get the feeling she’s a true ginger. I’m not surprised by that. I’ve come across a few Black gingers in my life—male and female.
It suits her. I don’t know why it turns me on so much. However, the red hair would explain the fire I see in her. She’s guarded, but I want to knock down those walls.
I know she can match me fire for fire. Crazy. If she thought that would turn me off, she sure is missing a few screws in her noodle.