Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Seamus set down his mug and narrowed his eyes. “Is this about the girl?”
“You’re spending too much time in my personal business.”
“Only if your personal business is part of a personal vendetta that’ll get me and you in trouble.”
“I won’t get in trouble and neither will you.”
“Killeen means trouble, Lorcan. If you miss home, find something else to remind you.”
“Enough,” I growled. Ten years ago, Seamus had left our homeland to come to New York with me. He missed Ireland as much as I did, maybe even more, but he stayed out of loyalty. He and I had been friends for as long as I could remember, in many regards we were as close as brothers, or in the case of my brothers, even closer. I patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I can handle a Killeen.”
I downed the rest of my coffee. “Call me if there’s trouble with the shipment. I’ll make sure to be back in time to unload.”
Seamus gave me a disgruntled nod. I ignored his antics and stalked out of the kitchen. It was still deserted. The guys would come in time for the shipment, without a doubt, but last night I wasn’t the only one who’d gone to bed late. Olly was celebrating the birth of his third son and my crew was already shitfaced when I’d left just before midnight. I had meeting so I wasn’t able to join them for long, though if I was being honest my evening had been far more entertaining than I’d anticipated.
I got into my old Land Rover Defender and headed for Gulliver’s home. I had no doubt he’d agree to my proposal—he knew me well enough to know my proposals were usually disguised orders. Aislinn’s mother was far away, and I had a feeling Aislinn was too proud to ask her for help.
Just thinking about Aislinn’s reaction brought a smile to my face. It would be worth whatever trouble she caused in the future.
As expected, the light was already on in Gulliver’s kitchen. I knocked on the window. Gulliver was at the stove, waiting for the water in his kettle to boil. He turned with a reproachful expression, which morphed to shock when he spotted me. He came over to the window and opened it. “Lorcan. Has anything happened? Did Aislinn cause trouble?”
One corner of my mouth tipped up. She caused many things, mainly in my dirty mind and my pants, none of which were Gulliver’s business. “How about you let me in so we can discuss why I’m here?”
Gulliver nodded. Worry clouded his face. “Of course, of course.”
The kettle let out an earsplitting screech. Gulliver jumped and cried out, his hand gripping the cross around his neck.
“You’re jumpy this fine morning,” I drawled, nodding in the direction of the front door and headed straight toward it. This was going to be fun.
I felt inexplicably hungover when I trudged toward the kitchen the next morning. After I’d shaken off Gulliver, I fell into bed at 4:30 and slept like a stone. My encounter with Lorcan Devaney had obviously been too much for my mind—and body.
I expected to have nightmares, but they never came, which had me worrying for my sanity. If a night with a man like Lorcan didn’t have any negative impact on me, maybe I had a psychotic streak. Without money for therapy, I’d never find out.
I froze in the doorway of the kitchen. A shiver ran through me, then my body flushed hot-red as Lorcan’s dark, amused eyes and Gulliver’s angry gaze settled on me. I quickly clutched my bathrobe closed, even though I wasn’t scantily dressed beneath. In fact, I was in sweat pants and an old Duran Duran T-shirt from my mum—but for some reason I needed another barrier between myself and the scrutiny of both men—especially Lorcan.
My eyes darted between the latter and my uncle. “What is he doing here?” I blurted.
Gulliver looked about ready to cross himself and fall to his knees before Lorcan to ask for forgiveness for my rudeness. With anyone else, I would have kicked myself for being so rude—Mum had raised me to be hospitable after all—but not with Lorcan however. Last night’s embarrassment was still too fresh and while part of it was my fault, the rest was clearly on him.
“Yesterday you were more approachable,” Lorcan drawled. Maybe it was only my imagination but he made the last word sound so dirty. My cheeks exploded with heat. The memory of him throwing money at me didn’t help either.
“Aislinn isn’t a morning person. Don’t mind her. She’s usually a good girl,” Gulliver droned. I couldn’t tell if he noticed the innuendo in Lorcan’s words. My uncle was obviously quite adept at lying too, considering he didn’t know me well enough to say that I wasn’t a morning person.