Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 104386 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104386 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“I’m not an eejit!”
My brows pulled in tight. “Huh?”
“An eejit!”
My head was spinning and I rubbed my hands over my face. “What does that even mean, Maebh?”
She sighed. “Never mind. Me head is pounding.”
“Yours? My head is throbbing,” I mumbled. “All I wanted was a fucking dance.”
Her eye filled with sadness. “What have I ever done to you? Why don’t you like me, Cord?”
The wind was nearly knocked out of my lungs, and I took a few steps back. My stomach felt like a ten-pound weight was sitting in it.
“I need to, uh, get back to my bar.”
I rushed from Maebh as fast as I could. Why did those six words nearly knock me on my ass?
She thought I didn’t like her? Why the hell did she think that? I had just asked her to dance with me, for fuck’s sake.
By the time I made it to my office, I was sure I was having a damn panic attack. I pulled out my phone and called Steed.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Can’t. Breathe. Panic. Attack.”
He laughed. The fucker actually laughed.
“Seriously? You’re having a panic attack. And you called my ass? Why?”
I dragged in a deep breath and heard Paxton saying something. Then her calm voice came on the line.
“Cord?”
“My chest hurts. I think…I’m dying. Heart attack.”
I could practically hear Paxton rolling her eyes. “You’re not dying. Take a deep breath through your nose and slowly let it out. Sit down if you’re not already seated.”
Walking over to the love seat in my office, I did what she said.
“Clear your mind of everything.”
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
“Yes. You can. Do it.”
My eyes were squeezed shut, and I tried to do what she said.
“I told you, you need to take a yoga classes with me. It calms you down.”
Her voice wasn’t harsh, more soft and caring. I kicked off my boots and crossed my legs the best I could on the sofa and tried to calm my racing heart. I was pretty sure they sat like this in those damn yoga classes.
“She’s going to kill me, Paxton.”
“Who?”
“The Irish vixen who is trying to steal my customers.”
Paxton giggled. “Ahhh, so that’s the reason for the panic attack. Maebh is as harmless as they come.”
“She’s not. She’s trying to confuse me with her Irish words, and she talks so goddamn fast I can’t understand anything she’s saying.”
“Did something happen with Maebh that started this panic attack?”
I huffed.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
After a few seconds my breathing was back under control.
“It felt like someone was sitting on my damn chest.”
“You need some time off, Cord. Time to relax and not think about work.”
Dropping back against the cushions, I laughed. “Right. A new bar is opening in a week right down from me and you want me to take a vacation. Are you in on it with her, Paxton?”
“In on it?” she asked.
“Trying to take me down?”
She laughed. “Cord, listen to yourself. It’s a totally different clientele at Aisling. It’s more of a restaurant with a fancy bar upstairs.”
“Whatever. It’s still a bar.”
Paxton sighed. “Your mom just had a great idea.”
I jerked upright. “Mom’s there?”
“Yep. She said you should go to the cabin up on LBJ Lake.”
That sounded like heaven. I could do some fishing and get away for a bit.
“Are they not renting it out?”
Paxton covered the phone, and I heard muffled voices before she got back on.
“She said she’ll look at the calendar and let you know what is open.”
I stood, and a brown-haired beauty wearing a green dress caught my attention on the security screens.
“Cord? You still there?”
Walking closer to the TV screen, I watched as Maebh danced with one of the guys who had been standing in the shit kicker group.
“Cord? Are you…growling?”
“Everything’s fine. Tell Mom to make it sooner rather than later.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll pass it along. Are you feeling better?”
My panic attack quickly morphed into full-on rage.
“I’m feeling something. Not sure it’s better though. I gotta let you go, Pax. Got a situation to deal with on the dance floor that requires immediate attention.”
The young lad dancing with me was sweet, but touchy.
“Where you from, baby?”
“Baby?”
He wiggled his brows and pulled me closer. His body pressed against mine, and I wanted to gag.
“I think I’m ready to sit down. Thank you for the dance.” Me hands went to his chest and I pushed him back with all me might. He didn’t budge.
“Let me go,” I said, anger building up inside of me.
“Come on, baby. Let’s find a dark corner and I’ll show you how good you can feel.”
Me eyes widened, and I felt sick to me stomach.
“Get your fecking hands off of me now, you arse!” I shouted.
He laughed, but didn’t let go.
I pushed him away with all me might and when he backed up, I kneed him in the bollocks. He doubled over and shouted a string of curses in me direction.