Page 55 of Ciaran

I spin around and scan the hall, but nothing looks out of place, apart from a minor altercation going on at the shoe exchange station.

With a metaphorical shrug, I put my Ciaran plan into action. My teeth barely graze his ear when I find myself back in his lap, this time sidesaddle. He nuzzles my neck.

“There you are. I missed you.”

Callum sticks his fingers into his mouth and pretends to puke, but his eyes shine, and his expression is open and friendly. “Shall we go to dinner before Ciaran’s nauseating love fest makes me lose my appetite?”

Laurella gets up from her seat and plunks herself right on Callum’s lap. I swear she sticks her tongue in his ear.

Whatever she does tears a loud groan from Callum, along with a hiss of breath and a very clear, “Fuck.”

Laurella gives him a sweet smile. “Just checking you haven’t forgotten what the first flush of a relationship feels like. After all, we’re only six months in. I do hope you’re not getting bored already.”

I snort a laugh. Laurella is fast becoming my favorite person, and not only because she can bring Callum to heel with hardly any effort, but also because she’s great company, and a lot of fun.

“I haven’t forgotten,” he says, his gaze roving over her like he’s found his own personal slice of heaven. “Nor am I bored.”

“Then, give your brother a break, because if you make one more wisecrack this evening, Ciaran will be the only twin getting any tonight.”

My eyes widen, and I cover my mouth with my hand, forcing a giggle back down my throat.

Ciaran belly laughs.

Callum looks suitably chastised.

“Excellent,” Laurella says, patting his arm in a condescending fashion. “Now, where shall we go to eat?”

Ciaran places his hand on my lower back as I slide into the booth, then gets in after me. Callum and Laurella sit on the other side of the table. Laurella has well and truly tamed Callum, and all of his quips and jokes are confined to subjects that don’t involve Ciaran and me pressing our groins together.

Callum chose the restaurant. It’s a bit too ritzy for me, but only because I’m more used to takeout from greasy burger joints than this kind of place.

Ciaran feels for my hand beneath the table and gives it a little squeeze. “You doing okay?”

I nod, leaning in to whisper in his ear. “I’d have been just as happy with falafel or a hot dog from one of those street vendors.”

He chuckles and cocks his head in Callum and Laurella’s direction. “Don’t tell Callum that. You’ll probably give him a heart attack.” His hand snakes up my leg, and he whispers, “It doesn’t mean we can’t make it interesting, though.”

Oh, hello, double somersault mated with the first dip on a roller coaster.

I swallow, swipe my tongue over dry lips, and pick up a glass of iced water the server poured to immediately drink half of it.

True to his word, Ciaran makes the dinner interesting, although I do have to slap his hand away once or twice when he pushes at boundaries I’m not yet ready to allow him to cross in public.

The waiter drops off the dessert menu, forcing me to groan and rub my belly. I may not be all that comfortable eating in such luxurious surroundings, but goodness me, the chef here can cook. Saliva actually fills my mouth as I check out the decadent list of sugary treats, despite my stomach being fit to burst.

Ciaran curves a hand around the back of my neck and thumbs my earlobe. It sends a tremor straight to my core. “What’ll you have?”

I lean toward him as if he’s gravity. “I’m so full, I shouldn’t have anything, but the salted caramel pecan cheesecake is calling to me, and I’m helpless to resist.”

He moves his mouth to my ear. “That’s how I feel about you. You’re my salted caramel pecan cheesecake.”

I’m about to murmur, “Same,” when my earlier unease returns. The hairs on my arms stand on end, and I glance around the restaurant. It’s then I see him… making a beeline for our table.

“Oh, no,” I say, searching for an exit from the booth and a way to intercept Tanner before all hell breaks loose. But Ciaran’s big body is in the way. There is no escape.

“What’s the mat?—”

He follows my gaze, and his voice trails off, his expression hardening. He gets to his feet with me scrambling after him.

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