Page 56 of The Irish Arrangement

Right?

That was the deal. I marry Declan so Saoirse wouldn’t have to, and my father would pay for Nora’s health.

“Is she home now?” I asked him.

“No, no. Patti just took her to an appointment, and I see she’s left her dang cell phone on the table in the kitchen again.” He sighed. “But I’ll tell her you called. She sure does miss you. I do, too, Boss. And so do all the sheep and horses here.”

I nodded, in a rush to end the call now.

As soon as we disconnected, I broke my agreement with Declan. I used my phone for something else, opening the browser and logging into the main debt collection site.

Blinking didn’t change what the screen had for me to read.

Refreshing the page kept it the same too.

All I saw were more past-due reminders.

Not a single fucking thing had been paid!

Fury escalated within me like a hot, molten wave. I tensed, breathing fast as my heart hammered harder.

“That asshole.”

I gritted my teeth, logging out and swiping out of the page to erase that I’d gone to it at all. Then I went back to the call pad and tapped in my father’s number. There had to be an answer for this. There had to be a damned good reason he hadn’t seen to his end of the deal.

He’d agreed that by sparing Saoirse, I’d secured Mom’s debts to be paid. That she’d remain on the kidney transplant list and also be pushed up to be chosen sooner once a match was found.

Damn you. No, fuck you.

I turned, ready to press the call button. Facing the door, I paused and watched as Declan entered the room.

“Cara.” He smiled, lifting his chin as he looked me over.

I swallowed, caught in the act of attempting to break his rule again. Calling my father wasn’t what he’d given me permission for, but I had to know if he’d reneged.

“Yes?” I lowered the phone, tapping it against my thigh.

“You need to get ready.”

I laughed once. “You do want to keep me sore.”

He stalked closer, taking my phone and tossing it to the bed. As he wrapped his arms around me, I gave in to the demand of his lips hot and wet on mine.

Just like that, he pushed me to lose my grip on reality. To forfeit control. To stop thinking about my worries. All I could do was feel him and never want this pleasure, this deep intimacy and desire, to ever stop.

“But you like it,” he taunted.

I nodded. “I won’t lie. I do.”

“Get ready to leave,” he said instead as he released me.

“For what? Another ride?” I smirked. “Don’t spoil me rotten now.”

“Funny.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and smirked. Knowing I could amuse him with my wry humor felt good.

“We’re leaving for a gala in the city,” he announced. “Ian was talking with me about it.”

I blinked wide. “A gala? I have to go?”

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