Page 59 of The Irish Arrangement

“Who’d you hear it from, though?” Ian asked. “If it’s someone at the gala, we could ask why they started the rumor.”

Dad focused on me, his rheumy eyes stern. “Keira Murray. That’s where my associates said the rumor originated.”

Ian and I shared a quick look.

What the hell?

“Cara’s stepmother?” Ian checked.

Dad nodded.

I knew Keira disliked Cara. That was evident in how adamantly she foisted Cara onto me in marriage to spare Saoirse having to get hitched with me.

What is her fucking deal? Keira was bitter and whiny, but to start a rumor like that? For what?

I’ll find out soon enough. I wasn’t above putting pressure on Shane for paying back his debt or on Keira to explain herself and understand why she’d tried to stir up shit.

I left Dad, promising him that I was working on getting an heir. Back in my wing, I packed and prepared for the night away. We would leave tonight, but that was no simple drive.

I planned the security detail, thinking ahead to how many men I’d want at the gala venue itself, too. My men would be with her and nearby at all times. So would I. I didn’t intend to let my wife stray from me for more than a single moment, and I didn’t care if I was over-the-top with my security.

I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

Not just because she would be the mother of my child but also because I cared for her. She’d snuck under my skin, and if I wasn’t careful, I’d be tempted to admit I love?—

“What the hell?”

I looked at my phone.

The number was unidentified, but the text sent my heart racing.

I asked Riley for your number.

Is my husband too busy to help me decide on a dress?

I grinned, walking toward her wing. This was bullshit. It was time for her to just stay in my room, in my bed.

Never, Wife.

I pushed open her doors, finding her standing in lacy black lingerie as she held up a black gown from a hanger in her left hand and a green one from her right.

“Cara…” I growled her name, stalking straight to her.

She gasped, running back. “No. No. Come on. Riley found these in storage, said they were shipped here as wedding gifts last week.”

I snagged her, kissing up her neck as I tugged at the cups of her bra.

“You said we had an hour to leave and—” She shut up, holding her breath as I bit at her breast then dragged my tongue over the bite to soothe the sting.

“An hour,” I agreed.

I took both dresses and flung them to the bed. Then, holding her by the waist, I walked her toward the chair.

I sat, pulling her panties down as I leaned forward to mash my mouth to her pussy.

“Oh…” She threaded her fingers through my hair, rocking into my face.

“An hour is more than enough time,” I promised as I stared up at her and fingered her cunt. Creaming up my digit, I then pushed it into her ass and used that leverage to tip her closer to me so I could feast on her.

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