Page 41 of Líadan's Code

“Eh, I once survived on nothing but chocolate whoopie pies and Guinness for a week,” I tell her with a shrug. “I was in Ireland scouting out talent, and I was young and excited. I survived on adrenaline, alcohol, and sugar.”

“Fuck yes,” Brendan says with a nod. “Lía lives for sugar and cravings like that. Pushing other food doesn’t work, she’ll eat a bite and be full.”

“You’re a big girl, eat when you’re hungry,” I grunt as I start making coffee. “One of the best things and worst things about being an adult is making and living by your decisions. Whether they’re simple things like food or more complicated, they belong to you.”

“Speaking of…” Brendan stresses, trailing off as I roll my eyes.

“Not at all the same thing, asshole,” I grumble as I begin to doctor my coffee. God, I wish I could throw some Irish rum in it, but I won’t. “Your father emailed me to insist I go out to see him at the Irish Flower tonight.”

“It’s so odd to me that he actually emails people,” she mutters as the oven beeps to say it’s done preheating. “I’m sure he’s very proud of himself as he fucks with them too. How did you ruin someone’s day today, Daddy? With a goddamn email.”

I’m about to take a sip of coffee during her diatribe, but stop as I laugh. I can see Seán O’Brien doing this.

“Oh, he absolutely does. I didn’t even know I had an email only he had access to until today. So I’m going to chug this down, shower and change before a cab picks me up outside of the house,” I say, taking a sip.

Fuck that’s good.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone make the noises you do when you drink coffee,” Líadan teases me. “Did Daddy say what he wanted?”

Opening the oven, she slides her apple cake in, and I have to admit it looks like it’ll be amazing once baked.

“No, just that he needed me to do some work for him there,” I sigh. “It doesn’t matter, it’ll get me out of the house for a bit, I just can tell he’s up to something.”

“Oh he absolutely is,” she says, leaning against the counter. There’s a little bit of flour on her cheek, teasing me enough to force me to lean forward to rub it off. I notice the way she moves toward my hand, almost following it when I pull away.

Líadan may be under my skin, but I’m definitely under hers as well. I feel protective of her, and all of the shit I’ve dug up on her family makes it worse.

“I guess I’ll find out what it is when I get there,” I rumble, downing the rest of my coffee. It’s not cool enough to do that, but the slight burn of hot coffee helps to wake me up.

Washing my cup, I sigh as I dry it and put it away. I try to pull my own weight, even sneaking down to do laundry. I say it that way, but Brendan and Líadan both shoo me off and take my clothing typically to wash.

I don’t completely understand either of them, which isn’t really abnormal. I barely know Líadan and Brendan yet. All I do know is that I'm inexplicably drawn and protective of the little brat, and seriously attracted to Brendan.

Ugh, bad, bad idea. However, there’s no stopping this train now.

“What are you thinking about?” Líadan asks. “You’ve had so many emotions just pass over your face. I can’t figure out what would have caused them.”

“I’m trying not to shut down what my face does around you anymore,” I explain. “If I don’t, every thought gets broadcasted. I was just thinking about how little I know about you two.”

“That’s all?” Brendan asks, brow raised.

“That was the gist,” I state, beginning to walk out of the kitchen. I don’t know what else to say. Our situation is odd. If they were normal people and we were beginning a relationship, I’d ask for date nights and shit.

That’s simply just not going to happen though. Walking away from the time bomb that’s my brain, I begin to lock everything down. I can’t have a single thought leak out as I get ready to go see Seán. He already sees too fucking much as it is.

Showering up in my room quickly, I dry off and pull out a pair of black slacks and sweater. While I don’t have a typical power suit, I can still feel as if I’m in control even though I’m anything but. Finishing off the outfit with black socks and nice shoes, I brush my hair and glance at the time.

Fuck, time to go.

Packing up my laptop and tablet in the shoulder bag I have for it, I walk quickly for the door. I swear, Seán is fucking cutting this close.

Asshole.

“Damn, if looks could kill, I’d be ash,” Brendan rumbles, leaning against the wall.

“Seán’s an asshole,” I grunt, continuing to walk. “Pretty sure my ride is here. I’ll fix my face.”

“Wait,” he sighs, falling into step with me. “About that. Seán is a wild card. He only pulls people away when he’s planning something, and it’s never for a good reason. I haven’t heard anything, which makes this even worse.”

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