Page 23 of Mob Saint

“Come on, Tiernan. Seamus O’Rourke probably can’t remember a single line of the second half. He watched you the entire time.”

“Hardly.”

“I was curious about whether he would look over here after he escorted you to your seat, which was after asking you to a party. He did more than look. He stared. He wants you.”

“Suze, stop.” I don’t mean to snap at her. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s not interested.”

“You’ve been out of the game way too long if you can’t tell he wants to get between your goal posts.”

She waggles her eyebrows, and I can’t help but laugh. I cover my mouth to smother it, but I can’t keep from giggling as she puts her arms up, bent at ninety degrees, like a football ref when he makes the field goal sign. As if that weren’t enough, she wiggles her fingers.

“Stop. You’re horrible.”

“Just sayin’. Do you still want to go to that party with them?”

“If you’re game. I wouldn’t mind sharing a cocktail with the blond guy who played the roommate.”

I nearly jump out of my skin when a voice comes from behind my left shoulder this time. How the fuck does he do that? How can someone as sturdy as him tiptoe around?

“You’re still planning on joining us.”

It almost sounds like an accusation. I spin around, but I wish I hadn’t when my gaze meets Seamus’s. My brow furrows at his closed off expression. I glance around, wondering if the Mancinellis are close. Is that what has him so guarded?

“We’d like to, if that’s okay.”

I look over at Suze, and she’s trying not to laugh. She nods. What’s funny now? We follow Seamus to a waiting limo. The back door is open, and I can see people already inside. I nearly step on Suze’s heel as she maneuvers herself in front of me as we reach the vehicle. Seamus stands beside the door after nodding to the driver. Suze slips in, and I can hear her introducing herself before I can put one foot inside. I climb in and quickly realize there’s only the back seat open. Just two spots. One for me. One for Seamus.

Suze, not exactly subtle.

Seamus settles beside me and closes the door. Since my friend has already introduced herself, I suppose it’s my turn. I’m certain the three other men know who I am, but I assume the women have no idea.

“Hi, I’m Tiernan.”

The voluptuous woman’s brow crinkles for a moment before she smiles. “I’m Mairghráid.”

Fuck me. She’s Irish. Like real Irish. She knows I have as Irish a name as she does, except mine’s for a man.

“I’m Ally, and this is my sister-in-law, Nikki.”

The blonde woman waves.

Ally—the one with the braids—keeps speaking as she leans against the almost too handsome to be real guy.

“This is my husband, Finn. That’s his brother Sean. Mair is next to her husband Dillan.”

That catches my attention. I try not to squirm. I’m sitting across a limo from the NYC mob boss. Why did Seamus do this to me? He has to know how uncomfortable it is for me to be in the same car as a man who’s actively trying to dick my extended family over because they’re rivals. I’ve heard about how he’s the mastermind.

Seamus’s thigh presses against mine. He’s not man spreading. He just has long legs. I move mine to stay out of his way. I’m taking up too much room even though I thought I was only on my seat. His shoulder nudges me then remains touching mine. I don’t want to acknowledge what he’s doing because I don’t want to draw attention to us.

It’s embarrassing to think he doesn’t have enough room because of me. Rationally, I know that’s not the case. His shoulders are twice as broad as mine, and he’s nearly ten inches taller than me. All that height seems to be in his legs from how much longer he is from knee to hip than I am. I try to give him space, so I shift. He does nothing else. I think he even leans away. I don’t know what to make of any of this.

I join in the conversation on the way to the party, and it’s lively. The guys tease each other, but the women are merciless when they pick on their husbands. It’s hilarious. It’s sweet. It’s completely foreign to me. I don’t know any syndicate family that laughs this much, let alone during one car ride that lasts fifteen minutes.

The driver opens the door on Seamus’s side since it’s closer to the curb. When he’s standing, I see him fasten his suit coat button. Then he sticks his hand out to help me. I put my hand in his, and he wraps his fingers around my palm. The warmth travels up my arm and into my shoulder and directly down to my pussy. He could let go, but he doesn’t. Instead, he wraps my arm around his. When Suze gets out, he doesn’t hesitate to offer his free arm to her. He calls over his shoulder to his cousins.

“Who’s the boring one now?”

Did they tease him earlier because he didn’t have a date?

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