Page 71 of Dublin Brute

It’s so cute that he believes in the Celtic goddess.

I relax in his arms and smile up at him. “All right. I’ll leave the envelope on the table for him if he’s in bed and say I found it on the front step when I got home”.

He leans down and kisses me softly on the lips. “Thank you, angel. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

When he stands and pulls his heavy leather jacket over his shoulders, a lead stone forms in my belly. “Was this a one-time thing, or will I see you again?”

He dips his chin and slides his palm against my cheek. “Do youwantto see me again? Like you said, life would be simpler with Teddy from the library.”

“Yeah, well, Teddy wears corduroys and brings juice boxes in his lunch.”

Brendan’s entire body shakes with his laughter. “Oh, I think you can aim higher than that for my replacement.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to replace you. I just don’t want anything to happen to you because of me. If my father finds out….”

He brushes the pad of his thumb along my cheekbone, leaving a trail of tingles behind. “For as long as you remain safe, I’ll keep my distance and not complicate your life. If that changes, all bets are off.”

“So, I won’t see you?”

He pulls me against his broad chest and rests his cheek on the top of my head. “If there’s an emergency, you have my number. Otherwise, if we need to meet, we’ll do it here.”

The rush of excitement that hits me at the prospect of another visit like tonight is all kinds of wrong—but feels so right.

“Be careful, angel. Tell no one about us. Jay has an idea but doesn’t know the details. If the McGuires find out what you mean to me, you’ll be in danger—and that won’t end well for anyone.”

I listen to the sound of his heart as I breathe in the scent of leather and soak in his strength. “I’ll be careful.”

When we step apart, there are so many things I want to say, but reality has popped the bubble of our VIP suite respite. “You go out first, angel. Finish your shift and know I’m never more than a phone call away if you need me.”

I run a hand down the front of my skirt and adjust my girls so my blouse sits right. With Brendan’s envelope in my hand, there’s really nothing more to say except…

“Be safe, big guy. I love you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Nora

Istep onto the lit porch of our home and look back the way I came. The silence of the night is thick enough to choke on. Meeting up with Brendan at Legend has left me buzzing, but the thing he told me about the stranger looking in the windows of our house sends a shiver up my spine.

Danger is lurking out there, hidden in the shadows.

Panic tightens in my chest, but then I remember Brendan has ‘eyes’ on me. It’s probably his men keeping watch that have my survival instincts playing tricks on me.

I shake off the unease and head inside. It’s late—after three in the morning—but the lights are still on in the dining room. My father is working late. After locking the door, I hang my purse and jacket on the coat rack.

My father is sitting at the dining room table, his attention poured over a wash of paperwork. He’s typing something into his laptop, the glow from the screen casting harsh lines across his face, deepening the furrows that age him beyond his years.

He doesn’t look up as I step into the room.

I take a breath and hold out the envelope Brendan gave me. “Hey. I found this on the porch. It’s got your name on it.”

He lifts his gaze, eyeing me with a mix of annoyance and frustration. “What is it?”

“An envelope. I don’t know.” I force a nonchalant shrug. “Don’t kill the messenger.”

He frowns and rips it open, reaching inside to pull out pictures of Laura Sanford and a man through the window of a house. They’re hugging and looking very domestic. Then there are pictures of her entering the same house several other times, wearing different clothes on different days, the guy opening the door for her and kissing her in welcome before they go inside, and the door is closed.

His face twists into a scowl as he flips through photos—one after another—his anger simmering like a pot about to boil over.

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