Page 354 of Lodestar

Aidan butted in before Eoghan could finish that sentence, “We thought we’d hang out here while Ma and Star were introduced.”

Paddy’s eyes widened but he peered around the room on the hunt for me. When he found the only person in the room he didn’t know, he beamed a grin at me and held out his hand as he crossed the space to reach my side.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Star.”

“The pleasure’s mine,” I chirped. “Any man who can clean up a crime scene in a church is my kind of guy.”

“Star,” Conor groaned.

“What? It’s true! How you deal with a crisis says a lot about a person.” My grip was strong as I shook his hand. “I’m hoping you?—”

Before I could finish that sentence, Paddy blurted out, “Conor, did Aidan tell you I need to speak with you?”

Well, that was fucking rude.

Conor sighed. “He did.”

“It’s important, son. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.”

When Conor made to stand and he headed toward a door off the kitchen, I had no compunction in traipsing after him once Paddy followed him too.

“Uh, Star?” Vana called.

“Later, babe.”

“This is Points’ business, Star,” Aidan drawled, to which Eoghan chuckled.

I shot him a polite smile over my shoulder. “If it’s Conor’s business, then it’s my business. You just entertain yourselves while Conor fixes all your problems as usual.”

Thatshut them up.

Apart from Eoghan whose chuckle morphed into outright laughter.

“What?” I heard him mutter. “I like her.”

Paddy stared at me oddly when I opened the door he’d just closed, but he was polite as he murmured, “This is private, Star.”

“Anything you say to me, you can say to Star,” Conor said tiredly as he leaned against a desk I figured was his da’s. I moved beside him, close enough that our arms touched as I mimicked him and folded mine too. “What’s going on with Liam, Paddy?”

“Your cousin?—”

I rolled my eyes. “Only manipulate people who are dumber than you, Paddy. Conor knows who Liam is without you trying to guilt trip him into acting because of family ties.”

The older man narrowed his eyes at me. “I’d unsheathe your claws if I were you.”

“You’re not me.” I drummed my fingers on my biceps. “This is supposed to be a family day, a rest day, so get on with your tale of woe before it ruins our appetite.”

Conor scratched his jaw, but I knew he did so to hide a grin—I saw it when I peered at him.

Hell,hewas the one who told me it was a turn-on.

You couldn’t say that to someone and not expect them to react.

“She’s not wrong, Paddy. What’s going on with Liam?”

“You heard of the Rabid Wolves?”

“Of course I have. We work with them across the border.”

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