Page 439 of Lodestar

When she took off with the same speed as she barreled into me, I didn’t have the chance to ask her what the hell she thought you wore to a Summit, but ninety minutes later, showered and changed too, I got my answer.

She wore a black, sleeveless, knit turtleneck that displayed her strong shoulders, her hair was back in a bun that waslibrarian chic, and she wore dark-gray tailored pants that swirled around black, patent-leather heels. Over her arm, she’d draped a black trench coat.

“Since when do you wear heels?”

Arching a brow at me, she demanded, “Do you have a problem with my shitkickers?”

“No, but…” I whistled under my breath. “Dear God, you’re hot. Where did this outfit come from?”

“Savannah, of course.” She sniffed. “She said I needed to have a wardrobe that fit my position as penguin to an O’Donnelly.”

I smirked. “She’s smart.”

“She’s a pain, but hell, I didn’t have to shop and she did so we were both happy.”

“How many more outfits did she pick?” I queried, brows high. “Do I have more surprises in my future?”

Her lips twisted. “That would be telling. Now, is the car here for us?”

“Yeah, it’s downstairs.”

She peered at me, raking her eyes over my form before she graced me with my own wolf whistle. “We look like mobsters.”

“No,Ilook like Clyde. You look like Bonnie.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure I mind that. I definitely don’t mindthis.” She took in the dark-navy suit with a slimline pinstripe that Finn had insisted upon the last time I was at his tailor. I’d gone the whole nine yards and even wore a vest. “Is that a pocket watch?”

I smiled as I slipped it from the purpose-made pocket. “My great-grandfather’s.”

“Who gave it to you?”

“Da.”

She frowned. “He did love you in his own way, didn’t he?”

“‘His own way’ sounds about right.”

“What else did he give to you?”

“Jewelry wise? Just the ring and the watch.”

“Was your great-grandfather a mobster?”

“Of course. Not as successful as the Valentinis who were behind Capone getting, well, Caponed.

"On the O’Donnelly side, that is. The other one was neck-deep in the IRA and the ECD.”

“Your roots would horrify the average woman.”

I swooped her down into a kiss that would have had the ‘average’ woman shrieking. She just moved with me, hovering over my arm as I murmured against her lips, “Since when are you average? If I’m awkward, you’re atypical.”

She smacked a kiss on my mouth. “We’re just full of compliments today.”

“Expect more when you go around looking like that. You know Brennan will be there?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t make him fall at my feet.”

“That’s my job.”

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