Page 60 of Ireland

She stood silently for a long minute, her jaw clenched. “Did you really think I’d choose you over my family?”

“I thought you’d choose freedom over the cage, but you’re too used to the leash.”

She inhaled through the pain his words inflicted, her nostrils flaring. Alina reached over and took her hand.

“Just proves you don’t know me as well as you think.” Squeezing Alina’s hand, she released her. “Excuse us for a minute, Ali.”

“Are you sure?” her best friend asked skeptically.

Ronan answered. “There’s no place safer for her than with me.”

Ireland stalked up to him. “Get out of the way.”

He stepped aside and swept his arm outward with mocking gallantry. She stomped barefoot across the hall to her former office and spun to face him as he closed the door behind them.

“Okay.” She gestured impatiently with her hands. “Say whatever you need to get off your chest, then leave me in peace.”

Ronan’s intense focus unnerved her as he approached, stopping mere inches away. The scent of him enveloped and irrationally soothed her. “I apologize for the hurt and anger you’re feeling now. My involvement with Vidal was years in the making by the time we met, so pissing you off was inevitable. But I’ve hurt you, too, and I’m sorry for it, Ireland.”

She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling. She wanted to yell that she didn’t care and that he didn’t have the power to wound her. But she couldn’t form the words. “You told me you wouldn’t hurt me. And you could’ve avoided doing so by walking away from me at Jazzie’s or asking me to leave your table.”

The regret on his face affected her more than she cared to admit. “Neither of those things were possible until I knew what you were up to. Once it became clear that you truly didn’t know who I was, it was too late—I couldn’t stay away from you.”

“You didn’t seem to have a problem staying away last night.”

“Does that still sting,cher?” The look in his eyes made her throat tight. “It cost me more than you know. And today has also been rough for me. Having you in my bed and then losing you immediately after… Not being able to reach you, to hear your voice, to explain?—”

She stumbled back when he reached for her. “Don’t touch me. Your apology doesn’t change anything. You want me to choose you over Vidal, but you’ve chosen Vidal over me.”

“Neither of us is choosing this fucking company! We’re both taking care of our families, nothing more. And I refuse to allow them to come between us!”

Ireland was astonished by his vehemence…and stirred by his passion. “You can’t think we could still be together after this.”

His gray gaze held a dangerous fire. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

“I told you. I didn’t want to talk to you.”

“Why not answer and tell me that?” His words came clipped and fast. “Why can’t I touch you?”

“Because it’s business now. You need to keep a professional distance.”

“Têtedur!This is as personal as it gets. You forget I’ve seen when someone’s pushed you too far. You want to be eye to eye when you tell a man he’s nothing to you.” Ronan spread his arms wide. “Well, here I am. Tell me we’re done, and you never want to see me again. Tell me you haven’t been remembering all day how it feels to have my cock inside you, my lips on yours, my sweat on your skin. Tell me you never want my hands on you again.”

“Fuck off. You’re the one who ruined everything!” Blinking through bitter tears, Ireland turned her back to him and walked to the window, her arms wrapped around herself. The day felt endless. She was so tired. Enough of this.Enough.

“Say it, Ireland, because I can’t. Touching you is all I want to do.”

She sensed him following her, coming so close that she felt his warmth. She heard his slow, deep inhale and knew he was breathing her in, scenting her like a lion would its mate.

“Did you ask your father about me?” he murmured, so near that his breath stirred the strands of her hair.

Her reply was equally hushed. “He says you two met for the first time today. That you’re a stranger. Is he lying?”

There was a long pause.

“Answer me!” she demanded, turning to face him and brushing against him in the process.

They both froze. His hands clenched as if he fought the need to reach for her.

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