Page 10 of Bargain with the Irish Devil

“Whatever it takes to get these fucking Serbians out of the city. How is your father?” I’d heard the man lost his woman. She did a runner on him. Rumor has it he’s not taken it well, and no one’s seen him for days.

His head goes down. “He’s been better.” Shaking his head, “I don’t know. I want to find her and kill her with my bare hands. Women…”

The thought of Tony Sabatini, a man who’s taken more lives than a grim reaper on his knees for a woman. Fuck. That could never be me.

The moment he’s gone, I give in and call Colm. “Did you get everything?”

“Yes, I’m on my way back to the house now. Ryan said to move it since it looks like she’s winding down. Another ten minutes or so, and I’ll be home.”

“Good, I’m leaving the pub now. You’ll beat me home.”

I’m up and walking through the pub as I speak. Men call out to me in greeting. I only raise a hand and keep walking. Any other day of the week and my night would just be starting. Tonight, Miranda is in my home and I’m not going to miss a second of time with her.

Colm laughs. “That shopper went nuts with your credit card. Never thought you’d have someone shopping for a woman. I get it,though. Miranda Beckett is a looker, for sure. Would never guess she’s that mangy mutt’s sister?—”

“Stay the fuck away from her. She’s untouchable by you or anyone.” Comes out of me faster than a bullet. The thought of him looking at her, wanting her, touching her, even fucking thinking of her has me in a rage so fierce if he were in front of me, I’d break something.

Colm is as stunned as I am. “Yeah, of course, Declan. I was just sayin’—”

“Don’t. Don’t just say. Don’t say a fucking thing about Miranda Beckett. You make sure all the men are aware that as far as she’s concerned, she’s the invisible woman.”

“I will—I mean won’t. Whatever you want, Declan. I’ll do. I swear it.”

I end the call before I lose my mind listening to him stutter. The cool air of the night soothes my heated skin. A man calls my name too fucking close for me to miss him. What the fuck? I was raised from a child to always be aware and careful of my surroundings. A nod is all I can give him before I get into my car and slam the door closed.

What the hell is it about Miranda Beckett? Why did my cock ache for her the moment I laid my eyes on her? It has to be that it’s been a few months since I ended things with the last woman I had in my bed. That’s it—that’s all it is.

Home is only fifteen minutes away from my pub, but it feels twice that as my cock guides me back to the beautiful Miranda. Beautiful, yet didn’t think it. Sexy, but didn’t know it. She’s twenty-seven and no virgin. Yet completely naïve in a way I haven’t seen a teenager be.

I give in and call Ryan, needing a connection to her. “Dec, are you fucking serious? You’re keeping the woman here? You said she was only going to be working the audit this weekend and the evening.”

His disbelief is at the same level as mine as to why I’m willing to catch a federal case for her. “I’m serious as a heart attack. Let me worry about the woman. She wants to be there—she just doesn’t want to admit it.”

“Christ, Dec, this isn’t like you. Your dick doesn’t get you into trouble. She’s a pretty enough woman, but what if by the time she’s done with the audit, she still wants to leave?”

“The audit will take a few weeks. It will be time enough for us both to work it out of our system. I’ll let her go.” The way she bristled and snapped, despite feeling the same attraction as me, had me itching to catch her and keep her. To turn her ridiculousnointo a moaningyes. No woman has ever turned me down. Maybe that’s it—no. I was fucked the second I met her hazel eyes.

“And for the record, it’s the same as I told Colm: no one is to touch her. She’s mine. You’re there now because she fears your ugly mug and size. But no one is to touch her—or I’ll kill them.” I warn him.

“When this blows up in your face, I’m not going to say I told you so. But I reserve the right to tell the old men this is all your fault. That I tried to talk you out of it.”

As a cousin of a cousin and my best friend, Ryan was more willing than most to tell me exactly what he thought. Right now, I don’t welcome it. “Fuck you. I’m almost home.”

Ending the call, I blink, and Miranda’s beautiful face is instantly on the back of my eyelids. She’s a cameo come to life with a long, elegant nose, high cheekbones, and sweet, wide lips. Yet it was her eyes that held me spellbound. The way they flared a brighter greenwhen they met mine turned me desperate to see what they would be like the moment I felt her pussy throbbing around my cock as she came.

Her lack of awareness of her appeal didn’t make sense to me. I thought it was a game she was playing to pull me in. Then she talked about her father, the world, and her ex-husband. I finally understood. The bastard ex-husband hit her confidence hard.

I’m torn between wanting to thank him and killing him. Thank him for letting her go and killing him for hurting her. Death appealed most to make him pay for the way he used her, had her doubting her worth, and forced her into hiding from the world and herself. Miranda Beckett had tried and failed in life. Because she failed, she escaped into her castle and pulled up the drawbridge—refusing to let anyone in or even herself out.

I was surprised over how little of a life she had outside of work when I read her file. Valdez wasn’t happy about looking into her. He viewed innocent civilians as a protected class. Until I told him that her asshole brother was already looking to use her as collateral for other loan sharks. Since I only wanted her for the audit and wouldn’t harm her—he figured it was safer for her to give me what I needed.

All I cared about was her skill as an accountant and if there was anyone close to her that she would tell my business. What I saw was perfect: there were no other brothers or sisters, no social media presence. Even her closest neighbors barely noticed her comings and goings. Yet now, all I can think is how very sad it is.

The woman is bound and determined to keep her life small and free of anyone who could hurt her. She felt the attraction. The little fool wanted me. Only I have a feeling her selfish ex nevershowed her all the pleasure to be found within her sexy as fuck body, so she was unwilling to give into it.

I’m aware I’m a complete bastard for refusing to accept her refusal to fuck me. Especially since all I want is her body. But I’ve never called myself a good man when it comes to getting what I want, and I’m not about to start now.

It won’t leave me. I hit send on the number. Only one ring, and Valdez answers. “Mr. Kelly, how may I be of service?”

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