Page 32 of Wild Irish

It’s perfect.

Even if I just get this one night, this trip has been worth it. No matter how messed up my life will be when I get back.

Find your happiness. Maeve’s words whisper in my mind.

Cillian woke my heart up to both. It doesn’t matter what tomorrow brings, I’ll always be grateful for what he gave me tonight.

Chapter 12

Cillian

Delaney’ssoft body is draped over me, her fingers curled on my chest, and a sleepy smile quirks on her lips.

Last night was incredible. Not just the sex, but falling asleep with her in my arms.

I don’t cuddle –ever. But there’s this insane need inside me to keep her close, like if I don’t, she’ll disappear.

Which I know she’s going to. As soon as her car is fixed, she’ll be gone.

My phone rings from somewhere. It’s just a soft hum, but it makes her stir.

I grunt, and slide from her grip, grabbing a new pair of jeans and boxer briefs.

Delaney mutters something in her sleep, then tosses, pulling a pillow over her head.

My phone is in the bathroom with the pile of discarded clothes. I grunt again when I see Aiden’s name displayed on the screen. I know what he’s calling about – Owen.

I overreacted last night. Lost my fucking cool when I saw him touching Delaney. But it’ll be a cold day in hell if he thinks I’ll apologize for it. He may not have done anything wrong last night, but it sure felt good to feel my knuckles smack into his smug face.

Ignoring Aiden’s call, I go to the kitchen and start a pot of coffee, then pull out the eggs and bread from the fridge.

My phone rings again, but this time it’s Tommy. I know it’s about the damn car before I pick up, and something in my chest tightens. Sure, this thing between Delaney and I is just a fling, but I’m not ready to let her go – not yet.

“Bad news,” Tommy says when I answer.

“Tell me.”

“I’ve looked at the car, and it’s pretty much a write-off.”

“Shit.”

“What do ye want me to do?”

With a heavy breath, I rub the muscles in my neck, and glance toward the hall. “I’ll talk to Delaney and get back to ye.”

I don’t know much about her financial situation, but I know she was struggling enough before the accident to have to sleep in her car to afford this trip. I can’t imagine she has the money to pay off the vehicle. There must be some sort of payment plan the company can come up with. A way so that she won’t have to go bankrupt. For her sake, I hope so. I text Tommy back and ask him to look into it.

Part of me wonders if I should wake her and let her know, but there’s no way an extra half-hour of sleep will hurt her already grim situation.

I pull out a frying pan and set it on the stove. I don’t even have time to crack the eggs before my phone is buzzing again.

This time, it’s Emer. I answer, knowing that if I don’t the woman will be over here pounding on my door.

Hell, I’m surprised she isn’t here already with Shane and Aiden as back-up. It’s why I spent the past three months in Dublin. Because if they know where I am, they’ll hound me every minute of the day.

The need to run, to get out of town and forget my problems, pulls at me. And when I hear Emer’s judgmental voice when I answer her call, I know I’ve got to come up with an evacuation plan, ASAP.

Chapter 13

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