Page 74 of Taming Irish

Chapter 21

Makena

The past twodays have been bliss, being pampered and catered to like royalty. And I’m so glad Emer convinced me to come withher.

But I missShane.

That revelation is scary. Because if I miss him after just a couple days, then what am I going to be like when I have to gohome?

Five months. That’s still a long time. And who knows what will happen between then and now? For all I know, he could be tired of me way before then. Or I’ll be tired ofhim.

I snort. Because, who am I kidding? The last couple weeks have been the best of my life. It’s not just the way the man has awakened my body. He’s stirred something in my soul. A passion. And that’s something that can’t be taken away. Not even when my heart breaks if this thing between us comes to anend.

“What’s that look for?” Emer asks as we’re walking down the old cobblestone streets of Dublin toward the Brazen HeadPub.

“I’m just grateful for everything. Thank you for allthis.”

She locks her arm with mine. “Maybe we can make it an annual thing. Next time, Bree and Delaney can joinus.”

I don’t mention that I won’t be here in a year. She already knows. But I have a feeling that she’s hoping whatever this thing is between Shane and I is more than what I know it is -temporary. Because it’s not a matter ofifthis thing ends, it’swhen.

The Brazen Head is already overflowing with people when we sit down in one of the many rooms that make up the pub. The room we’re in has a bar on one side and a band playing in the corner, and I can’t move without touching elbows withsomeone.

Sitting at the bar, Emer orders two Guinness. A man, who is starting to look a little too familiar, sits down at the far end, his beady eyes continually drifting in our direction. He has a look about him that screams trouble. And not the goodkind.

I’m pretty sure I saw him in the lobby of our hotel earlier, as well as when we were walkinghere.

I’m about to mention it to Emer, but she’s frowning down at her phone, typing out amessage.

“Is everythingokay?”

She sucks her bottom lip between her teeth. “Cadence has a fever. Aiden thinks it’s just from teething,but…”

“You need to gohome.”

“I’msorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Your family comesfirst.”

“If ye want to stay, I can have the driver take me home, then come back for ye tomorrow morning. Ye have the suite to yerself until then. Ye can always give Shane a call and let him know ye’rehere.”

“You wouldn’tmind.”

“Of course not.” She slides off her stool, then gives me a hug before disappearing into thecrowd.

The minute she’s gone, I realize my mistake. I didn’t bring my phone with me. It’s been sitting in the hotel room, uncharged for the past few days since I forgot to bring my charger. I think about going after Emer, but I know I’ll never catch up to her in the damn heels I’mwearing.

“Did your friend leave you?” A tall, sandy blond man in his late twenties sits down in the seat next to me. His eyes, a pale blue, are friendly, a contrast to the beady-eyed man on the other side of the bar that’s doing a poor job of pretending he’s not watchingme.

“She’ll be back,” Ilie.

“You’re American?” he asks with a southerndrawl.

I nod and take a sip of my beer. Maybe I should have gone with Emer. There’s nothing wrong with harmless flirting, but I didn’t come here looking for a man’s attention. The only man I want isShane.

“Can I buy you adrink?”

“I was just leaving.” I give him a small smile as I slide off thestool.

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