Page 71 of Reckless Promises

“How long have you two been married?” I ask.

“Nine years. But we were together years before that. Since we were teenagers actually.”

I’m not sure what blooms deep in my stomach as that sinks in.

Hope? Want?

Proof love can exist outside of being placed up on an auction block.

Cillian squeezes my thigh like he can sense my shift in mood, and even if I wouldn’t trade what I have with him now, it doesn’t mean I don’t wish our paths could have crossed under different circumstances.

“We got lucky,” Cassidy says, taking another sip of her water. “Our families are friends, personally and in business. Brandon and I spent a lot of time together growing up, and we fell in love. I know that’s not always how it happens.”

“It’s a good thing though.”

“It is.” She smiles, pointing at Cillian. “That’s how I’ve known this one as long as I have. And I can confirm, he did in fact used to be a lot of fun before life beat it out of him.”

“That wasn’tlife. That was exhaustion from reining in this asshole.” Cillian tips his drink toward Brandon. “One word: proposal.”

“If I’m remembering correctly, you’re the one who brought the explosives in the first place. All I did was set them off.”

Cillian laughs. A big genuine laugh that’s rare coming from him. And even if Cillian told me this was a business dinner, there’s an underlying friendship that definitely still lingers.

“What explosives?” I turn toCillian.

“He’s the one who said he wanted her attention.” He points at Cassidy and then wraps his arm around the back of my chair. “I helped him get it.”

“By blowing something up?”

“It was supposed to be symbolic.” Cassidy rolls her eyes. “There’s this wall that sits between our parents’ properties. And these two got it in their heads that it would be romantic to blow it up.”

“It was romantic.” Brandon smiles at her.

“Until you almost started a forest fire.”

“Fair enough.”

“I’ll give him one thing.” Cassidy looks up at him. “It’s a proposal I’ll never forget.”

They kiss and my whole chest tightens. It’s one thing to see love in movies. But up close in front of us, makes me wish it was something I could have.

Cillian and I might be getting closer intimately, but I’m not naïve enough to think that’s love. He made it clear in the beginning where his limits are in relationships. He’ll protect me, take care of me, and please me. But asking him to love me isn’t as simple as any of that.

Looking up at Cillian, I realize he’s already watching me. “That’s sweet of you to help them.”

“I was being a friend.” He shrugs.

“A good friend,” Brandon counters as the door to the room opens and our food is carried through.

They set a plate in front of each of us, and I immediately dive in, realizing I forgot to eat earlier when Cillian distracted me with his tongue.

Brandon and Cillian move into business discussions while Cassidy and I eat. She talks about her family, her parents, and the baby. It all sounds so normal. Like we aren’t surrounded by money laundering and drug deals. And it gives me an ounce of something I probably shouldn’t pay too close attention to—hope.

“How was your food?” Cillian asks when I set down my fork and move back to my wine.

“Delicious. Yours?”

“Fine.” He kisses my temple then brings his mouth near my ear. “But I’m looking forward to dessert.”

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