Page 92 of Reckless Promises

“Right, lunch.” My nose scrunches at the thought.

“You’ve been looking forward to it all morning.”

“I know.” I force a smile. “I’m just not feeling great.”

And the revelations aren’t helping.

Cillian steps closer, cupping my face in his hands and looking at me so deeply it’s like he’s trying to read exactly what’s wrong. “Stay here then.”

“I’ll be fine. It’s just a lot of information to process. I should get out.” Lifting onto my toes, I brush my lips over his.

“I’ll figure this out, Odette.” He kisses me back.

“I know you will. I trust you.”

So please don’t break my heart.

33

Cillian

Shane is standing inmy office doorway smirking at me when I turn the corner. “Look at you getting cozy with the dog.”

Birdie trots at my side, running up to Shane the moment she sees him, and he crouches down to pet her. Usually, she doesn’t leave Odette. But since Odette is at lunch with Fallon, she’s following me.

“She’s fine.”

“Don’t try to bullshit me, Cill. You like her. Fallon told me about the custom dog bed.”

“That would be Odette.”

Shane lifts off the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest. “Ah yes, the wife. Fallon’s kept me updatedon her as well.”

“Good to know you two are still gossiping like teenagers.” I walk past him into my office. “And here I thought we were talking business.”

Birdie lays down in her bed next to my desk while I drop into my chair.

I never wanted a dog, but now I can’t imagine not having Birdie around. She makes Odette happy, and she makes these walls feel more like a home.

Something is changing ever since Odette first moved in with me. It started slow, and now it’s happening so fast. My body aches when Odette’s not around, and every moment she’s away is too long.

I need her near me, with me, under me.

She’s fresh air, and I suffocate without her.

Ever since my father’s death, my obligations have been an anchor pulling me down. A chain slowly dragging me under. But Odette is the breath in my lungs. She’s the light bright enough to reach the bottom of my ocean. She found me beneath the water and pulled me back to the surface.

So if she wants a dog, a purse, a dress—the fucking moon—she can have it. I’ll find a way to give her everything.

“Where are we at with the exports?” I ask Shane as he drops into the chair on the other side of the desk.

“Tomorrow night at eleven.”

“You’re sure?”

He nods. “That’s the shipment we’ve been waiting for.”

“What’s onboard?”

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