Page 19 of Trouble Walked In

Her eyes misty, she just shook her head and stroked her fingers against his cheek. No one had ever looked at him quite like Moira was right now. She obviously saw something in him that he didn't really see in himself. Whatever it was, he could only be grateful for it.

He glanced at the clock and cursed. “That jackass from Code Enforcement took up way too much time. Bar opens in fifteen minutes.”

“I guess I don't get my pre-shift orgasm then?”

“The second everyone leaves tonight and I lock the doors, I want you to take off those ridiculously tiny panties you've probably got on. Then you're gonna climb that sexy ass of yours up on the bar so I can make good on my promise, cupcake.”

She bit her bottom lip. “So, I guess that means I should go and put some panties on, right?”

“Yes. Christ, baby. You're gonna kill me,” he muttered as she hurried into the bedroom, presumably to put on her panties. “At least I'll die a happy man, though.”

Chapter Twelve

“Stop,” Moira cried, wiggling away from Ronan's roaming hands with a laugh. “We're in the grocery store. There are children present!”

Ronan brushed his lips over her neck and then released her with a sigh. “Can't help it. The way that you've been comparing those two cans of soup for the last three minutes is gettin' me all worked up. Just put one in the damn cart, please.”

Carefully, she set both cans on the shelf and moved on. When he'd asked her to go grocery shopping with him, she'd offered to pay. Ronan had unequivocally vetoed the idea. Just like he did whenever the subject of her giving him money came up. She appreciated what he was trying to do, but it made her feel like she was taking advantage.

Moira heard the unmistakable sound of a can hitting the bottom of the cart. They walked down the aisle in silence before Ronan said, “Moira, baby. Stop for a second.”

She turned to face him, trying to keep the frustration off her face. “What?”

“You wanna tell me what's on your mind? Or are you gonna let it eat at you all day?”

“I feel like a mooch, and I hate it,” she blurted out. “Why won't you let me pay for groceries?”

“You're not a mooch,” he said, frustration lacing his voice. “How many times do I have to tell you that?”

“Well, you wouldn't have to tell me at all if you'd just let me buy the damned groceries like I asked!”

Ronan sighed. “When you left your daddy's house, why did you go?”

“You know why I left,” she answered, her forehead creased with confusion. “What does that even have to do with—”

“You left because you wanted to choose how you were gonna live your life. I mean, ultimately, that's what you're after. Am I right?”

Unsure where he was going, she said, “Basically, yeah.”

“You need money to finish school and get a place of your own, right?”

“Righ

t.”

“When you're buyin' groceries and all of that, that stops you from being able to save. I want to help you do that. The bar does pretty well. Lorelei is full of drunks, Moira. I can buy you soup,” he joked.

Was this his way of pushing her toward the door? Just the other day he'd told her he wanted her to stay. She couldn't ignore the small pang in her chest at the thought of leaving.

“Whatever that thought was, get it out of your head,” he ordered, effectively reading her mind. “I'm not kicking you out. If I had my way, you wouldn't leave. That's not exactly fair of me, though. I want you to have whatever it is you decide you want. You'll have an easier time figuring out what that is when you have options.”

Jesus. Had her thoughts been that damned obvious? Gratitude and some other feelings she wasn't quite ready to explore swamped her system. “Thank you. Seriously.”

He abandoned the cart and pulled her into his arms. “You're welcome, Moira.” When she pulled away a minute later and started back down the aisle, he asked, “Where are you going?”

“I'm going to get another can of soup.”

Ronan teased, “Don't get greedy now.”

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