Page 28 of Dublin's Danger Dancer

“Because I’m still trying to make sense of it myself,” he says locking his hands around my waist.

“You really don’t have the slightest clue how I feel about you, do you?”

“Do you know how many men say that exact line to me at the club?”

“No. Nor do I care. I’ve been honest with you from the start. I really like you. And I just want you to give me a chance to prove it.”

Liam looks over his shoulder to where his men are awaiting his instructions. They both wear black suits with black ties. They look like undertakers.

“I’ll come by your place later. Give you time to think about whether you want to let me in or not.”

“And if I don’t wanna let you in?”

Liam rubs his chin. “Then I guess I have to do something to change your mind. Keep my suit jacket. It looks better on you.”

He lowers his head to mine and places the most tender, slowest, softest kiss on my lips barely parting them before he whispers in my ear.

His stubble scrapes the side of my face as he whispers in my ear. “I hope I get to see you very, very soon.”

It was a little after 3:00 am when I heard the doorbell ring. I was so tired that my body practically pinned me to the bed.

It was only when music notes started floating into my ears that I even set up.

“Lady in red is dancing for me tonight.“

Chris de Burgh, Lady in Red was playing outside.

Before I could pull on any clothes to go to the window, I hear annoyed neighbours shout.

“What are you doing, shut up that noise. It’s three o’clock in the bleeding morning. Agnes, look at this boy!”

I pull my hoodie over my head and go to the window to look out just in time to hear Agnes say.

“He is handsome, isn’t he,” she says to her sister Mabel. The sisters lived in the rooftop apartment. They’d invited me up for tea and scones on their terrace. Not that I’d ever been.

“Ciara,” calls Liam. “Ciara I’ll sing out here all night if I have to.”

“Ciara led him in. Not many men want a girl who flashes her bits in a titty bar.”

Mabel cautions her sister. “They call them exotic dancers now.”

“I don’t care what they call them, she still takes her clothes off for money, and this young man is too handsome to be refused. Look at those muscles. And what a lovely suit.”

I looked down at Liam who is smiling up at the old lady with their hair in curlers giving them his bestI’m so sweet butter wouldn’t melt in my mouthsmile.

“Shut up, will ya, I’m trying to get some sleep,” shouts another neighbour, poking his head out of the window, his chest hair blowing in the night breeze.

“Open up, will you?” says Liam.

When I open the door. Liam looks dishevelled and tired.

“I thought you weren’t going to let me in?”

“I wasn’t,” I admit.

“I like this hoodie,” he says, backing me into my apartment closing the door behind him. He pulls at the black strings.

“I’m tired,” I say. “I want to sleep. My head hurts from whatever your uncle knocked me out with.”

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