Page 28 of A Seductive Beauty
“We are attending the event together. There is a gown upstairs for you. I had Brigid help me pick it out for you.”
“Brigid helped?”
“Yes. Now run upstairs and get this flour off your cute nose then change into it. We only have a couple hours. I’ll be up to shower shortly.”
“Okay.”
I set her down and she heads out of the kitchen. I hold myself back from chasing after her.
“Oh.” She pauses. “Tell the guys I made dinner. It’s in the oven.” It’s the little things like that that make me fall for her more. She takes care of my brothers. Cook hasn’t had to make a meal since Fiona has been here.
“I’ll let them know.”
I know Seamus is waiting just inside the gun room doorway to talk to me and Shane will be back soon, so I look at the fridge and count backward in my head to control the erection that is almost constant.
“I like her,” Seamus says from behind me. I whip around and have him pinned to the wall with my blade at this throat. “I like her for you,” he continues. “She complements you. She is what you’ve needed for a long time.” I pull the blade away.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know how it feels.” He mumbles the last part.
I look at him. He’s been running off every night. He doesn’t have to guard Fiona any longer, so I don’t know where he runs off to. I turn away from him and wait for Shane to return and tell me who our detail will be for the night.
An hour and a half later, Fiona walks down the stairs toward me. She’s in a long-sleeved black dress that comes to her ankles. The dress is mostly a see-through black mesh except for a black miniskirt that lands mid-thigh and a black panel over her breasts and abdomen. It’s elegant and alluring in one package. When she reaches the bottom of the stairs, she turns around to show me the back. It’s completely see-through mesh except for the miniskirt. All the important parts are covered, but I want to slip off my black tuxedo jacket to cover her still. She is wearing a pair of black cage style five-inch high heels with a closed toe. Her hair is up in a smoothed bun at the back of her neck. Her eye makeup is dark and her long lashes are darkened to accentuate their length and make her look more doe-eyed. Her lips have a touch of pale pink; the fuller bottom lip is begging me to suck it into my mouth.
I reach out and pull her along out the door. I hold her hand so I don’t ravish her the whole way to the gallery where the event is taking place.
We pull up and Shane opens the door. I exit and reach in to help her out. We walk toward the entrance with me holding her against my body, and a chill runs down my spine. We are being watched. I knew this was a possibility. I want whoever is after her to know they will have to go through me to get to her.
We step through the double doors into the crowded space. The gallery is a large industrial building with exposed beams. Art lines the walls.
“What is this event for?” Fiona asks.
“All the artwork and photographs are by veterans. It’s all being auctioned off to help support veteran programs.”
She smiles, her face lighting up. I knew she would love this as much as I do.
“What are you looking for?”
“I was looking for a couple pieces. One for the drawing room at the house and a piece for the hall of the office.”
“Can I help you look?” she asks, her voice so soft I barely hear her over all the noise in the open space.
“I was hoping you would.” I lift her chin to look at me. The urge to kiss her consumes me, but I can’t in front of all these people.
“Hey, Aidan,” a deep voice says, and we turn to see David Jarieth walking up to us. He’s dressed in an all-black tuxedo. His hair is longer than the last time we video chatted.
“Hello, David, welcome to Belfast.” I reach out and shake his hand. “This is Fiona Griffin.” I introduce Fiona as I wrap my arm around her and pull her to me so he doesn’t get any ideas. He chuckles as he takes her hand.
“Hello, I’m David Jarieth.”
“You’re an American?” She smiles at him, and I regret bringing her here. She is charming him when she should only be charming me.
“Yeah. A New Yorker now. I met Aidan when he reached out to me to help him put this together. I work in the States promoting veteran causes.” I watch as he steps closer to her side and I decide that’s enough of him moving in on my girl.
“We are going to go in search of a couple pieces.” I pull her away.
“I’ll catch up with you later. This is amazing. Thank you for setting this up, Aidan,” he says as another person grabs his attention.
