Page 5 of A Seductive Beauty
I text my boss when I sit down.
Me: I’ll be in late tomorrow. She’s still unconscious and I want to be here.
Mrs. O’Sullivan: I understand. I have everything set for you to take off tomorrow, if you need too. Keep me posted.
Me: Thank you.
Mrs. O’Sullivan: Don’t worry about it.
She’s a great boss. I’m so glad I got a job at her shop. She was wanting to expand her bakery into offering more French pastries when she hired me. Not only did I have my training, but I’d also apprenticed with a French pâtissière who taught me techniques I didn’t learn in school. Mrs. O’Sullivan has been an exceptional boss. She acts like I’m her daughter and protects me. She doesn’t like Patrick at all and chases him off whenever he comes around the shop anymore. Tears roll down my face again.
I look up and see Mr. Tiernan watching me. He stands and walks toward me. My body locks up. Everything in me wants to rush to him, but I stay seated and wait to see what he’s going to do. I want to feel those arms around me again. I want to feel him against me. He reaches into the pocket of his jacket and pulls out a handkerchief. Our fingers brush as he hands it to me, and that zap happens again.
I lick my lips, and his eyes zero in on the movement. “Thank you,” I say softly, my words almost a whisper. He nods and turns his back to me as he returns to his seat. I watch his arse through his slacks. The way the muscles move. For the first time ever, I feel my body reacting to a man. I’m turned on. My nipples pebble behind my bra and ache. My body starts to respond. I lift the handkerchief to my face. It smells like him, and I try to hold the sigh in as I wipe my eyes.
I sit there wondering if I should return it to him, but then I’m distracted by new waiting room arrivals. A tall man with dark blond hair enters, his body ripped under his suit. Two dark-haired men with olive skin follow in next, and then I see her. I’m up and rushing across the room. Her mahogany hair and ice blue-gray eyes are recognizable even though it’s been a couple years since I’ve seen her. I plow into her and one of the dark-haired men holds us up from me knocking her down before he moves on toward Percy.
“Dani, I thought I lost her. I wouldn’t have anybody if she’s gone.” I cry in her arms.
“Fi, darling, you’d have me and Percy, you know that. Plus, I have a family now and they’d take you in too. But you also know she’s tough and wouldn’t just leave you.” Her arms squeeze me tightly.
“You should see her. She’s so broken. I just wish she wouldn’t do this to herself.” I know why she does it. I wish I could say I have healthy ways of dealing with my own parents, but I don’t race around a track playing with death.
“You and I both know why she does this.” Dani nods and I drop my head.
“I’m going to go wash my face.” I turn from her as the two men I saw in the hall earlier walk in and approach Mr. Tiernan. I make my way to the restroom where I splash my face and decide that since Dani and the other guys are here, I’ll head out for now.
Aidan
* * *
After I talk with Wesley about him and his team taking over Mikayla’s security, I watch as Fiona turns and heads out after Seamus and Grady enter. They both have been friends with me since we were young bairns. I trust them with my business and my life.
I watch as Fiona returns and walks over to the S.I. group. Daniella introduces her to the guys, and when the young man, Luca Trevino, takes her hand, I feel like storming across the room and ripping his arm from his body. Nobody should be touching her.
“Seamus, I have a job for you.” I try not to grind my teeth together when I talk to him.
“Boss?” He looks at me and then follows my line of sight.
“She was telling a guy he wasn’t her boyfriend earlier.” He supplies and I see red.
“What?”
“She said some wanker wouldn’t take no for an answer. I told her she needed to be firmer.”
It takes everything in me not to knock him out for talking to her. “Follow her and keep an eye on her.” I grit the words out through my teeth.
“Why?”
“She’s Mikayla’s cousin, and if Mikayla was targeted, maybe she will be too.” It’s a lame excuse but I’ll use whatever I can to make sure she’s taken care of.
“Can’t you just have Lex hack her security and the cameras around her place?” Shane adds.
“No. Just do as I ask.” I swallow and try to relax. “Please.” The guys look at me like I’ve lost my mind. I never beg, but I need to know she’s safe. That she’s not being targeted because of Mikayla. I can’t protect her myself, like something inside me wants me to do, because I’ll make her a target too. My enemies will come after her.
"Dani, I'm going to head back to my place. The girls are asking for an update. I can give you my key and codes for Kayla's place so you can stay there tonight." Fiona's soft voice floats across the room to me. Her voice is so soft most people would demand she speak up, but I love the gentle quality of it. I watch her as she talks to Daniella.
"Fi, that would be amazing." She gives them directions to Mikayla’s condo along with her key. I’ve already got a man on that location, and I’ll keep one there for them because they have a small team and will secure the hospital as long as Mikayla is here.
