Page 86 of Dirty Eoin

She snakes her arms around my shoulders as she stares up at me before putting on her well-rehearsed pout. I look at her lips briefly then raise my gaze to meet hers.

“Because I won’t cheat on my wife.” Again, I just say it how it is because, in every sense of the word, Jaine is now exactly that.

There’s a deafening silence.

I watch as Molly’s eyes drift to my neck. I’m doing nothing to hide thehickies.

Her face pales as she drops her arms to her sides. “You’ve been sleeping with her,” she whispers in disbelief.

I don’t reply. There’s no point. It’s obvious that’s the case.

She glares at me. “You’ve been cheating on me with her.”

“Not cheating. Last night was the first time we were ever intimate. She insisted I end things with you beforehand. I had to give her my word that I would before she would consent to anything happening between us.”

She laughs bitterly as she steps back. “So, this is you finally getting around to letting the third party in the triangle know that she’s been dumped.” There’s a pause, then she frowns. “If it’s just to keep Finian safe, then why do you have to have a physical relationship with her?” She nods slowly, a wry smile crossing her face before she finally answers her own question. “Roisin was right all along, wasn’t she? You do have feelings for her.”

I don’t reply. Not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t. I don’t have that answer. I’m not sure if I have feelings for Jaine or not. What I do know is that I want her.

Crave her. Desire her.

“Do you love her?”

“No.”

“Do you love me?”

“No.”

I’m as honest as I can be.

Silence. We’ve spent several intimate months together and now neither of us knows what to say. I verbally promised to make her my wife, and now here I am reneging on that because deep down I know that having now had a taste of Jaine, I will never be able to stay away from her. And that’s not fair on Molly.

I turn to look out the window once more. “I’m sorry, Molly, but you deserve better than anything I can offer you.”

“Bullshit!” she snaps. “You’re saying that to appease your guilt. We both know you’re doing this for yourself. Not for me. Not for Jaine. Not for Finian or for Paddy. You’re doing this for Eoin. You’ve fallen for the same woman as your brother. So, tell me, how will you explain all of this to him? That you’ve effectively stolen his life?”

I frown. The view is no longer of interest. She has a valid point. I know how this all looks. But it wasn’t like that. None of this was intentional or pre-planned. Until I was forced into taking the vows with Jaine, I was set on marrying Molly. Not that she would ever believe that now.

I turn to face her once more. “He’s living in Sicily, working remotely and with no return date scheduled. He could be due back tomorrow. He may never return. He’s also married. Nothing can change the latter.”

“How very convenient for you.” Her tone is bitter as she stands. “Very well. I’m not going to beg to be in a relationship with you when you don’t want to be in one with me. But know this, Eoin. My da won’t take kindly to you humiliating me in this way. He won’t take kindly to Jaine humiliating me in this way either. With that in mind, I can’t be held responsible for whatever action he may or may not decide to take.”

She turns and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind her. It’s my guess that’s the last I’ll ever see of Molly McGrath. Whether I hear from her da is another matter.

She’s completely right. I have dishonored her, and in turn, I’ve dishonored her family. And in this life, you reap what you sow. It may amount to nothing. Then again, the Dusters have so many enemies. What’s one more?

My curiosity is piqued. I’m surprised she never threw in my face the fact that she saved my life.

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

JAINE

Jaine’s Apartment, Upper East Side, New York

Eoin:I’ll be at your apartment imminently. Be there.

I stareat the message on the screen.

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