Page 219 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“I’m sorry,” I whisper the words I came here to say. The words to end everything we’ve ever shared. He stares down at me, his face impassive, then he releases me and walks back to the other side of the desk before retaking his seat.

“Close the door on your way out, Miss Jones.”

I lean against the door briefly after I’ve closed it, immediately flooded with regret.

I never did get a photo.

* * *

I stare at the door,my heart still pounding in my chest.

Am I about to make another mistake? Should I do this in a more public place after what just happened with Eoin? I don’t want a repeat performance.

Liar.

I don’t knock. I push the door open and step inside, scanning the space to take in my surroundings. It’s the first time I’ve been in Irish’s office. Everything is either polished silver, white, or black. The desk grabs my attention. It’s metal, the top finished in leather.

My eyes are then drawn to the walls, each crammed floor-to-ceiling with legal tomes and what I suspect is contract paraphernalia, all of which are organized and displayed alphabetically for ease of reference on tall metal shelving units.

I never knew Padraig was so structured. His persona is obviously nothing more than a smokescreen suggesting that he never takes things too seriously. He does. It would appear he takes his Duster duties extremely seriously.

If we worked side by side, I’m sure I could help him rein in his bloodthirsty ways so he could represent his family organization in the outside world. But we won’t work together. We will never work together.

My gaze drifts to him, taking in his toned form as he leans back in his chair with every inch of defined muscle straining deliciously against the white fabric of his shirt. If he was wearing a tie today, it’s been discarded. The top two buttons of his shirt are undone. My eyes drift to the exposed skin, and my mouth waters.

Lick. Suck. Bite. I want to do all three.

Get a grip, Jaine.

My gaze rises to full lips and perfect features before landing on laughing eyes of ice blue.

“Are you done blatantly admiring me, darlin’?”

No. I’m not done. I will never be goddamn done.

He closes his laptop. He’s letting me know that he is now my captive audience. I now have his undivided attention, and I don’t know what to do with it. I watch as he slowly rolls up his sleeves—another O’Connell who means business. I lick my lips. I want to be on the receiving end of whatever that business is.

I stare at his muscular forearms as he leans them on the desk, his expression switching from joking to intense. I think I like the intense Padraig O’Connell just as much.

I try to find the words, but nothing seems fitting, so instead of trying to put them eloquently, I decide just to say it how it is.

“I’ve loved you since I was nineteen years old.” Tears of self-pity immediately prick my eyes as I suddenly feel overcome with emotion. “I don’t know why Fate chose to keep us apart, but he did. He then decided to put me on a different path and, in doing so, made it impossible for me to ever rejoin yours.” He knows exactly what I’m saying. How could I ever be with him now? How could I ever choose between him and his brother? “We were meant, Irish. We both know that. You’re right. Our soulshavealways been intertwined. I guess all we can hope is that we’re allowed to be together in our next life. I love you. I will always love you. I want you to know that.”

My heart skips a beat as he stands, my gaze drifting slowly over him.

“Are we really to be star-crossed lovers, Jaine?”

I smile sadly. “Unlike Romeo and Juliet, at least we get to live to tell the tale.” We survived, but for what? To face a lifetime of regrets and what-ifs?

I swallow thickly as he walks slowly toward me. I know exactly what he’s going to do.

Do it.

He doesn’t stop until he has me pressed right up against the door.

One hand grips my waist, and the other fists my hair, causing me to whimper. He smirks. He clearly likes that sound. He stares down at me. Duke’s right. I don’t need to hear what I can already feel.

Love.

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