Page 37 of Aidan

The drive home is quiet.I’d planned on showing Sorcha a few more of the businesses we operate, but after that kiss I need some time alone to process it. My reaction had been completely unexpected. This is Sorcha. Of course I’m attracted to her, but that went far beyond attraction. That was jealousy. Possessiveness. I’ve never wanted to maim or dismember either of my brothers over a woman before. But I’d been seconds away from snapping when Finn flirted with her.

I pull through the iron gate and make my way down the lane to park behind Da’s vehicle. Sorcha and I walk through the front door of the manor.

“I’m going to go get some work done. You okay by yourself for a little while?” I do my best to keep my tone level.

She glances at me with an unreadable expression. “I’m sure I can find something with which to entertain myself.”

“See you at lunch?”

“Yeah.”

I nod and head to the library. As soon as I walk in, I close the doors and go straight to the bar to pour myself a drink. I throw it back in a single swallow then lean into my palms on the edge of the wooden surface.It was just a kiss. How many times will I have to tell myself that before I start to believe it?

I push off the bar, pour myself another drink, and head for the back corner of the library where I set up a desk for the times I want a little bit of privacy.

Pulling my keyring from my pocket, I find the one I want and insert it into the keyhole of the top desk drawer. Lying undisturbed inside is a leather-bound journal and several charcoal pencils. I grab one and the notebook and close the drawer. While I sip my whiskey, I focus on the project in front of me. It normally takes me a while to start something new, but not this time. My hand flies across the page, lines forming shapes, shapes forming a subject.

I lose myself in the drawing. My fingers ache, but I keep at it like demons are nipping at my heels. They won’t stop until I finish what I started. Shadows get shaded in with varying shades of gray giving the image texture and depth. Giving it—her—life. After the last line is drawn, I set down the pencil and lean back to admire the work. Jesus, it’s perfect. Not because I drew it, but because it’s her. There’s arousal in her eyes. Her hair lies in tousled waves around her shoulders. Plump lips shine with moisture. Lips whose flavor I can still taste. Sorcha looks exactly how she did after that kiss.

The one that’s not supposed to mean anything.

CHAPTER18

Sorcha

The living areaAidan shares with Finn is quiet and empty. Aisling is helping Nora with lunch in the kitchen and I’m not sure where the boys have taken themselves off to after they announced they were heading outside. It’s been just me since Aidan and I returned from Dublin and he ran off to hide. The kiss in the elevator spooked him. Or maybe not so much the kiss itself, but his reaction to it. I’ve known him long enough to tell he’d been unnerved. A tiny flicker of hope, maybe, for this to work between us still hums in my veins.

I sink into the chair with a sigh. After multiple phone calls and more than two hours, I finally have the twins and Aisling enrolled in their schools. Come Monday, they’ll be back to classes. Which will leave my days entirely free. The prospect is terrifying. I’m not used to idleness. Already my skin is getting itchy.

In the distance, someone knocks on a door. Seconds pass and feminine voices drift into the room. I sit up. Should I go out and greet whoever it is? No, that’s a bit presumptuous of me. It could be anyone. Footsteps approach and then an auburn-haired woman maybe a few years younger than me and a glasses-wearing brunette around my age step into the room. I nearly jump up from the chair and smooth my palms down my thighs.

“Damn, Aidan has good taste,” the former says as her gaze scans me from head to toe. I flush under her scrutiny. “No wonder he’s kept you all to himself.”

“I’m sorry?”

The brunette rolls her eyes and steps forward with an outstretched hand. “You’ll have to excuse Caitlín. The filter from her brain to her mouth is broke. Hi, I’m Nessa, Cian’s girlfriend. And this, as you might have guessed, is Aidan’s cousin.”

Still processing Caitlín’s comment, I shake Nessa’s hand. “I’m Sorcha.”

“Oh, we know,” she says kindly. “Word has been traveling through the family for a few days. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You as well.”

“Welcome to the family.” Caitlín forgoes the handshake completely and gives me a giant hug. “Once we heard what Aidan had done, we couldn’t wait to meet you. I’m glad he could give two middle fingers to Liam. That twat needs to be brought down a peg or two. I don’t know how Imogen puts up with his ass.”

The brunette—Nessa—winces. “He’s trying.”

Caitlín side-eyes her. “Yeah, trying to be a major prick.”

Yikes. Not wanting the conversation to escalate into an argument, I clear my throat. “Thank you for stopping by. I’ve been wanting to meet you both. Aidan has told me a lot about you.”

“That makes one of us.” Caitlín pouts. “He hasn’t been forthcoming with information about you other than you’re getting married so he could pay off your Da’s debt and that you have three much younger siblings. Which is why we’re here. We wanted to invite you out to lunch so we could get to know you.”

Oh. “That’s very nice of you, thank you.”

“She’s not being entirely altruistic. Caitlín is nosy and likes to be in everyone’s business,” Nessa says with a laugh.

Aidan’s cousin shrugs, completely unapologetic. “Sue me. Anyway, lunch?”

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