Page 18 of Bargain with the Irish Devil
“Good mornin’, darlin’. You’re looking beautiful. Lydia has a gift.”
“Who is Lydia?” The words are out without my permission, hating the way he smiles as he says her name.
The smile changes and becomes wicked and knowing, flashing dimples.“The personal shopper. She specializes in helping women find clothes that fit plus sizes since there are so few designers. I had a cousin visit me a few years ago, and her luggage was lost. Lydia brings all the clothes to one place, so there’s no need to go from store to store. Do not be thinking bad thoughts of her. She’s recently married, and her husband is a possessive man who would have no problem making me pay for simply smiling at the woman.”
I roll my eyes as Aoife brings a plate to the table.
Declan slides it across to me.“Eat. I’ll wait until Aoife makes more.”
Opening my mouth to argue, he cuts me off with a firm shake of his head. “I won’t be eating while you look at me doing it. It will only take her a few minutes.”
Embarrassed. I give in. I’m starving.
“Coffee, dear?” Aoife asks as she brings a pot to the table.
I nod. “Yes, please.”
“Here’s the cream. Declan won’t use anything else.” She sets an adorable small pitcher of cream on the table.
There’s a small matching bowl on the table with a lid for sugar. I put a few spoonfuls into the large, heavy cup of coffee.
Declan’s phone chimes. A frown appears before he answers the text.
“Am I at least going to get my purse back?”I ask while I remember.
A soft chuckle.“No. It’s not as though you have any need for it or your phone. You don’t call anyone.”
Ouch. Fucker. “Is the blond guy going to be babysitting me again?” More for anything to say than because I actually care.
He loses his smile. “Why does it matter if Colm is here? Did he say something to you? Do you want him to?”
The change in him is shocking. He’s the mobster I thought of him as, a man who beat people—killed people.
I shake my head. “No, I’m just curious. I didn’t even think to get his name.”
His face softens, but there’s still no smile. “It’s Colm. You seemed more comfortable with him than Ryan. However, do not become too comfortable with him. If you do, I’ll have to kill him.”
“Why would you do that?” Horror fills me at how calmly he says it.
“Because I don’t want to have to worry about him touching you. No one touches you but me. Do you understand?”Still that eerie calm.
I nod, unable to find my voice. He will kill someone over me? And I’m completely fucked in the head for it to turn me on. Michael frequently had me dressing with my breasts on show when we went to client dinners. Once a man grabbed my ass and explicitly said how he’d like to fuck me. When I complained to Michael, he shrugged and said to quit being such a prude.
The back door opens. It’s the tall, dark man again—Ryan. “That cat is the devil. She scratched me all to hell. But she’s in the cage, Declan.”
“Banshee? What are you doing to her?”
“There’s a rescue in St. Louis who will take her. The vet's office works with them. They were already on their way to Chicago this morning. Ryan, go on and take her to the vet. I need a little longer to have breakfast. By the time you’re back, I’ll be ready.”
“You can’t get rid of her. She loves you.” I’m fighting tears for the demon cat.
An eyebrow goes up.“While I have a soft spot for the cat, she comes and goes as she pleases. She rarely came into the house more than twice a week. She’s also a cat. You’re allergic, and she scratched you. There is no way in hell she’s getting the chance to do it again.”
I want so badly to argue. Only Aoife is back with a plate of eggs and bacon. He turns his attention to his food.
“I feel bad,” I mutter.
“Don’t.” It’s an order.
