Page 111 of Broken Blood Ties

Her shoulders roll back, and she pulls the waistband of her leggings. “You said sushi. I came prepared with stretchy pants.”

I grin at her, staring. How can she be both adorable and sexy at the same time? The outfit is casual, and instead of being concerned she doesn’t look the part of mob wife, I’m wondering how I got so lucky. I’ve always been the lucky one when it comes to Summer.

When she clears her throat, I blink, caught staring too long, but I love the rosy tint that spreads across her cheeks.

I tilt my head back toward my office. “Come on. Lunch is here.”

She eagerly jumps at the word lunch and follows me as I balance the two glasses back with me.

“See ya, Finn. Don’t forget to wash your dentures when you’re done eating.”

“Oye! Come off it!” Finn yells, as Callum snickers.

She erupts with a laugh, and something warm kindles in my chest as we approach the door to my office.

I open it, walking through and set the water down on my desk.

When I look back, Summer has paused at the threshold. “Jeez. What’d you do? Order the whole menu?”

“I didn’t know what ye would like.”

Her mouth drops open. “Youdidorder the whole menu!”

I shrug. “It suddenly feels silly.” And the room suddenly feels too confined.

Summer’s face softens, and she averts her eyes. “It’s not silly at all.”

I move around to my side of the desk and gesture for her to sit. She does, scooting a chair up to my desk. I hand her a pair of chopsticks, and she digs into the California roll right next to her.

Giggling, she says, “An Irishman and an Italian sitting together for sushi. There’s got to be a joke in there somewhere.”

I laugh, shoving a spicy tuna roll into my mouth.

Having Summer here is way better than working. Her presence relaxes me, and in my job, anything that relieves stress is worth keeping close. Even listening to the way her mind works; I want to know everything she’s thinking. What does she want out of life? Because whatever it is, I want to give it to her.

* * *

A groan leaves Summer’s mouth as she leans back in her chair. “If I eat one more thing, I think I’ll combust.”

“I’ll have Lizzy come box it up, and we’ll bring it back to the house,” I say. There’s no way I’m ready for her to leave after the two hours we spent eating and talking. I half expected there to be some tension between us from our kiss or the tantalizing camera moments, but there wasn’t.

Summer talked about her early days in Boston, and I shared a bit about my childhood growing up under my father. We actually had some funny parallelled stories, having both been the children of mafia leaders.

I stand, offering her my hand. “Come on. Want to see the ring?”

She slams her hands down on the chair. “Liketheboxing ring?”

“Aye.” I smile.

“You don’t happen to call it your precious, do you?”

Stuffing my hands into my pocket, I smirk and stroll around the desk leaning down to Summer’s ear from behind her. “Ye mouth is going to get ye in trouble, love.”

A shiver vibrates down her back, but she shifts her head ever so slightly, so her sensuous mouth is inches from mine. It draws my gaze, and I can’t help but strum her bottom lip with my thumb.Aye, this mouth will be the death of me.I swipe once more, and her delicate onyx lashes flutter.

I pull away from the darkened pools gazing at me, luring me into the depths of lush Summer. Kissing her would be easy. With her quickened breaths and raspy whimpers, this moment could take a turn, and I have half a mind to let it. But as quickly as those thoughts bludgeon me mercilessly, I refrain from pressing into her. Instead, I retreat, swallowing the dryness in my throat and offering one final flick to her sultry bottom lip.

Lunch, our discussions—this happening right now. As much as my body craves this, knowing her, learning about her, it’s all more important than letting this bleeding fantasy play out in my office. Although, Iwillrevisit this.

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