Page 47 of Until Ireland

I swore under my breath. “Seems to me I haven’t done the best job in making my intentions clear enough to you, and that’s on me.” I leaned in to kiss her softly and with reverence. “This isn’t just practice for me, Ireland. I see us working toward a future. Together.”

I’d have told her I loved her. Would marry her tomorrow if I could and then plant my kid in her belly as soon as humanly possible. But Ireland wasn’t ready to hear those words right now, and as much as it pained me not to tell her, I kept my mouth shut. Knowing everything on her plate, I didn’t need her stressed, especially since I considered it my job to help eliminate her worry, not cause her more. Since she was my Boom, my one, we’d have lots of time in the future to express our love to each other.

For today, it could wait.

Ireland went silent, and I let her, not willing to push any further than I already had. Instead, I just held her in my arms while my ass went numb from sitting on the floor. In about a hot minute, Cobi was going to run out of patience and come looking for us both.

Which reminded me.

“When we’re done with Cobi, I’m taking you to the ranch house.” I expected her to tell me no, that she had work to do, which I planned to overrule and bring her to my—our home. As far as I was concerned her ass would be in my bed tonight. So, color me surprised when she gave a little head bob.

Heavy footsteps could be heard walking toward the closed door, followed by two hard, heavy knocks on the door to the office. Our time alone had come to an end, and without being told, I knew it was Cobi who stood on the other side of the door. Guess I should’ve been grateful to have gotten the time I had with Ireland, considering the stolen car was owned by me. In Cobi’s book, that made me a suspect.

Wrapping my hands around Ireland’s hips, I lifted her up and off my lap and onto her feet before bounding up myself. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Cobi stepped in. “I’ve already talked to Ireland and her brothers, so now we need to talk, Mack.”

No doubt, since I was now a suspect for a stolen car that could potentially be worth millions once it was restored. I nodded before leaning my desensitized ass against the desk, and I crossed my ankles. I’d done nothing wrong other than purchase a hot car. I had nothing to hide from Cobi.

He sighed. I knew from conversations with him in the past that this was the least favorite part of his job—investigating friends or, heaven forbid, family.

“It’s okay, Cobi. You’re just doing what you have to,” I told him.

Cobi watched me a long moment before proceeding. “Did you know the car was stolen, Mack?”

“Had no clue until about twenty minutes ago when Ireland informed me,” I answered.

“Don’t you run checks on the cars you purchase?” He queried, knowing damn well I did.

I sighed. “Yeah. I do prelims before I even bid. Macey then does a more extensive run after we have the vehicle in our possession. Unfortunately, she’s behind because of school, otherwise, I’d have known and called you the moment we found out.”

Cobi nodded. “Who’d you buy the car from?”

I told him, watching as he made notes in the pad he was holding.

“Had you ever purchased from them before?”

“No, I hadn’t.” I had a set number of auction houses I worked with and usually stuck to them. Told Cobi that too. I knew he was going to hit me with a follow-up question, so I beat him to the punch. “The 65’ is a rare find. Particularly in this good condition, considering the age of the vehicle. Hence why I bid on it.”

“Didn’t the status of the vehicle clue you that maybe something was off with the car?” he pressed.

I shrugged. “Not really. Finding this particular car in this condition, though infrequent, does happen. Hence why they’re rare. I’ve been on the lookout for one for the last seven years, hoping I’d get lucky. Thought I’d hit the jackpot when I heard through the grapevine that Lux had one coming up in their next auction. I went for it and took a risk. A risk, might I remind you, I’m paying highly for, since I’m out the initial up-front cost on the car. Won’t be a mistake I make twice.”

“And you have a buyer for it?” he pushed.

“Yup. The Aston was purchased with a specific person in mind. We’d already agreed on a price after it was restored. He’s the reason I’ve been looking for the last seven years, Cobi.”

Cobi nodded and smirked when Ireland moved in beside me, taking my hand like we were a united front. She didn’t have to say a word—her silent strength was enough for me. “Going to need your customer’s contact information.”

I rubbed at the back of my neck. “Yeah, I kind of figured, and I have no issues with giving you his information or you calling him to verify what I’ve told you. All I’m asking is to let me contact him first and fill him in on what’s going on before you make your call.”

One of the reasons I did so well was because my customers trusted me and often became repeats. The Aston would’ve been the tenth car this guy had purchased from me. So yeah, I had no desire for Cobi to talk to him before I did.

Cobi nodded. “Calling him is number thirty-five on my list of forty items, Mack, so you’re good.” Cobi’s gaze flickered to Ireland and then back to me. “This isn’t where you normally take your cars for repair work.”

It wasn’t.

Cobi knew it too. “Normally everything goes to Gareth. He told me he was slammed and wouldn’t be able to handle the magnitude of the job, and then he recommended Banks Automotive.” I dipped my head toward Ireland. “Said they were solid.”

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