Page 41 of Tempting Irish

“This,” I say, brushing my thumb across it. “Tell me aboutit.”

She tries to pull her arm back, but I hold her. Her gaze drops to the floor, and she pulls her bottom lip between herteeth.

“Beatrice,” I demand, using her real name to remind me who she reallyis.

“That’s not my name.” She yanks her arm back, this time with enough force that I have to release her or hurther.

I drop myhand.

She’s hiding things. I feel it in mygut.

Pain and hurt wraps around her like a cocoon, and I have a feeling I won’t like what I find if I keep digging. But there’s something inside me that needs to know more abouther.

Because I want to protect myfamily.

That’s the reason. It has nothing to do with the insatiable need to touch her. To possessher.

Fuck.

I lean back, watching the struggle that wars in her features. The insecurities that battle against the walls she’s constructed around herself. And I see the child she once was in the woman she is now. The same damn loneliness that always haunted those blueeyes.

Laughter floats through the restaurant from where the others aredancing.

Bree glances towards them, a small smile pulling at herlips.

“You’re lucky,” she says, watching them. “To have them. To have each other. Iwish…”

My chest hurts for the words she leaves left unsaid. Because I see the longing in hereyes.

“I’m sorry ye had to moveaway.”

Her lips tighten and she lets out a small sigh. “Even if I hadn’t, I was never part of your group. I was always just the annoying kid that followed youaround.”

“Ye’rewrong.”

“Am I?” Her eyes remain on thegroup.

Damn, the emotion that stirs inside me, wanting to wipe the sadness off her beautifulface.

“Come on,” I say, standing. “Dance withme.”

“Why?” Her brows drop insuspicion.

“Because I don’t want another one of Emer’s lectures. Which I’ll get if I let ye sit here brooding all night.” I take her hand and pull her to herfeet.

“I’m not the one brooding,” she says, angling her chin atme.

My palm on her lower back, I lead her towards the others, ignoring the smile Emer gives me. Dancing with Bree will probably only encourage whatever plan she’s plotting, but I’m pretty sure I can’t win no matter what I do rightnow.

“Are you ever going to give me my bags back?” Bree asks, her body molded to mine as we move to themusic.

“Ye’re the one that left them in myroom.”

“You could have had a porter send themdown.”

“I could have,” I agree,smirking.

She rolls her eyes. “I used to think you were the nicebrother.”

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