Page 53 of Tempting Irish

I suck in a shaky breath at her bluntness, and blink down ather.

“I’ve practically raised ye since ye were a little boy. Ye think I didn’t know how ye felt abouther?”

I clench my back teeth and look away, heat warming my neck and creeping into my cheeks. “Ye don’t know what ye’re talkingabout.”

“I do.” The hardness of her tone is gone, replaced with sympathy. “Emer showed me that letter. I knew Aiden didn’t write it. The boy could barely write his name legibly, and I knew yer printing. Knew yer words, and yerheart.”

“Ye didn’t sayanything.”

“No. Because I knew it wouldn’t make any difference. My girl has been in love with that boy since she was a child.” Agnus places a hand on my arm and smiles sadly. “I don’t deny ye’ve always cared about Emer. But ye don’t love her the way ye think ye do. Ye never have. I think ye always knew she’d never be yers, which made hersafe.”

I shake my head, even though I hear the truth in herwords.

“Ye’re a good boy, Owen,” Agnus says, patting my hand like I’m still a child and not a grown man that towers over her. “But ye’ve always been so worried about everyone else. So afraid that they’d leave ye. I know how hard it was when yer mother left. How difficult it’s been for ye to let anyone else in that big heart of yers. Ye’ve wrapped yer whole world around a few people. It’s time to let other peoplein.”

I hate how right she is. And how fucking terrified her words make me feel. Never pegged myself for a coward. But it’s what I feel rightnow.

Across the lobby, Bree exits the restaurant, her cheeks filling with color when she sees me. I’m blocking her path to the elevators, and she looks around like she doesn’t know if she should flee out the lobby doors, or go back into therestaurant.

“Ye’ll do the right thing. Ye always do.” Agnus squeezes my hand, then walks back into the restaurant, patting Bree’s arm before shedoes.

The thing is, I don’t know what the right thingisright now. But it’s probably not the dirty things my body begs to do to Bree as she slowlyapproaches.

As much as Agnus was trying to help, her words only increased the pressure I’m alreadyfeeling.

“I’m sorry,” Bree mutters when she reaches me. “About the note. Iwas-”

“It doesn’t matter,” I sayroughly.

“It does. If I’d toldher-”

“No. It. Doesn’t,” I say a little too harshly, making her flinch. I know Agnus was right. “It changesnothing.”

“Still, I’msorry-”

“No more apologies, Bree.” I step towards her, watching her eyes widen, her cheeks flush at the nearness of my body. “No more lies. Promiseme.”

“I promise.” She says the words softly, glancing down at thefloor.

I reach past her, my arm brushing against her shoulder, and press the elevator button, needing some time to sort out my thoughts. Needing my guitar and a notepad to channel the angst that’s been crippling me for toolong.

“Just tell me why ye did it? Why ye told Emer the note was from Aiden. Did I do something to hurtye?”

She inhales a small, unsteady breath before admitting, “No.”

“Thenwhat?”

Her tongue darts out over her bottom lip and she exhales unevenly before she says, “I saw the way you looked at her. And I wanted it to be me.” Her hand goes to my chest, resting there for asecond.

The elevator doors open, and she drops her hand, stepping in. “I guess we both know something about caring for someone who’ll never feel the same way. I’m sorry I was the cause of yourpain.”

“We’ll talk later,” I say, rubbing the back of myneck.

“Sure.” She gives me a forced smile, and I see the resignation in her eyes as the doors close in front ofher.

Damnit.

Chase after the girl, ye idiot, my hearthammers.

I start to press the elevator button, with every intention of doing it, thenstop.

Before I allow my heart or cock to make any more decisions concerning her, I need to get my head screwed on. And that just isn’t possible when she’s anywhere nearme.

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