Page 98 of Tempting Irish

“Bree,” I shoutagain.

This time, she turns, frowning when she seesme.

Definitely not the reaction I was hopingfor.

“What are you doing here?” she asks when I pull her from theline.

“I came here to stop ye from getting on thatplane.”

“Why?”

“Because I want ye to stay,” I say breathlessly, placing both palms on her cheek. “I want to try and make thiswork.”

She lets out a shuddering breath. “Owen, Ican’t-”

I silence her protests with akiss.

There are tears in her eyes when I pullaway.

“Stay,” Idemand.

Her breath comes out shaky. “And thenwhat?”

“I don’t know. I just know I don’t want ye toleave.”

A small smile tugs at her lips, but she shakes her head. “There are things I need to dealwith-”

“If this is about that lawyer. You don’tneed-”

She pulls back, confusion in her eyes. “How do you know about that? I never toldyou…”

Shit.

Her blue eyes widen, emotion swirling as she pins me with alook.

Hurt.

Betrayal.

Disbelief.

I need to make this right.Quickly.

“I had someone look into it.” My words rushout.

“It, meaning me. You didn’t trust me, so you had someone dig into my past?” She snorts and shakes her head, but I can see the tears she’s trying to hold back, the emotion that threatens to spill over onto her cheeks. “So, all of this was just a way of you keeping an eye on me? It meantnothing.”

I’m aware of the damn cellphones that are out and pointed at us, probably videotaping every moment.Fuck. Fuck.Fuck.

“Bree-”

“No. Don’t.” She looks around at all the people circling us. “I wouldn’t want to tarnish yourreputation.”

“I was trying to helpye.”

“If you want to help me, then walkaway.”

I don’t care about the fucking phones recording this, because I know if I let her get on that damn plane, I’ll lose her forever. And I’m not ready forthat.

---