Page 15 of Taming Irish

Chapter 4

Shane

“Welcome home,”Owen says over his shoulder when I walk into the sound room of our studio, where he’s currently recording his wife, Bree’s secondalbum.

Bree waves to me on the other side of the glass, then takes off her headphones and starts toward the door, her dark hair falling in waves down her back. Sometimes, I still can’t believe she’s the same scrawny little kid who used to follow us around all those yearsago.

“Well?” Owen asks, turning tome.

“Another waste of a trip.” I toss my carry-on bag on the floor and sit down in the chair beside him, spreading my long legs out in front of me. “The kid had a good set of lungs, but there was just no chemistry between theband.”

“Shit. I really thought they had something.” His brows furrow and his lips pulldown.

Finding real talent for the label has been more difficult than either of us thought. Sure, there are more than a half dozen want-to-be startup bands in every town on both sides of the Atlantic, but it takes more than just a guy with a decent voice and a couple of guitar lessons to make astar.

Theitfactor isn’t something you can teach. You either have it or you don’t. And the group I’d gone to scout in New York, didn’t. Which meant more wasted time and money when we should just be making the fucking musicourselves.

I grind my back teeth and hold back the rant that’s been stirring inside of me for months. It’s giving me a goddamn ulcer trying to hold itin.

I’m about to let it all spill out, when the dooropens.

Owen’s frown instantly turns into a goofy grin when Breeenters.

Jeezus, the hold these chicks have on my guys is practically tangible. Trouble is, I can’t even hate her for it because she’s not just Owen’s wife; she’s my cousin. And despite, or maybe in spite of, her shy awkwardness, she’s hard not tolike.

Owen stands and pulls her into his arms. “That last take wasgood.”

Bree shrugs, never completely happy with any of her performances, despite how fucking talented the womanis.

“How was your trip?” she asks me, while leaning into Owen, her fingers threading with his, like the two of them have some kind of magnetic field that makes it impossible for them not totouch.

I sit down in one of the leather swivel chairs and rough my hands over myface.

“That good, huh?” She gives me a sympathetic look, one that tells me she gets my annoyance. And I know, in a way, she does. As talented as she is, an injury left her unable to play any instrument without it causing severe pain. She knows the frustration of not being able toplay.

At least I can still pick up a guitar, or the sticks, and drum myself into a mindless oblivion whenever the need arises. My fingers tap out a rhythm on my thigh, needing the outlet even more after Makena’s rejection on the plane, since they didn’t get the chance to do the second-best thing they’re goodat.

I haven’t been able to think about anything other than strumming that sweet, curvy body of hers, and making her sing my name as she comes on my mouth and then my cock. But I doubt I’ll be getting a call fromher.

Despite the connection I know she felt, she wore her reservation like a giant, blinking billboardsign.

Her loss.Even as I think it, I know the truth.I want her. And whoever she finally does turn to for the release she so desperately needs, will be one luckybastard.

“Have ye talked with the guys about starting another album?” I ask Owen, turning my thoughts to the one thing that does matter – the music. “Ye’ve written more than enough songs to get usstarted.”

“Until Delaney pops, Cillian isn’t leaving her side.” Owen releases Bree and turns back to the soundboards, turning themoff.

“Then have him move her to Dublin while they’re waiting. If we don’t put some new material out soon, we’re going to beobsolete.”

Owen gives me one of his grins, like he’s dealing with a child who doesn’t know half the shit he does. “I think we have some time before thathappens.”

“Tell that to the woman on the flight home,” I mutter, agitated, rubbing the back of my neck. “She didn’t have a clue who Iwas.”

Owen chuckles. “I’m sure she knew exactly who ye were by the time ye were done withher.”

Bree slaps hisshoulder.

“What?” Owen asks, completely serious. “Am Iwrong?”

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