Page 31 of Taming Irish

She doesn’t answer right away. “My divorce had enough media attention to last me a lifetime. Let’s just say, if I never see another reporter again, it will be toosoon.”

I study her, knowing if I go down this road of questions, I’m going to get more involved than I should. But she has my curiositypiqued.

“Who is he?” I’m starting to get the feeling that her ex is more than just some white-collar jackass who screwed hissecretary.

“Doesn’tmatter.”

Maybe it doesn’t. But I still want to know. I want to see the face of the asshat who obviously didn’t know what a lucky bastard hewas.

“I’m sorry he hurtye.”

I’ve never been a possessive man. Having a younger sister around who had no qualms about taking any of my things, I realized early on to not become too attached to material possessions. But I am protective. Fiercely so. Especially of those that I care about. And while the woman standing in front of me isn’t part of my close circle, I can’t help but feel a primal need to bash in the face of any bastard who caused herpain.

I stroke my thumb across her bottom lip, knowing I’m not walking away from this. Whatever the hellthisis.

“So ye don’t date celebrities,” I say. “But do ye have any qualms about being friends withthem?”

“Friends?” Her eyes squint suspiciously up atme.

“I’m sure ye have them over there in the States. Ye know, the people ye occasionally hang out with. Go to the pub and have a few drinkswith.”

She snorts. “I don’t go to manypubs.”

“See, now that’s something we’ll be needing to change. Are ye trying to tell me that ye’ve been in Ireland for four whole days, and ye haven’t been to a real Irishpub?”

A small smile tugs at her lips and she shakes herhead.

“Then we’llgo-”

“I told you, Ican’t-”

“Just friends,” I say, putting my hands up, even though I make no effort to move away fromher.

“And do you have sex with yourfriends?”

My shoulders lift and fall, and the grin that never seems to leave my face when I’m around her tugs at my lips. “Cillian, Owen, and Aiden aren’t really mytype.”

Her head tilts and she studies me. “They’re your bandmembers?”

“And my best friends. Since before we even knew what sexwas.”

“I have a feeling that was alongtime ago foryou.”

I wink and pull a full-dimple smile. “I was an earlybloomer.”

She gives me a look that says she believes me, then shakes her head on a sigh. “I could use another friendhere.”

Despite the way my cock aches to do more, I place a lazy arm over her shoulder and start to lead her towards the front door. “Then, let’sgo.”

“Where?” she askscautiously.

“Ye still owe me thatdate.”

“Friends, remember?” she says, her tone a warning, still eyeing meapprehensively.

I grin down at her, and agree. “Friends.” Then, I cock a brow and give her a heated look. “If ye don’t want to go out, we can always stayhere.”

“No.” A hint of a smile plays on her lips, but doesn’t quite break free. “The pub isfine.”

And a hell of a lot safer if I’m going to keep my promise to keep my hands tomyself.

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