Page 36 of Taming Irish

“No, sweetheart. I’m fucking amazing. But asfriendsye’ll never know just how good I really am.” He winks. “Now, are ye going to let me show ye the lough, or would ye rather have lunchhere?”

The lough?I have no idea what that evenis.

Still, this whole Ireland thing is supposed to be about trying newthings.

An adventure, as Quinn wouldsay.

But I know, as I follow him outside, frowning when he passes his car and starts to walk down what looks like an incredibly steep hill, along a barely visible path, Shane is way more than I ever bargainedfor.

“Watch yer step,” he warns, taking my elbow as my foot catches on the exposed root of atree.

I swallow hard as I glance down the perilous trail. “Is thissafe?”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to ye, love. Trustme.”

The funny thing is, I do.Even though I probably shouldn’t. But he has a way about him. A natural charm that isn’t forced orfaked.

He’s still a self-admitted manwhore, Makena, my brain warns, and I follow him deeper into a wooded area, going further down.True. But, a manwhore with a good heart. I laugh out loud at thethought.

“Something ye’d like to share?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow, his hands still on me, guiding me down the path, even though I’ve clearly found myfooting.

Stopping, I glance up at him, the green of his eyes the same color as the dark foliage that surrounds us. “I’m just not quite sure how to takeyou.”

“Take me anyway ye like, Makena.” His lips twist in a grin that tells me he’d be more than willing to repeat our early morningencounter.

And, my God, I wantto.

He holds my gaze, electricity snapping and sparking between us. One more kiss. What would it hurt? It’s not like I’m looking for anything long-term right now. And he clearly isn’t,either.

I lean closer and his nostrils flare slightly, his lips part, and my whole body sets aflame with a need so intense I’m left breathless, my knees feeling like they might buckle beneathme.

Never in my life has a man had this much power over me. And even though it’s terrifying, it’s alsoexhilarating.

“Ye keep looking at me like that, love, and I’m not going to be able to keep that promise I made to yeearlier.”

“Promise?” I choke out, unaware of anything but the man whose mouth is mere inches frommine.

“Friends,” he says huskily as he drags his knuckles down my arm. “That is what yewant?”

“Right.” The word is out before I can clamp my lips around it, breaking themoment.

He straightens and nods, then turns and starts walking down the pathagain.

It takes me a few seconds before my legs are steady enough to followhim.

Shit.My body and mind war with each other, but it’s my damn heart that does a little sigh as I watch his muscles bunch and coil in his neck and back as I continue along thepath.

Who is this man? Everything I think I know about him, all the stereotypes I’ve created in my brain, are a complete contradiction with the way he’s been with me. But maybe that’s his game. I’ve been fooled once before. It’s not like I have a great track record for judging people’smotivations.

And yet, I can’t help but be swept up in his charm, and the possibility that maybe I really could be the woman, like Tommy said, to tame thisman.

Always a romantic fool,Makena.

Shane admitted himself that people don’t change. I’d already tried to change one man, and look how that turnedout.

It’s a good twenty minutes later when the trees start to thin, opening up to a large body of crystal bluewater.

This is thelough.

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