Page 24 of Naughty Irish Liar

At least I knew she was as physically impacted by me as I was about her.

I wasn’t even three steps outside and I heard the door click behind me. Knew she’d followed me. My spine tightened.

“Ronan. Please, wait.”

“For what, little girl, playtime? Nah, it’s past time you went for a nap, don’t you think?”

She visibly recoiled, and I hated myself for hurting her, but I was so fucking angry she’d been snatched away from me.

“I didn’t mean to…”

“Mean to what? Lie so I’d get into your panties? You play a dangerous game, princess. One I won’t risk my fucking life on. Not for a cute face and a pair of small tits.”

I knew what I was saying. Deliberately being the asshole so I could walk away, so I didn’t let my fingers reach out and touch her cheek and tell her it was okay.

“Ronan. I’m sorry. This doesn’t have to be this way. I’ll be eighteen soon.” She begged and fuck me if I didn’t want to take her in my arms and comfort the tears glistening on her eyelashes. Standing there with her colt-like limbs and wet eyes and my own feelings in turmoil.

I hated her.

“You’re a kid, Catie. How could I ever want you? I fuck women and you’re far from grown. Go back to playing with your toys, little girl.”

I heard her stuttered hiccup. The pain in her eyes hit me upside the head like nothing else before. “You don’t mean that. You like me.You like me, Ronan.”

Like her? My heart was on fire.

I turned my face blank. “Be sure you’re grown if there’s a next time you see me. You won’t like what happens if not.”

I walked away with my gut on fire both from relief at a lucky-fucking-escape and the sense of loss I couldn’t understand.

And I never went back to that house again.

CHAPTER 7

Present

Catie

There was no need to be nervous. And yet I was. Fiercely so as I pushed off my jacket and tossed it over an armchair before facing him, slid off my pink framed glasses and they got tossed too.

The nerves intensified when I finally faced Ronan. Dark and watchful as ever with his long body and his hands pushed deep into the front denim pockets with his thumbs hooked on the outside.

I loved his somber expressions.

Goodness. He made my glands pulse and sweat.

Many times he burned hotter than a pan of bubbling oil.

Often he was cold and remote.

Whatever his moods I was attracted to him.

I was certain my full proof plan of getting him to fall for me just by my sheer magnetism could work. And maybe a few quips here and there would be enough. I didn’t know just being around Ronan again, seeing the hotness of the man he’d grown to be, would send my whole body into a dizzying riot.

I could barely breathe. What with his eyes on me. And the silence going on.

I kicked off my shoes. I definitely needed wine. So what if it wasn’t five o’clock in most parts of the world. I had a great aunt who was a raving—functional alcoholic, so I’d blame it on hereditary genes as I pulled open the fridge and grabbed a new bottle of Pinot.

“Wine?” I asked over my shoulder.

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