Page 55 of Charlie
I managed to get a few more hours of sleep before I called Kit and asked if we could meet up.
She gave me an address that took me to Liffey Street in central Dublin and when I climbed the stairs and entered the apartment, it was clear that it wasn’t an office but a private home.
“You live here?” The place didn’t have much furniture and seemed void of colors. A large sectional leather sofa took up most of the living room where a large TV with game equipment stood. There were nails on the walls but no paintings hung there.
“No, this is my brother’s place. He lets me use it sometimes if I have business downtown.”
“He’s not much of a decorator, is he?”
Kit looked around. “Oh, I see what ye mean, but that’s because his girlfriend more or less emptied the place when she moved out.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Two, three months, I reckon. He’s better off without her. Damian has awful taste in women, if ye ask me.”
“Ye know that I can hear ye…” a deep male voice came from the bedroom, and I turned to see a tall man walk out while putting on a t-shirt. His red hair was copper where Kit’s was close to orange and he had brown eyes where she had blue. The mere glimpse I got of his upper body was enough to see that this man spent a good amount of time in a gym.
Kit pointed to him and back to me. “This is Liv, who is a client from Chicago, and that’s my little brother Damian. Our da had him with his second wife, Lucy, who he met in Thailand after he split from my ma. That’s why he looks so exotic.”
“Hello.” He gave me a charming grin that reminded me of Joey fromFriends. Like it was a smile he’d studied in the mirror, designed to make women swoon.
“Hey. So, you’re the SWAT brother.”
Damian’s brow rose and then he smiled again. “I am. Did my sister already tell ye about me?”
“Yeah, she mentioned you.”
“Briefly,” Kit cut in, and something told me she didn’t want him to know how proud she’d been when she spoke about him. “At the same time that I told her about Da and Tommy. Don’t go lookin’ so smug; it’s not like I was trying to set the two of ye up.”
He gave me an appreciative smile. “I’m single.”
“Aye, ye are. Again!” Kit rolled her eyes and turned to me. “It’s because he’s a sex addict. Last time I saw Miriam, the poor lass couldn’t walk straight. My brother thinks a normal sex life means feckin’ five times a day, and no woman can keep up with that for more than a few weeks.”
“At least I have a sex life,” he retorted and didn’t look the least bit offended that she had revealed he had a high sex drive.
“I do too. A very satisfying one where the focus is on my needs.”
“That’s because all ye do is masturbate.”
“So? I always come, and I’ll bet that’s more than ye can say for yer women.”
Damian threw his hands up with a smile. “I’m a great lover. It comes with practice. Tell ye what, I’m willing to prove my skills. All I need is a volunteer.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me but I just grinned and held up a palm.
“Sorry, but I’m into a nerdy guy with Tourette’s called Charles.”
“What a shame.” He turned to Kit. “I’m goin’. Don’t eat all my cookies again.”
“I’ll make you some new ones. I promise.” When she leaned in and hugged him, she gave him a kiss on his cheek.
“It was nice to meet you,” I said and reached out a hand to him, but he opened his arms.
“I’m a hugger.”
“Oh, okay.” I felt small in his arms, but he smelled lovely and let me go quickly. Once he was by the door, he turned and looked at me.
“Oi, Liv, how long are ye staying in Dublin? I’ve got an extra room.”
“She’s not goin’ to be yer roommate, ye silly man.” With a light hand to my elbow, Kit moved me to a table where her laptop and papers lay spread out.
