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HADLEY
He laughs.
The beautiful man sitting next to me is laughing. At me.
God, I want to crawl inside myself. Never before have I been so nervous that my inner thoughts spewed out like that! It’s as if I’ve lost all control around Connor, never mind all the sweet things he continued to say about my picture. It was taken during an afternoon out with Kat and Ryan. We had been having so much fun, and Ryan kept snapping photos of Kat and I with her new camera all morning to test out the settings.
That picture is one of my favorites. I look so carefree. I was much softer then too, my hips and thighs much fuller. I glance up at him while he continues to laugh. Is he disappointed that I’m not that same size anymore?
He chokes down the laugh abruptly. His large hand dwarfs my smaller one resting on my thigh as he gives it a firm squeeze.
“A mhuirnín, nothing about you could disappoint me. From what I’ve gathered in the short time we’ve been here chatting,this has been a stressful few months, and you haven’t been taking care of yourself. That stops now, gorgeous.”
Oh, my God. I said that out loud, didn’t I?
He leans in and presses a gentle kiss against my temple.
“I don’t know your husband, but I’m not going to sugarcoat shit. He’s a motherfucking bodach for what he’s said to you and how he’s been treating you,” he growls.
Connor takes a deep breath, pulling me into another embrace. I don’t even bother trying to stop my arms from wrapping around him.
“Even if you choose never to see me again after tonight, a thaisce, I beg you to know your worth. You are so much more than what he’s given you.”
After a breath, he smirks at me, explaining the Irish phrase that had my brows furrowed in confusion. “It means ‘lowlife.’”
I hold on to him, not quite ready to let go. A lone tear trails down my cheek while I look up into his beautiful eyes, the sincerity in his words spearing my heart.
“Kat and Ryan have been telling me that too,” I tell him.
A gentle smile crosses his face as he leans in and presses his lips ever so lightly against mine. A gasp passes through my lips, and my hands move to the back of his neck. My fingers sink in, grabbing fistfuls to pull him in closer, deepening the kiss.
Lust and yearning bubble deep within my soul, my body vibrating with more need than I have felt in ages. I part my lips, welcoming his more experienced tongue to swirl and dive into my mouth. Chills erupt across my flesh as I savor the taste of him, moaning into his masterful mouth.
We pull ourselves apart a moment later, remembering that our private room is still part of a very public restaurant.
“That was unexpected,” I whisper more to myself than to him, stealing a quick glance at his handsome face through my thick lashes.
“Unexpected, yes,” Connor chuckles. “However it was also one of the most amazing moments I’ve experienced in my life.”
He gently brushes a rogue strand of hair from my face, flashing me a devilish grin.
With a soft sigh, I smile up at him, wrapping my arms around his trim waist. “Tonight has been perfect. Thank you.”
We continue chatting until the restaurant closes at midnight, getting lost in conversation so easily, it’s like breathing.
As he stands, Connor holds his hand out to help me onto my feet as well. We walk to the exit and wait for the valet to bring our cars back around. Mine arrives first, and he leads me to the driver’s side door, placing his hand so lightly on the small of my back, my knees nearly melt with the sexy gesture. I go to open my door, and he beats me to it.
Pulling the car door open, Connor dips his head and presses a chaste kiss against my lips. “Message me when you get home so I know you’re safe, a mhuirnín.”
With a gentle nod, that shy smile I’ve had so many times tonight pulls at my lips again. “I will. Goodnight, Connor.”
I sent a message to Connor as soon as I got home and immediately passed out in a cute matching set of purple-and-peach-colored sleep shorts and a tank top.
Prying my eyes open at nine a.m., I’m aware of a noise in the near distance. As my brain slowly wakes up, I realize the noise is inside my house. I bolt upright, panic coursing through my veins.
My heart begins to beat a thunderous rhythm in my chest, the sound of my blood whooshing in my ears. What the hell do I do?
I grab my phone and start to dial 911 when Andy appears in the doorway of our bedroom.
