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“You’re drooling a bit, Connor.” Ryan smirks at me.
“Shite, can you blame me? Mo stór. Tá tú foirfe,” I repeat. “My treasure, you are perfect.”
I reach out to grab Hadley’s hand, helping her down the last steps. I pull her into an embrace, pressing my lips to hers in a chaste kiss. The moment quickly turns passionate as her mouth immediately parts, allowing me in. Our tongues dance in a fervor of longing, as if we have been apart for months, not mere days. Just as we start to get lost in one another, a throat clears somewhere behind us. We slowly pull apart, a beautiful pink tinge staining Hadley’s cheeks.
“Okay, kids, go have fun. Have her home by eleven,” Kat teases.
I chuckle, waving goodbye as I lead Hadley outside.
“Thanks, Ry! Pickle!” I call behind me.
I chuckle harder as I hear Kat groan at my use of her nickname.
I lead Hadley to the Tesla, opening the passenger door. Once she’s safely inside, I close the door and walk to my side. Ryan and Kat told me how much Hadley loves dancing, even if she’s awful at it. She hasn’t let me see that side of her yet, so tonight, I’ve decided to take her to dinner followed by some dancing. Luckily, the country club I belong to has ballroom dancing on Friday nights.
Following the winding roads of the countryside, we ride in a comfortable silence, simply enjoying one another’s company. Hadley reaches over, placing a hand on my thigh with a gentle squeeze; she smiles and glances over at me.
“I can’t believe you did all of this.” She motions down her body with her free hand. “Some days, I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you. And don’t get me started on how good you look in that suit. If you didn’t have my curiosity so piqued with this surprise, I don’t think we would have left my house.” The coy words are dripping with desire.
I grip the steering wheel tighter so I don’t swerve off the road.
“A mhuirnín.” I let out a growl that sounds more like a groan. “You’re killing me, gorgeous.”
The giggle that passes her lips causes my heart rate to increase. I can’t get enough of that sound.
I pull up to the valet and exit my car. Walking around to the passenger side, I open the door and hold my hand out to help her out. She takes a step in front of me, and I get a look at the back of her dress for the first time. I walk up beside her, placing my hand on the small of her back and lowering my lips to her ear.
“Jaysus Christ, you look like the most delicious kind of sin,” I growl in appreciation. “And I’m damn well starving.”
She turns to face me, her eyes meeting mine. We pause for a moment, both caught in the other’s gaze, too afraid to say the words that seem just out of reach. The bright smile that takes over her face steals my breath. I lean down and press my lips to hers for a beat, but not deepening the kiss, knowing if I do, we will end up back at her place before the night truly gets started.
I place my hand on the small of her back again, guiding her to the entrance. Usually, I try to shy away from the public eye when we’re out—not because I’m ashamed, but because I don’t want interruptions. Tonight is going to be different.
As we pass through the doorway, it’s as if a silent alarm goes off, alerting everyone that I’m here…and with a date. No one is used to seeing a woman on my arm when I come out, and that in and of itself is reason enough for me to anticipate garnering some sort of attention.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Ms. Phillips, an executive at Pacent Industries who has been trying to get in with DL for ages, making a beeline straight for me.
I can see the fire in her eyes as she gets closer, and I groan, pulling Hadley close. “Here we go.”
“Connor!” Ms. Phillips greets with a saccharine smile. I watch as her gaze quickly flicks over to Hadley. “Who do we have here?”
“Ms. Phillips.” I grin at Hadley, who has a sweet smile on her face. “This is my girlfriend, Hadley.”
“Well, it’s lovely to meet you. Maybe you can talk this man into working with my company.” She winks at Hadley before looking back at me. “I would like another meeting to discuss contract options.”
“We can discuss that during business hours. I only get so much time in the day with this gorgeous woman, which is never nearly enough. So, if you’ll excuse us…” I tell her in a polite, but no-nonsense tone, motioning for Hadley to walk around her.
“It was nice meeting you, ma’am,” Hadley calls out over her shoulder, waving goodbye before looking up at me. “Your girlfriend, huh? Just gonna go for it without asking a lady first?”
“Regardless of the title you want to go with, a thaisce, you are mine,” I tell her, trying to let her see how serious I am.
“I like the way that makes me feel,” she confesses, her face turning crimson with the admission.
I lean down to press a quick kiss against her temple. “Let’s get to our table before anyone else comes up looking to talk business. I may love what I do, but I was serious. There will never be enough time with you, and I refuse to give up the precious moments that I do get.”
Guiding her to a table in the far corner, I pull a chair out for her to sit, gently easing it back to the table when she is seated.
A live instrumental band is playing classical music on the platform next to the dance floor. After we finish our meal, I stand. Reaching my hand out for hers, I help her to her feet and lead her to the dance floor.
