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She flicked her wrist in the air. “Empty threats.” She wet her lips and squinted her eyes at me, playfully accusatory. “I have a personal shield of eight kids here.”
“And later?” I lowered my voice. “Do you want a shield from me tonight?” Jesus, I was growing hard just thinking about it.
She took a step closer to me and tipped her chin up, her eyes claiming me to the darkest parts of my soul. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see, Mr. McGregor.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ANNA
“What’s it like?”
I looked at Chloe who was sitting to my left on the train. “What’s what like?”
She pulled on the strands of her long, dirty-blonde hair and tucked her chin down to her chest. I knew that shy, insecure look. I’d been that girl before.
“Well, I mean, what’s it like to be so pretty? I bet all the guys love you. I see the way Adam looks at you.”
Adam was a few rows up from us, and the young guys were huddled around him, watching a live sports match on his smartphone. I dragged my gaze back to Chloe. “Adam doesn’t—”
Chloe snorted. “I may be a kid, but I’m not dumb. He’s got it bad for you.”
My face heated. “Anyway.” I rubbed my cheek as I thought about what to say. “If anyone should know how it feels, it’s you. You’re funny, smart, and very beautiful.” I didn’t want her to think the only reason why a man would like someone is because of looks . . . As much as I was guilty for being drawn to Adam’s extreme sexiness, I was more taken aback by what was inside of him, at least the parts he let me see. His smile. His laugh. His humor. His compassion.
But Chloe was shaking her head at me. Her hazel eyes flashed to her lap. “I’m not beautiful. And I’m not funny. No guy has ever even tried to kiss me.”
“Good!” I hadn’t meant to shout that. “You are too young for guys to be kissing you, sweetie. And, trust me, you don’t need to be worried about that.” I thought about what else to say, looking out the window as the rumble of the train and the soft vibrations beneath our seats lulled my mind. “And I’ll tell you a secret.” I leaned in close to her ear. “Guys might be afraid to ask you out because they’re afraid that you’ll reject them. They’re intimidated by you.”
Her head snapped up, her brows slanting down as she studied me. “I doubt that.”
“You know, I didn’t have a real boyfriend until college.”
“What? No way. You’re lying.”
I held my hands up, showing her my palms. “True story.”
“No guy was good enough for you, huh?” She smiled.
“Sure, I wanted a boyfriend. But it never worked out for me. Plus, I had other things I cared more about, like horses.”
I didn’t say what I thought—that I wished I had refrained from dating during college, as well. I thought about Jax. How did he get my new number? And why was he at it again? I was sure he’d finally given up.
“Hm. Maybe I need to find something I care about.”
I was really in no position to be giving advice, but I also didn’t want Chloe developing any insecurities because of the opposite sex. I knew how it felt firsthand to feel lower than low because of a man. “Maybe,” I said softly as I looked up, my eyes meeting Adam’s as I did.
Adam was still holding on to his phone while the boys watched it, but he was watching me instead of the game. I wanted Adam, but did that mean I should have casual sex with him? Was I capable of separating emotion from sex?
Adam was looking away from me now and back at his phone. There was a tightness in the muscles in his face, now, and his shoulders were pushed back, less relaxed.
“Anna?” I looked back at Chloe.
“Yeah?”
“Ma’s not really around, so it’s nice having someone like you I can talk to.” She exhaled a deep breath, and I wasn’t sure what to say now. “I really hope you don’t leave Ireland.” With that, she jumped up and darted toward the other three girls who were sitting at the front of the train car.
I rubbed my hands over my face, my heart breaking for her. Was it wrong of me to volunteer at the center, to drop into their lives for only a few months? The twangs of guilt pulled at my nerves like guitar strings being twisted too tight. I was close to snapping.
* * *
