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“So.” Kate toyed with the strands of her dark brown hair and wet her lips. “What you did back at the pub, rescuing us from that guy, it was so sweet of you.” Her hand slipped up to my bicep, and she ran her fingers over the fabric of my jacket. “Wow. You’re strong. You must work out.”
I shifted back, bumping into a bloke behind me as I tried to escape her touch. I’d never been the guy to become uneasy with a good-looking woman, but there was only one person’s hands I wanted on me.
I looked over at Anna and, even from across the bar, I could see her looking my way, her bottom lip planted between her teeth.
“I wouldn’t recommend going to any place that has the name Hannigan on it again,” I said at last.
“Oh yeah?” Kate stepped closer to me, her chest almost touching mine.
Dammit, woman. “Yeah.” I looked over at the bartender as he placed a tray of pints in front of me. “Thanks, mate.” I slid the money across the bar and backed away from Kate as quickly as I could.
“Ready for a good craic?” Rick asked once I reached his side. He grabbed a beer and raised it in the air. “To—”
One of the interns—I was pretty sure her name was Narisa—raised her hand out in front of her. “Oh please, not another quote.”
Everyone laughed, and I stood there, still trying my hardest not to look at Anna as I waited for the joke to pass. Whatever they were talking about was lost on me.
“So, boss man, what do you like to do for fun?” Kate was at it again.
“I mostly spend time with my girlfriend these days,” I decided to say. Anna’s eyes darted my way, and she started to cough on her beer. “My girlfriend’s busy tonight with some friends, and so—well, here I am.”
I liked the sound of it—girlfriend. But that was insane. We hadn’t known each other for long, and it was only a matter of time before it was over. I was too dangerous for her.
“Oh.” Kate finally backed away.
I noticed a smile tug at the corner of Anna’s beautiful lips, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss her. I wanted to claim her as mine in front of everyone. For a second, I seriously considered it. I would pull her against me, cover her mouth with mine, feel her tongue sliding between my lips. Jesus, I was growing hard thinking about it.
“The view is amazing,” Anna said a moment later. When I looked at her, her back was to me. She was looking out the window at the city of Dublin that glowed below.
I came up next to Anna, and my arm brushed against hers. I could hear the group chattering behind us, but all I could focus on was how close she was to me. We stood in silence, appreciating the view together, and it was almost perfect. The only thing that would have been better is if I’d been able to slide my hand down to hold hers.
She finally looked up at me out of the corner of her eye, and I had to brace the window with one palm to stop myself from completely facing her. Her lips parted for her tongue, which rolled over her teeth. She was trying to torture me, wasn’t she? She had said she’d had a few beers tonight . . .
Thank God I had shown up. What if some bloke had tried to take advantage of her?
“We’re going to check out the rest of the building. You coming?” Kate asked Anna.
“Um. I’m actually pretty tired. Maybe I’ll go.” Anna yawned a very fake yawn.
“I’ll walk you to your . . . place.” I almost slipped and said the word hotel.
“You sure, man? I can get her home,” Craig offered, and I wondered if the intern had ulterior motives, which had me stiffening a little.
“I was about to leave, anyway. You guys enjoy the view.” I reached into my pocket and slipped Rick some euros. “Buy a few more drinks on me.”
“That’s savage. Thanks, mate.”
Narisa grabbed the bills from Rick. “I’d better be in charge of the funds,” she said.
Rick placed his hands in the air. “Women.”
“Ha ha.” Narisa slapped Rick’s chest.
“You ready, Anna?” I wasn’t sure if I could wait another minute. I needed to get her out of there and fast before my blood pressure went through the damn roof.
“Yup.” She smiled and hugged Narisa and Kate goodbye, and then waved to Rick and Craig. “Stay out of trouble.”
“We’ll do our best,” Rick said before grinning.
