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“Come on. You think any of us are buying your innocent act? The way you reacted when you saw Adam in that fight was . . . it was personal, Anna. He means something to you.”
I had no idea what to say.
“Is he the real reason why you don’t want the job? Did he upset you?”
“I just don’t think the business world is for me.” That was the truth, but I knew it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “Kate?”
“Yeah?”
“You ever do something you know you shouldn’t, but you just can’t stop yourself?”
“Ha. All the damn time.”
“You ever regret it?” I asked softly.
“No.”
“Never?” I was skeptical. Who didn’t have regrets?
“No. Usually it turns out to be the best thing I’ve ever done.”
I processed her words for a moment, attempting to apply them to my life. “Well.” I faked a yawn. “Mind if I turn in?” All I wanted to do was plant my face in a pillow and hide in a dark room.
“I’ll show you to your bedroom.”
“Thanks.”
After I’d changed and slipped beneath the silky sheets on the bed, my phone vibrated against the end table.
I reached over for it and read Adam’s text, tucking my lip between my teeth. Butterflies swarmed my stomach.
Why did you check out of the hotel? Are you okay? Are you still in Dublin?
I thought about what to say as nervous energy unleashed inside me.
I’m at Kate’s. I’m okay. You?
I dropped my phone on my chest and pressed my palms to my face as I waited.
After ten minutes without a response, I began to think there wouldn’t be one. After an hour, I was sure.
It was probably for the best that Adam forget about me.
Probably.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ADAM
“What in the bloody hell are you thinking?”
I tipped my head forward and adjusted the knot of my silk tie, not sure if I could look Da in the eyes. He’d gotten back from Asia over the weekend. I hadn’t seen him in six weeks, but that was nothing new. That was the story of my life.
“So you talked to Ma? Holly? Or was it Sean or Ethan who ratted me out?” Our eyes connected, and his pale blue ones bore into me as he relaxed his hip against the side of the desk. I tried to remain casual. I was thirty, after all.
“Five years,” he said. “You went without fighting for five years. What is wrong with you? And don’t spew this bullshit about doing it to protect Les.”
So he’d only spoken to Ma. Holly and Sean knew about Anna.
