Page 48 of Bound Lies

Kieran’s dark eyes flick to mine and for a moment, we just stare at each other across the table.

The flicking light of the candle reflects in his eyes, making them appear more like the color of caramel than their usual deep, rich chocolate. They’re both mesmerizing and terrifying at the same time.

“All right, tell me something else. So, I know your dad was an ass, but what about your mom? I’ve not heard anything about her.”

I flinch. Mom is the last person I want to be talking about, especially with Kieran Sullivan.

“Next question.”

I wait for Kieran to refuse to drop the subject but to my surprise, he does.

“What are your hobbies?”

“You mean besides hating you?”

He smirks, and I find myself smiling back.

“Yes, besides that.”

“Well, I like to read a lot.”

Kieran nods slowly, like he’s filing that information away.

“And I like to play volleyball.”

“That makes sense.”

“Which part?”

“Volleyball.”

I frown. “Why?”

“You’ve got a very athletic figure. It looks…powerful.”

My cheeks instantly warm at the compliment, and suddenly I’m too aware of my limbs, which are way too exposed given the plunging neckline of my dress.

I quickly take another bite of my arancini so I have something to do with my hands.

Kieran seems completely unfazed. His earlier iciness has given way to a relaxed demeanor, and he continues to fire questions at me long after our main courses are placed in front of us.

He quizzes me about college, about my childhood, and everything in between, nodding as he listens intently to each of my answers.

I should hate being the center of his attention, but I don’t. The way he’s focused on me makes me feel like I’m the only person in the room. I’ve never felt like that with someone before, and I can’t deny that it feels nice.

But, of course, his good mood doesn’t last because he’s Kieran Sullivan.

Once our dessert plates have been cleared away and the check is paid, I gingerly get to my feet. I’ve had the best part of a bottle of wine to myself, and the six-inch heels Lucy decided would be a good idea could turn out to be a lethal combination and not in the way I originally planned.

I’m about to reach for Kieran’s arm, thinking that we would walk out together like a couple, but no.

He storms ahead without a second thought, leaving me to struggle to keep up with him, considering how tight my dress is and how high my shoes are.

When I manage to catch up to him, I find he’s back to not being able to look at me. The hard set of his jaw tells me that the switch has flicked back, and the Kieran I was starting to enjoy being around is gone.

The two of us stand in silence as we wait for the valet to bring the car around.

The temperature has dropped now that it’s nearly eleven o’clock at night, and I shiver, wrapping my arms around my middle as my thin dress fails to keep me warm.