Page 21 of Irish Betrayal

That upset Blair enough for her to use her voice, “No,” which she rarely did, though he held each of their verbal exchanges close to his heart. Gray gave him one more evil glare before leaving the kitchen with her husband.

“Don’t worry about them. Tell me what just happened. If I hurt you, you better fucking tell me.”

For some reason that made Blair huff in laughter before signing, “Should I tell your mom and aunts how you speak to me?”

Daniel pushed the sheer, nonexistent dress up to her knees so he could step between her legs. “If you do, I’ll ring your dad and tell him that I know what your face looks like when you’re coming.”

She only smirked. “Go ahead. It’s your funeral.”

It was Daniel’s turn to shake his head no. “Fine. But we aren’t leaving until you tell me what I said that embarrassed you.”

“Stubborn man.”

Blair could have called him a silly twat for all he cared. The fact that she spoke those words, trusted him to hear her voice, again, was a gift.

Shrugging, she signed, “I know my body isn’t most men’s cup of tea, so to speak. I look more like a child than a woman, and knowing that, I probably should have chosen a different dress. You are embarrassed by me.”

You are embarrassed by me. She was able to say that without a hint of hesitation…as if it were fact. She believed that of him.

“Let me relieve you of your ignorance and debunk whatever bullshit you think you know. I don’t want you wearing that goddamn dress because the minute I saw you in it, I wanted to rip it off of you and fuck you against the nearest wall.

“I can assure you, Blair Barr, that your body features in every, and I mean every one of my dreams—the kind that ends up with me having to strip the sheets from my bed in the morning.”

He enjoyed her jaw dropping in apparent astonishment. “I know you’re deaf, Blair, but I didn’t think that made you simple.” That had her jaw snapping shut. Good. She needed to hear him and hear him well.

“Where did you ever get the idea that you weren’t a stunning woman? What stupid piece of shit told you that?”

Blair blanched and shook her head no again. She wasn’t ready to tell him, but he was determined to find out where she would have gotten such a skewed vision of herself.

“I don’t want you wearing that dress in front of a pub full of men who look at you like I do. Christ,” he looked at her tight little body with her knees pressed against his hips and had to swallow. Twice.

He took her hand and placed it against his erection that she should have already felt between her thighs. “I don’t want another man having the thoughts like I’m having right now. Do you understand that? You are so beautiful, Blair, that you eclipse every other woman.”

Blair looked astonished, and if he were a betting man, he would wager that her red cheeks had nothing to do with embarrassment.

She flexed her fingers around his shaft, causing him to groan and lean his head back until she tapped his chin to get his attention.

“Next time, check your jealousy and just tell me I’m pretty.”

With her eyes sparkling again, he couldn’t resist claiming her mouth. “Consider me chastised.”

ten

BLAIR

It was already nearing ten-thirty when the group decided it was time to retire. The Christmas party had been everything she and her friends had hoped. The food, music, and service were top-tier thanks to Ciar’s amazing Gray Eyes staff.

Even though their friends razzed them about their new relationship—completely expected—she was so happy, her feet practically floated above the pub floors.

Earlier at Gray and Ciar’s, Daniel had told her she was beautiful. She felt the compliment from her head to her toes, especially her heart. He’d told her other things, too, but she refused to replay those while talking with her best friends. They could read her like a book, and all hope of keeping their first date lowkey would be over.

Gray, the asshole, told Mags and Bébhinn that “Blair and Daniel defiled her kitchen counters.” Of course, they expected details, and of course, she gave them. Blair couldn’t expect the juicy bits from her friends and not expect them to want gossip back. Still, they were new, and she didn't want Daniel to feel as if Blair and her friends were already picturing them married.

They were gathering their coats and bags from one of the front-of-house servers, everyone giving each other good wishes and prosperity for the new year, when Daniel whispered that he had a surprise for her if she didn’t mind taking a detour before they went home.

Excited and intrigued, she nodded yes, suddenly breathless at his barely concealed enthusiasm.

As the group stepped outside Gray Eyes, Blair’s heart literally stopped, her heart pounding painfully when it was forced to come back online.