Page 59 of Irish Betrayal

DANIEL

Blair was drying off and working on her hair when Daniel walked back into the bedroom. He was rummaging through his suitcase for fresh clothes and contemplating whether or not his family could make do with him working from Oklahoma for the next four weeks when he picked up noise outside the room.

“Danny Boy. Get the hell up.” Ulf’s booming voice bellowed through the wooden divide.

Before Daniel had a chance to retrieve the wet towel from the floor, the bedroom door flew open after a single perfunctory knock, and in strolled his oldest—and by far most irritating—uncle.

“For fuck's sake, Ulf! Get out!”

Daniel stood stark naked in the middle of the room, yet Ulf had the audacity to look inconvenienced.

Thank God, Blair was in the bathroom, ten minutes earlier and Ulf would have caught Daniel taking her up against the wall.

“Don’t come any closer, Rowan, or you’ll see a lot more of your nephew than you bargained for. Get your bits covered, boy, for fuck’s sake. Your auntie is right here.”

He would kill the man. With his bare hands.

Daniel could hear his aunt Rowan no doubt cursing Ulf. She needn’t have bothered. Ulf was oblivious to criticism.

“Christ!” Daniel yelled. “Would you two mind waiting in the kitchen?” Slamming the door in his uncle’s face he turned to find Blair red-faced and laughing.

“Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?” Daniel stalked her like a wolf would its prey, backing her into the bathroom and lifting her easily onto the marble countertop.

Her hair was down and flowing in rivers of red around her body, darker when wet. He was obsessed with her hair, also her eyes, her smile, her body that was presumably naked under the navy and cream fluffy towel she was currently gripping at her chest.

The more he touched her warm, damp skin, the less he gave a shit about what had brought Rowan and Ulf to their door.

Blair’s hands whirled between them. “Don’t get any ideas, Mr. O’Faolain. There will be no funny business while your family sits outside the door. No. Funny. Business,” she stressed again, with a stern expression and a tap to his chest.

Daniel bit her collarbone lightly before soothing the slight burn with a kiss. “It’s your fault. No woman should look this edible.” He snatched her hand and placed it on his hardening sex. “If you don’t want this,” he squeezed her fingers around him, “then don’t be in my sight in less than a jumper and trousers. Scratch that, you look lovely in anything, including potting soil.”

She snickered, giving his poor dick one last bit of love before shoving him away. “Get dressed, crazy man. Ulf and Rowan wouldn’t be here without reason.”

Ten minutes later, they entered the kitchen hand in hand, where Rowan was busy making a pot of tea. Ulf was, of course, glowering at his aunt while leaning against the counter behind her. Rowan was probably a heartbeat away from kicking his shin.

Daniel went to his aunt and kissed her cheek before glaring at Ulf. “Uncle,” he grumbled.

Ulf ignored Daniel completely and gave all his attention to Blair. “I’m tired of you being here. Pack your bags.”

Used to his bluster, Blair stepped close enough to Ulf where their toes touched before shocking everyone in the room and giving him a brief hug. She stepped back and signed slowly, speaking at the same time because Ulf was still learning BSL. It showed her level of comfort with the asshole that she allowed him to hear her voice.

“Thank you for caring about me, Ulf.”

He seemed taken aback for all of five seconds before he ruined the moment with, “I’m not fucking around. Your father called me this morning. He was just made aware that my wee nephew has been sniffing around his daughter.”

Blair actually blanched, her cheeks paling before burning red. Ulf turned his attention to Daniel. “Expect a visit from Barr,” Ulf smirked.

“Fuck me,” Daniel whispered under his breath. Blair’s dad was a scary sonofabitch, but he should have anticipated the man’s reaction.

Rowan slapped Ulf’s arm and used her hip to move him out of the way, pouring cups of tea for everyone.

“Stop being an ass,” Rowan chided. “We’re sorry to bother you so early, but Ulf bothered me first, and shit travels downhill.” His aunt gave Ulf a dirty look, which Ulf pretended not to see.

“Bran called early. There’s been a fire at Three Wolves, and Row and I are flying home as soon as we pack and get to the airport.”

A shock went through Daniel. “What the hell? How bad? Why didn’t Dad call me?” He was already thinking of all the calls he needed to make while he pulled Blair against his side.

This was not how he expected today to go. He’d planned to ask Blair to show him the plant she was working to rescue and to basically just follow her around.