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“Any particular genre?”
I appreciated that he didn’t give any empty assurances that I was sure to recover my voice. Deceiving everyone was bad enough. I only felt worse when people tried to console me.
All kinds, but especially ballads with meaningful lyrics.I wasn’t sure why I was sharing any more about myself than the bare minimum. Again, it was just something about him.
Before he could comment, the front door chimed. We all watched Sante stroll to the entrance, then Conner’s baritone voice filtered into the room and feathered across my skin.
When he rounded the corner, he was the epitome of cool indifference. I would have believed it if his gaze hadn’t burned my skin when it drifted from Keir to me.
“Did I have our timing wrong?” Conner asked casually.
“No,” Keir assured him in that perfectly schooled voice of his. “I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to meet your lovely bride previously, so I thought I’d come by a few minutes early.”
Was that challenge in Keir’s aqua gaze?
Most likely, considering the displeasure rolling off Conner in waves. “Had I known you wanted an introduction, I would have been happy to help.”
Finally, the tiniest break in Keir’s icy demeanor—a smile wrought with wicked amusement. “You know better than to think I need your help with an introduction.”
“Speaking of introductions,” my father cut in. “Keir suggested he take Noemi to meet your grandparents tomorrow.”
Keir’s head slowly swiveled to stare at my father. For the first time I could ever recall witnessing, my father blanched.
“That’s very thoughtful of him,” Conner murmured impassively. “Gentlemen, should we get to business?”
“Of course,” Keir agreed. “We can’t have any hostile Albanians causing problems at such an important wedding. Noemi, it’s been a pleasure. I look forward to chatting more in the morning. Say ten?”
I nodded, a wave of awkward uncertainty perching high over my head.
Keir nodded respectfully, then gestured for Dad to lead the way. The two men and my brother followed my father out of the room, Conner searing me with an angry stare on his way.
My bones dissolved like sugar cubes in hot water the second I was alone. I fell back onto the couch and stared at the ceiling, needing a minute to recover before I could throw together a sandwich and drag myself upstairs. It looked like Dad would be working through dinner, and I was more than happy to hide for the rest of the night.
Thinking my drama with overbearing Irishmen was over for the evening, I ate my turkey and cheese, then changed into my pajamas. Growing up with a little brother meant it was habit for me to change in the bathroom. Sante rarely entered my room unannounced anymore, so I was surprised when I opened the door and found my room occupied. Only, it wasn’t my brother standing at my bedroom window.
“Conner, what are you doing up here?” I whispered, my eyes cutting to the open bedroom door.
He slowly turned and leveled me with his unrelenting stare.
I’d worried about dealing with my father after their meeting, but I hadn’t mentally prepared for six feet two of blistering anger devouring me. “You need to stay the fuck away from Keir.” The velvet darkness of his voice raised the hairs on the back of my neck.
“He’s yourcousin,” I hissed quietly, eyes again straying to the doorway. “What exactly do you think is going to happen?”
I’d known my father might force me to stay home, but I didn’t have to take this from Conner, too. I refused on principle.
He stepped closer until every inch of his menacing frame towered over me. “I’m telling you to stay away, or you won’t like the consequences.”
“What are you going to do, cut off his fingers?” I spit back at him, recalling his earlier comment about maiming anyone who touched me.
He leaned in even closer, bringing his lips to my ear. “Try me and see.” His words caressed, sensual and excruciating, before his lips tugged at my earlobe with just enough pressure to elicit an avalanche of tingles from my scalp to my fingertips and lower.
I gasped, words escaping me. Outrage mixed with crushing desire to form a dizzying cocktail that stole my breath.
Satisfied with himself, Conner smirked and waltzed away.
Just when youthink you know someone, they go and surprise you.
I would have bet money my father would have charged into my room the second Conner and Keir were gone and demanded I fake an illness to prevent me from going the following morning. I debated whether to mention how suspicious it might look if I canceled and if I should remind him how we wouldn’t want to offend the Byrne family.
