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Kieran is a businessman. A better one than Papa. Then again, Kieran has his brothers. Papa only has Uncle Dante.
Our eyes meet, and he narrows them. “No.”
“She was in the ladies’ room. I heard her talking about you.”
His face turns to stone. Odd, like he didn’t expect his lays to brag about it.
“You were with her. At your club.” I don’t pose it as a question.
Without hesitating, he says, “Aye. I was with her. Overa year ago,” he mutters resolutely. Which means he remembers the encounter distinctively. And probably her name. Just chose not to say it to her. For me.
“Just once?” I ask quietly.
“That isnotmy baby.”
I nod, all flushed. “Just checking. It wouldn’t be good for either of us if—”
“Isabella, I used condoms there. Every time. No exceptions. Not. Once.” He glances around and exhales. “I didn’t anticipate this, though.”
“What?”
“That someone from my past would be in a place like this.”
“Men don’t bring…”
“Sex workers… High-price escorts, sure.” He shrugs. “I wouldn’t know. I used women like that for one thing. I never needed someone on my arm here. I had nothing to prove, and I wasn’t embarrassed that I was still single.”
From what I experienced in bed with Kieran, his voraciousness and stamina, he had primal needs and chose that route.
“You never ran into a woman at one of these things before?”
“No. That doesn’t mean they weren’t here. I just never noticed.” He shrugs, and I believe him. “I’m here for business reasons.”
“Then why am I here?”
“I’m a married man. To be here without my wife sends the wrong signal. It’s why I had every intention of you being with me that night. Plus, I want you with me. For me.” He places a gentle kiss on my lips, but I feel the energy buzzing under his skin. I recognize how he’ll need to be inside me soon. “Butyouappeared to be talking business.”
“I was.” I straighten my spine, the preggo lady forgotten, because he has, too, apparently. “Marilyn Asher, she—”
“I know who she is.” He brushes a finger across my lips. “What did she want?”
“She heard I want to do charity work for a foundation. Your sister mentioned it.” I don’t mean to throw Shea under the bus, but I don’t want my husband to think I came here to pitch myself to investors.
“I want you pregnant, bella.”
“Mothers do work, Kieran.”
“Mine didn't.”
Because it looked like she was always busyworkingon having another kid. But I don’t voice that, obviously. Having babies was her choice. I respect her for it. She and Fergus raised a wonderful family. Even if they’re criminals and murderers. As a family unit, they love and respect each other.
I consider this an opening to negotiate. A child in exchange to work.
But…
I know Kieran well enough by now that it’s not the time. He gently takes my hand and leads us to his car.
We go home and make love nearly all night.
