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I hand him his cell, climb off him, and go in search of my clothes. James follows behind me, completely naked with not a care in the world. He orders me a cab while I’m searching for my clothes.
“Thanks for a great night,” I tell him once I’m dressed. Thankfully, he’s pulled on his jeans, so he won’t flash the cab driver.
“Don’t need to thank me for that, Little Bird. It was a fuckin’ pleasure.” His voice is thick and gravelly. It’s a tone that I love. He pulls me against his body and holds me tight. “I’ll see you soon.”
I nod. “Maybe next time you’ll kiss me,” I tell him as I exit his house. The cab’s waiting outside for me. “That would have made this night perfect.”
His jaw locks and his eyes flash with surprise. “Yeah?”
I nod. “I’d have loved to taste you,” I say as I reach up on my tiptoes and press a kiss against his cheek. “You’re an amazing man, James. I’m not sure why you don’t kiss, but it’s a damn shame that you don’t.” His hands grip my hips tightly, but just as quick as they did, he releases me.
I turn on my heel. Once I’m inside the cab, I open the window and blow him a kiss. He smiles widely at me as the cab pulls away.
My stomach drops as we drive further from his house. I can’t help but feel that it’ll be the last time I see him.
I truly hope it won’t be, because I think I’ve fallen for him.
CHAPTER THREE
CHLOE
Four days later
“Ma,” I say as I answer my phone I’m breathless, thanks to having to dig through my purse to find my phone. “You okay?”
“Me?” she asks, her voice filled with confusion. “Chloe, darling, of course I’m fine. I just wanted to make sure you got to Chicago okay.”
My heart swells at her words. It’s been five years since Callie came into my life, and they’ve been the best five years of my life. Before Callie, I hated being at home. I hated that my parents were always arguing. There was no escape for me. Then my da met Callie and everything changed. I finally felt seen. I began to excel at school thanks to having Callie and her family in my life. I dread to think what my life would have been like had Da not met her.
One thing’s for sure, my real ma would be alive and terrorizing everyone. Zoe Durkan was the biggest bitch who ever graced the Emerald Isle. She was manipulative, selfish, and downright cruel. She didn’t give a fuck about anyone but herself. She had kids to use as pawns, and she used them well.
But she fucked up. She went after Callie, the only woman my father has ever loved. The only woman he ever will love. Zoe tried to have her killed while she was pregnant with my brother and sister. Thankfully, Zoe’s plan didn’t work, and Callie and the babies were okay, but it made Da lose his mind. In the end, he did the only thing he was able to do. He killed Zoe. Now, every sibling I have is happy, and Zoe’s no longer around to traumatize any of us.
“Ma,” I say with so much love. “I’m here. I’m just walking through the airport.” Never have I had anyone care about me the way Callie does. But that’s just who she is, even before she knew I was Denis Gallagher’s daughter.
“That’s good, darling. Are you excited?” she asks, and I can hear the happiness in her voice.
It’s been years since I’ve seen my extended family. I live in Ireland, and my extended family lives in the US, so it’s been hard to keep up with them all. But finally, I’m going to see them. I’ll even be meeting the newest addition to the Gallagher Clan. My cousin Hayden and his wife, Adelina, have just had their little girl, Vivi-Anna. I can’t wait to meet her.
“So excited. It’s been too long since I’ve seen everyone, Makenna included.” My aunt is the absolute shit. I adore her so much. She’s the best, and she loves every member of our family fiercely.
“Tell Kenna I said hi.”
My ma and Makenna didn’t get along at first. Makenna’s extremely protective of her family. She went through heartache with her own ma when she was twelve, and since then she’s taken it upon herself to ensure that no one messes with her family. Sometimes she’s a bit over the top with her protectiveness, but she means well. When Da and Callie started dating, Makenna was standoffish with her, but thankfully, Ma can hold her own and wasn’t too bothered by Makenna’s reluctance to accept her.
“I wish you were here, Ma. You haven’t seen everyone in a while.” Ma’s at home with the other kids. Mary’s six, Gareth’s five, and Tadgh and Fiadh are turning five soon. The journey to America from Ireland would be too hard for Ma to do alone, even though Da owns a private plane.
“Next time, darling. This trip is for you. Your da and I want you to have the best time. We know how much you’ve looked forward to this. Please try to have fun.”
God, I love my parents. They really are the best. Without them, I’m not sure where I’d be. Before Ma came into our lives, my world was filled with a darkness that stemmed from the way Zoe treated me. I hated her with every fiber of my being, and yet the guilt that I had for doing so was eating me alive. I was so conflicted. I had no idea if my feelings were normal, and I was scared to ask in case they weren’t.
“Where is Da?” I ask, as I move toward the exit of the airport.
“He’s waiting for you at the car. Knowing your da, Chloe, he’s probably parked right out front.”
I smile. She’s probably right. My da is amazing. He loves all his children without reservation, even though some of us aren’t his.
“I see him,” I tell Ma as I step outside the airport doors and see my da waiting for me.
