Taking Risk Series

by Toni Aleo

  When she pulls me close, I think it is for a kiss. I tense slightly because the last time I kissed this gorgeous girl in public, we ended up in the papers. But instead, she whispers in my ear, “Just let go.”

  I pull back some, a grin curving my lips as I hold her gaze. “I’m trying.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re supertense. No one matters but us. As long as we are having fun, why does it matter who’s staring?”

  I hold her gaze for a long time as she grins up at me with no cares in the world. All she cares about is me, and I couldn’t love her any more than I already do for it.

  “It doesn’t,” I say and she nods, her grin growing.

  “That’s right, so let go. Have fun with me.”

  Holding her closer, I run my nose along hers before capturing her mouth with mine. We kiss and tease as we move, and soon no one is there. Only Amberlyn and her gorgeous, aquamarine eyes. The eyes that captivate me. When the song changes to a slow one, she wraps her arms around my neck, and I hold her waist as we slowly sway to an old Michael Bublé track.

  “So my uncle called today.”

  “Yeah?” I ask. “Your uncle back in America, right?”

  “Yeah, his girlfriend is pregnant, and he was questioning how I like it here because I guess they want to settle somewhere and probably hope I’d want to stay here so he can have my parents’ home.”

  I can only blink as I hold her gaze. “What did you say?”

  “I told him that he can buy my parents’ house from me. I know that’s crazy ’cause we’ve only been dating for like seven weeks, but I can’t think of leaving you or the only family I have. Even if for some off-the-wall reason we don’t work, I love it here. I love the family I have here, and I’m happy. I know once I start school that things will be strained between us, but I think we might work, ya know? I don’t know, is this crazy?” she exclaims, her face turning red.

  I shake my head as I gather her closer, running my nose along hers. “No, it’s not crazy, and we will work ’cause, like you, I feel we will. I’m invested here, Amberlyn. Wholeheartedly.”

  Her eyes shine as she holds my gaze. “Me too.”

  Does that mean she loves me? Our gaze is heated, and I can’t look anywhere but in her beautiful eyes. The words are there and I almost utter them, but before I can, the song ends and Fiona is there beside us.

  “Amberlyn, you have to come see the chocolate fountain and come to the powder room with me because all these people scare me.”

  I want to tell Fiona to wait, but Amberlyn is laughing as she nods. “Okay, I’ll be back.”

  Kissing me quickly on the cheek, she is off, and as I watch her, I know that I can’t wait anymore.

  I have to tell her I love her.

  Chapter 23

  Amberlyn

  The chocolate fountain is amazing.

  After eating way more sweets than I need to, I follow Fiona to the bathroom and wait alongside the sink with my thoughts drifting back to Declan. The word good doesn’t even give how he looks justice. Fucking hot is more like it. The suit he is wearing hugs every single inch of him and is tailored just for him. It’s a charcoal color with an off-white tie. He’s gorgeous and I love being on his arm, centered in his gorgeous gaze. He makes me feel like I’m the only girl in the world, and I can’t get enough of it.

  When my uncle called earlier, it was too easy to agree to sell the house. While my heart hurts to know that I am letting go of the only thing that my mom and dad shared with me, I know it needs to be done. I have to let go of everything to move on completely. I still have all the important things, and my uncle agreed to ship all those things here. I am thinking that I might get my own place, maybe rent a flat in town so that I’ll still be close to the pub. I’m not sure. I might wait and stay at the pub with my family, or maybe Declan and I will want to get a place. I’m not sure, but either way, I am so excited to start my life, and I hope that it’s with Declan. I am putting my whole heart in his hands, and I can’t help but feel like it is the right thing to do. It as if my mom sent him to me, the perfect man, all for me.

  With a content grin on my face, I wait as Fiona washes her hands before looking at me in the mirror while she does her hair. “Having fun?”

  “Yes, this place is amazing,” I say, and it’s true. Even the bathroom is breathtaking. All of it is expensive marble and so pretty that I’m scared to touch it, let alone take a piss on it. Fiona doesn’t seem to care and uses everything as if it is hers.

  “I know, and to think maybe it will all be yours one day,” she teases with a wink.

  I laugh as my heart flutters in my chest. “I don’t want all this; I only want Declan.”

  “That is something that every sister loves to hear from the girl who is dating her brother.”

  I jump at the new voice and turn to find Lena O’Callaghan smiling at me. She looks like she stepped out of a magazine in a very fashionable white dress that fits her like a glove. Like mine, it sparkles and has cuts along the side that give off a very sexy, but classy look. Her hair is up in a chignon and her makeup is dramatically done, enhancing her ice-blue eyes. She is simply stunning.

  “You must be Amberlyn. It’s so wonderful to meet you,” she says, taking a step toward me and enveloping me in a hug.

  “I am. Hello,” I fumble as I back away, embarrassed that she heard us talking about Declan. Even Fiona is red with embarrassment when I turn to her. “This is my cousin, Fiona Maclaster.”

  She smiles as she hugs Fiona. “Yes, you’re dating Kane, right? I saw you two together. He’s always been a big brother to me, too, and he looks beyond happy with you.”

  “Thank you,” is all Fiona says, and I swear she looks like she is talking to someone famous.

  I roll my eyes as Lena looks back at me. “Are you two having fun?”

  “Yes,” I say as Fiona nods. “It’s a beautiful party.”

  “Thank you. I’m so glad you could come, or that Declan finally got the balls to invite you!” She laughs, and we both laugh along with her. “We’ll have to get together, maybe next week? Get to know each other.”

  “I’d love that,” I admit, and her eyes light up.

  “Wonderful, I’ll give you a ring next week then. You’ll have to come, too, Fiona.”

  Fiona can only nod as I say, “That’s so sweet, thank you.”

  When her gaze leaves mine to look down, I wait as she types something on her phone before looking up at us with her brows together. “I’m so sorry, excuse me. I have to go attend to something, but I look forward to getting together with you next week. Maybe tea?”

  “Sure, me too,” I say, and before I can say more, she is gone. “Well, that was odd.”

  “I can’t believe she hugged me. That was so cool.”

  I roll my eyes. “You are acting like Aunt Shelia. She is just another person.”

  “She has dresses made for her by all the great designers, she is marrying the one of the richest bachelors from England, and she’s my idol,” Fiona gushes as I just shake my head.

  “You’re crazy,” I tease as we start for the ballroom.

  “Let’s make another stop for the chocolate fountain before finding the guys. I should have had dinner instead of having sex with my hot boyfriend,” she laughs as we beeline for the fountain.

  “Probably would have been a good idea,” I say with a shake of my head.

  Once at the fountain, we both make ourselves a little plate before grabbing a glass of wine. Finding a table, we munch as I people watch and look for Declan. I find him standing with Kane and an older man. It’s not his father, but he does look a lot like Kane.

  “Is that Kane’s dad?”

  Fiona looks to where I am pointing and covers her mouth as she says, “Yup, cool guy. His ma is real nice, too. I like them. I think they like me. I hope so, at least.”

  “I’m sure they do. You’re fabulous.”

  She grins. “Maybe. I did spill the gravy all over the floor, and they st
ill invited me back.”

  “See! They loved you!”

  She laughs as I grin at her before looking away, my nerves getting the best of me. “I haven’t met Declan’s parents yet.”

  “No?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet. Tonight I will.”

  “Cool, good luck.”

  “Thanks,” I say as my heart skips a beat. The thought of meeting Declan’s parents has me on edge. Will they like me? Will they think I’m good enough for Declan? And if they don’t, will he care?

  “Ma thinks you’re going to leave her now that you’re selling your house back in America.”

  I look over at Fiona and shrug. “I’m not sure what I am going to do.”

  “I say you stay and go to school. It’s gonna be tough working and going to school. No reason having to pay rent when we can stay with my parents for free.”

  “True,” I agree. “I just don’t want to be a bother.”

  “Not at all. We love you, so stay with us.”

  I lean into her and say, “I love you.”

  She winks at me and pops a strawberry in her mouth just as someone asks, “You’re Amberlyn Reilly, yeah?”

  I look up to meet a very pretty redhead with bright green eyes. I smile as I nod. “I am.”

  “It’s wonderful to meet the future Whiskey Princess. You must be very excited.”

  Fiona chokes on her strawberry as I say, “Excuse me? What?”

  Surely I heard her wrong, but she isn’t derailed as she says, “You must be excited about getting married and having the baby.”

  Fiona is full-out laughing by now, while all I can do is look at this girl like she is nuts. “Baby? Married? I’m sorry. You have it all wrong. I am with Declan, but we aren’t getting married or having a baby.”

  “That’s not what I heard or read for that matter. Why else would Declan choose someone like you to be with unless he’s knocked ya up?”

  “Whoa, screw you,” I say in shock. “My relationship with Declan is none of your business, but to set the record straight, I’m not pregnant, nor am I engaged to Declan. Get your facts straight. He’s with me because I’m freaking amazing.”

  Heat courses through my body as I stomp away. Something is seriously wrong here. I haven’t even slept with the guy; how could I be fucking pregnant! And where does she get off with all this false information? What the hell!

  I head right for Declan, despite Fiona yelling for me. He turns right before I reach him, and his face goes white as he asks, “Amberlyn, what’s wrong?”

  “Do you know people think we are getting married and that I’m pregnant?”

  He lets out a breath as his shoulders fall. “Yeah, I read it today. Well, not the pregnant part.”

  “Read it? And you didn’t tell me?” I say a little louder than I mean to, but seriously. What the fuck? This is vital information that would be nice if someone had warned me about. Now I look like the idiot who is completely blind to all the gossip that is being spread about me! “Why would they say that? Why wouldn’t you warn me about something like that?”

  Nervously, he looks around the room before taking my elbow in his hand. He then directs me out of the ballroom to a side hallway. This house is so damn big and beautiful, but I refuse to enjoy it. Not when I am this upset.

  “I thought you said it doesn’t matter what people think.”

  “It doesn’t, but I still would have liked to know. I can’t believe this. Why would they think that?”

  He swallows loudly as he looks way. “I don’t know, Amberlyn. I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t be sorry for these assholes. I’m just mad that I didn’t know about this or that you didn’t tell me. If it came from you, it would be different. I wouldn’t be mad, I’d probably laugh, but finding out from someone who I have no clue who they are—and for them to insult me at the same time—is a little shitty.”

  He looks back up at me, surprised. “Who insulted you?”

  “I don’t know, some girl. She said why else would you be with someone like me if I wasn’t pregnant.”

  His face falls as he shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Amberlyn. Please know that that is not the case at all. I’m with you because I care about you.”

  “Oh, I know this. I just don’t like that the bitch said otherwise. I don’t care what she thinks, but still, it would have been nice to prepare for something like that.”

  He reaches out, pulling me to him before gathering me in his arms. I allow him to as my anger subsides. I guess I really shouldn’t be mad at him. It’s not his fault that this freaking town is dumb when it comes to him and his family. I get that they are rich and famous to some, but to me, he is just Declan. My heart. Turning my face up so that he can kiss me, I meet his heated gaze.

  “I’m sorry, my love, but this is my life. The gossip, the false stories… Are you sure I’m worth it?”

  I smile as I give him a come-on kind of look. “Of course you are. Don’t be sorry, just kiss me.”

  He doesn’t even nod or answer me at all, only lets his mouth fall to mine before kissing the ever-loving crap out of me. His fingers bite into the lower part of my back as he presses into me. I can feel every single inch of him, and desire swirls deep in my stomach. Biting at his lip, I fight my grin when he sets me with a heated, lust-filled look.

  “You know you drive me wild when you do that, right?”

  I grin innocently. “No, not at all.”

  His fingers bite into me, leaving me breathless, and I find myself lost in his gaze. “You do. So much.”

  Going up on my toes, I nip at his bottom lip before whispering, “Good, I like causing all those dirty thoughts that you were telling me about earlier.”

  His eyes darken as he leans his head against mine. “You have no idea the things that run through my mind when it concerns you, love.”

  Ugh, the way he says love makes me wish my clothes would dissolve off. It’s so hot, so Irish, so deep, and God, I am so turned on that it isn’t even funny. Not even the hottest romance novel I’ve ever read made me as hot as I am now. I’m not sure if it’s the atmosphere or how hot and romantic he is, but my heart is pounding against my ribs and I can’t believe how badly I want him. I treasure my virginity and understand that it needs to be taken in a sweet way with love and unicorns and rainbows, as Fiona would say. But I am honestly okay with Declan doing me against the wall of the bathroom. Or anywhere for that matter. Running my thumbs along his jawline, I try to control my breathing as he holds my gaze.

  “Can I ask you something?” he asks, wrapping his arms tighter around me. “You can say no. I won’t be mad or upset at all.”

  I nod slowly, my heart pounding because I’m pretty sure I know what he is going to ask. “Ask me anything,” I whisper, running my thumb along his bottom lip.

  “Stay the night with me.”

  Oh, thank sweet baby Jesus! I’m gonna say yes, but I playfully ask, “For what?”

  His eyes darken as he cups my ass in his hands, pressing himself into me, taking all the breath and playfulness out of me. “I want to make love to you, Amberlyn, but I completely understand if you say no. We don’t even have to do it, but I just don’t want you to leave.”

  I can see the need in his eyes. He looks like a starved man, and I know I mirror him. I need him, want him, and I am more than ready to take our relationship to the next level. “Yes,” I breathe. “I want to.”

  “Now?” he asks, a smile pulling at his lips.

  “I don’t know about now. We do have a ball to attend, and I haven’t met your parents and—”

  “Declan, honey.”

  Declan’s eyes fall shut as he mutters, “Speak of the devil.”

  Placing a quick kiss to my nose, he lets me go reluctantly. I turn to see his parents coming toward us. Like Lena, Mrs. O’Callaghan is dressed in something very fashionable and very expensive. I’m pretty sure her gemstones are real, and the dress is probably made by the same designers that Fiona was speaking of ea
rlier. Her face is youthful and attractive; I can see a lot of Lena in her. The two women are both very beautiful, and I am thankful that Fiona made me shop for something so nice because otherwise, I would feel inferior to these gorgeous women in their designer gowns. Not that mine is that great, but it gives me the confidence to turn on a bright grin. I can feel Declan stiffen beside me as she reaches us with a very angry-looking Mr. O’Callaghan. I’m not sure who pissed in his Cheerios, but I try to smile as if I don’t notice that something is seriously wrong. I chance a glance at Declan to see that he is glaring, and I know right then that this is not going to go well.

  “Ma, Da,” Declan says, wrapping his arm around my waist as I fold my hands together. My smile falters a bit under his father’s intense gaze. I can feel him looking me over. I feel as if he is judging me, and I don’t like it one bit. As much as I want to say something, my mother raised me with respect, so I stay quiet as Declan says, “This is Amberlyn Reilly.”

  “Amberlyn, how lovely to meet you,” Mrs. O’Callaghan says as she reaches for my hand, shaking it softly. “You sure are a beautiful girl.”

  “Thank you, it’s wonderful to meet you, too,” I say, my voice cracking a bit. My face heats with embarrassment, but Declan is there, kissing my temple.

  I send him a thankful grin, and he gives me a wink before turning to his father. “Love, my da, Ivor O’Callaghan.”

  “Nice to meet you, sir,” I say, holding my hand out, but his eyes haven’t left Declan’s. I slowly drop my hand, biting into the inside of my cheek as they hold each other’s gazes.

  “Ivor, please,” his mother strains, and finally, he looks at me.

  “It’s a pleasure, Ms. Reilly. So this is who you’ve chosen?”

  The tension could be cut with a knife. I look up at Declan as he nods sternly. “Yes.”

  Mr. O’Callaghan slowly looks me over. “Fine, I can support you if that is what you want.”