by Cecy Robson
“He called all of you?” I ask.
My eyes widen when the entire O’Brien clan storms forward. Like at Thanksgiving, I’m pulled into bodies big and small.
“Hey, Mel,” Finn calls, hauling me toward him and Sol.
“How you doing, girl?” Wren says, leaving Evan’s arms just to hug me.
“Gawgeous. That’s how you look,” Molly insists. “Gawgeous.”
Seamus, Killian, and Sofia embrace me next. Everyone’s sweet, happy to see me, but instead of feeling a sense of relief from their show of warmth, I’m left more uneasy and confused.
Angus laughs, slinging his arm around me. “How about it, huh? Our brother and your man the future mayor.” He lifts his glass toward Declan and yells, “To Philly’s next mayor!”
The O’Briens hoot and holler, raising their glasses. I join them in their toast, although I can barely bring myself to smile. Angus referred to him as my man. Had Declan even told them we broke up?
Declan’s grin widens at his family’s tribute. He excuses himself and makes his way forward. I start to edge away, unsure whether I can pretend that everything is fine when my heart is breaking away in pieces.
I turn and run straight into Trevor Stone. Trevor fucking Stone.
“Hey, sexy,” he says, snaking an arm around my waist and dragging me in for a kiss.
If I didn’t jerk my chin at the last moment, his mouth would have landed on mine. As it was he connected with my temple, the squeal created by the back noise making me shudder. I slide out of his hold, backing further away from the O’Briens. “Trevor . . . hi,” I say, stumbling over my words.
“It’s been a long time,” he says, trailing me.
His stare drills into mine exactly like it did at the last governor’s ball, hours before we ended it up in his hotel room with our clothes piled on the floor.
Good heavens, like I need this. “Yes, it has. How’s your family?”
“Fine,” he says. “My father sends his best.”
His father can’t even remember my name. But the way Trevor is eyeing me, he’s not here to make small talk. He takes another step closer, playing with the strand of my hair. The sound creates more back noise against hearing aid, the high-pitched squeak grating my delicate nerves.
I inch further back before I realize there’s no place else to go. Not with the wall of people lined behind me. “I like your hair like this,” he says. “You look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you.”
“And when was that?” Declan says, suddenly beside me.
It’s then I notice how much quieter it is, probably due to the O’Briens gathered around us, their scowls in place and their mouths shut tight.
Oh, God.
I edge between Declan and Trevor. But there’s not a lot of space so I’m now standing inches from Trevor. “Declan, this is Trevor Stone. He’s the State Representative for―”
“I know who he is,” Declan says, his expression and tone as cold as ice.
Trevor frowns, his fingers skimming down my arm. “What’s going on?” he asks, leaning in close.
Declan’s focus follows Trevor’s touch, his voice deadly. “What do you think is going on?”
Trevor’s hand falls away. “You’re here, with him?” he asks me.
“We arrived together.” Declan’s hand lifts mine, drawing me to him, his frigid demeanor locked on Trevor. “And I guarantee we’re leaving together.”
I don’t know who to be more furious at, Declan for acting so possessive or Trevor for assuming I came alone. For now, I choose Trevor. “It you’ll excuse us, I don’t want to cause a scene.”
Trevor smiles. “What a shame,” he says, honing solely on me as he steps away. “We had a great time.”
Declan smiles with all the warmth of savage tiger. “That’s in the past,” he assures him. His fingertips graze down my side and to my hip. “I’m her future.”
The band explodes with a very loud and obnoxious dance song, making it hard to make out the sounds around me. But I don’t need to hear. I see enough. Trevor drifts away, maintaining eye contact with Declan.
Declan makes sure Trevor looks away first. “Tell me he’s a friend of yours,” he says, turning to look at me.
In other words, tell me you didn’t sleep with him.
Perhaps he expects me to lie or tell him something to stroke his ego. While Trevor’s advances were unwelcomed, I refuse to lie. And a boost to his already soaring ego is the last thing Declan needs. “He’s not a friend,” I say, hoping he’ll drop it.
Maybe he would if Wren didn’t rush me. She punches my arm affectionately. “Holy shit, you banged a representative?”
“Ah,” I say, because yes, that’s all I have.
“Not now, love,” Evan says, leading her away.
She nudges Finn. “I told you she had a wild side,” she tells him.
He nods. “I can see that.”
They’re trying to make light of it. I’m grateful for it and find myself smiling.
My lifting spirit is short-lived when I realize that Declan isn’t smiling. In fact, his expression about as calm as an advancing tornado.
I meet him with equal force. Wren rushes back, snagging my hand and leading me away. “Be right back, hotness,” she tells Evan.
She takes me far from Declan and Trevor, escorting me toward the double doors that open into the lobby, but not before snagging a glass of champagne and handing it to me and taking one for herself.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“The bathroom,” she says.
“You have to go to the bathroom?” I ask like an idiot.
“No, you have to go to the bathroom and give Declan a minute to cool down. It’s either that or have sex with him. It’s what women do when their men go all alpha. Trust me, I know.”
“Does, um, Evan frequently go alpha?”
She laughs. “Oh, yeah. But you won’t hear me complain. When I met him, he was like a pent-up beast locked behind a cage of pinstripes and prestige.”
“And now?”
She tosses me an impish glance over her shoulder. “Now the beast gets to come out and play.”
“Oh. Okay . . .”
We hurry into the bathroom, falling onto the couch in the sitting area. My shoulders slump when the door swings shut and mercifully kills what’s left of all the noise.
Between the clamor of voices, the band determined to break the sound barrier, and Declan, forget my hearing, I’m overly stimulated in all the wrong ways possible.
“You okay?” she asks.
“No,” I admit.
Wren crosses her legs, the material of sequined navy blue gown hugging her statuesque figure. Her hair is in a loose French braid making her stunningly feminine, a strong contrast considering the comments that fly out of her mouth.
“All right. Maybe not,” she agrees. She smiles softly. “But I think you will be.”
I lean back on the couch, welcoming the quiet and the lack of drama. Except I know both will leave me the moment I leave the bathroom. “I wish I was certain of that.”
She considers me a long moment. “So, you and the rep . . .”
“It was nothing,” I assure her.
She quirks a brow. “Really? Didn’t seem like nothing by the way he was feeling you up.”
“He wasn’t feeling me up.” Much. He did, however, make it clear what he wanted.
“Feeling you up, groping, copping a feel. It’s all the same thing,” she says dismissively. “Anyway, how’d you hook up with a rep, especially that one? Wasn’t he engaged to Miss Pennsylvania or something?”
I sigh. “Working where I work I meet a lot of high ranking officials. Most are older, or at least old enough to be married and settled. Trevor wasn’t.” I think about it. “I’d heard something about him dating Miss Pennsylvania, but I wasn’t aware he was engaged.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “At least I hope not.” God, the press would be all over it.
The more I think th
ings through, the more I’m reminded Trevor wouldn’t do that. Like most political players, he keeps his indiscretions private. Most likely they’d ended their engagement before I came along.
“So you didn’t sleep with him?” she asks.
I can’t blame her for being confused. Trevor is almost as handsome and dashing as Declan.
Almost.
“We did share a night,” I confess, grimacing when I realize that’s not entirely true. “Okay, a few nights. But we never dated. It wasn’t anything serious.”
“Not like it is with you and my brother?” she asks.
“No, nothing like that,” I add quietly. At least it’s not for me. I’d missed Declan so much. Every free moment of time was occupied with thoughts of him, his smile, the way he listens to me as if only my opinion matters, and the way we made love.
Was I naïve to think he’d missed me, too?
I thought I was the only one lost without us, until he kissed me in the office. I returned his affections without hesitation, just like I allowed him to strip me of my clothes in the limo.
Wren shakes her head. “Holy Mother, I’ve never seen Declan like that.”
“You mean angry enough to physically assault someone?” I shudder, remembering how he seemed seconds from taking a swing. “Neither have I.”
She bats her hand. “Oh, no. I’ve seen him riled enough to throw down. Don’t forget, he’s a Philly boy. I meant jealous. He was ready to bust an artery when he saw Trevor trying to kiss you.” She laughs. “Or bust Trevor’s head open.”
I cover my mouth. “He saw that?”
“Girl, we all did.” She takes a swig of her champagne. “He was talking to us about the endorsement when his attention veered off. We didn’t realize what was happening until we saw Trev making the moves on you and you walking away. Where were you going anyway? One minute you were right next to us, the next, you were halfway to the dance floor.”
“I didn’t want to intrude on your moment,” I say.
She tilts her head like she doesn’t completely believe me even though it’s partly true. “You didn’t know we broke up, did you?” I ask.
She lowers her empty glass onto her lap, no longer smiling. “When?”
“Thanksgiving night.” I don’t mean to say as much as I do, this is Declan’s sister I’m speaking to, after all. But it’s like I need to, having kept so much in. “When we went back to his apartment.”
“Because he was being a prick?” she offers.
“After the way he behaved at dinner, I didn’t want to spend the night,” I explain. “I didn’t expect us to break up, and thought we just needed space. But we had a fight and he told me he never planned on things getting serious.”
Wren plays with her glass, her attention on the rich stone tile lining the floor. I’m not sure she’s listening until she looks up. “That’s because he’s never believed in love.”
My stare falls to my hands. “I know. He told me.”
I lift my chin when she places her hand on my shoulder. “But I think he does when it comes to you.”
My eyes well and I have to blink back my tears. “He told me that, too,” I whisper.
“So you both walked away during a time you needed each other most?” She lifts the glass of champagne out of my hand and switches it out with her empty, taking a long sip. “How did that work out for you?”
I believe she means, How did that work out for you, dumbass? “It didn’t. At least not for me.”
“Considering he’s been a moody bastard for the past month, seems to me it didn’t work out for him either. Should have known you two weren’t together.” She taps her nails on her glass, scrutinizing me closely. “I like you, Melissa,” she finally says.
“I like you, too,” I reply carefully, unsure where this is going.
“And because I like you, I’m going to tell you something you may not know, because you need to know it.” She sighs. “Declan’s the black sheep of the family.”
“The Black sheep?” I repeat.
She gives it some thought. “Okay. Maybe not the black sheep, more like the sheepdog watching out for the loud, fucked-up sheep grazing on the crazy grass and telling the cows in the neighboring pasture to fuck off.”
“Hear me out,” she says when I blink back at her. “Our father died when we were little, seriously little. As the oldest, Angus quit school, got his G.E.D, and went to work. He had to, the life insurance, pension, it wasn’t enough, not with eight mouths to feed. Declan couldn’t quit school, not with his brains, not with his talent, shit, not with everything he’s always wanted to be and do, even though as the second oldest kid, society kind of expected him to.”
“Seamus, the third in line, took his place, knowing like the rest of us, Declan needed to keep going.” She takes another sip of her champagne. “Declan didn’t puss out. He studied, got the grades, got scholarships. He knew the best way to help us was by becoming that leader he’s destined to be. He kept on us, making sure we did our homework, went to bed on time, and stayed safe. But when he went away to college, life fucking happened, and not all of us stayed safe.”
Her voice splinters enough to tell me she’s talking about their brother and maybe herself as well. “Declan’s the sheepdog,” she says again. “Always watching out for us, even when he’s not around to take in the crazy. Look at what he does for a living, and how far he’s come.” She adjusts her position. “But he was always like that, always driven to be the most successful, the wealthiest, and the most powerful. Want to know why?”
I don’t answer, but I don’t this she expects me to.
“Because wealth and power afford you protection, and the goods to protect those you most love.”
I stop moving, understanding striking me like a slap.
Her voice quiets, growing sad. “He didn’t plan on you. He didn’t plan on anyone. But maybe he needed to.”
And maybe he needed me.
I want to believe her, but after everything that happened out there, I’m not sure he needed me for the right reasons.
“Are you going to give him another chance?” she asks.
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“Why?”
Wren was counting on her insight of Declan to change my perspective. And it did, to a point. But there are too many facts I can’t ignore, including his private meeting with the governor.
“I’m not sure I can trust him,” I tell her, that sting to my eyes returning.
“It’s hard to trust someone when you’ve been hurt. I get it. Believe me I do. But Declan is nuts about you.”
“Did he say that?”
“No, I can just tell. You’re the wrench in his well thought out plan.” She takes a big gulp. “Seriously, he made a pie-graph that outlined his life when he was like twelve. None of that plan included a woman, but here you are all the same. And based on how he acted out there, when another man put his hands on you, he wants you to stay. So stick around for the ride or get off. Either way, we can’t stay in the fucking bathroom all night―Oh, hey, there governor. How’s it going?” Wren asks when she walks in with her security detail. “Voted for you last time.”
The governor glances my way as we stand. “This is Wren O’Brien, Declan’s sister,” I say quickly, hoping she didn’t hear Wren say “fucking” but realizing she likely did.
The governor greets her with a smile. “Ah, your future sister-in-law,” she says, shaking Wren’s hand.
She means to be kind. So does Wren. But their words only stab my wounded heart.
CHAPTER 21
Declan
“Declan, please calm down,” Tess tells me.
I’m standing here like and imbecile waiting for Melissa to come out of that damn bathroom.
“I’m calm,” I say. It’s true, on the fucking outside.
She glances toward the ballroom where that ball-less piece of shit weasel Trevor is standing. He grins, nodding in my direction. I return his smile with all the warmth of
a frozen tundra.
“Behave as the consummate professional I know you are,” she insists.
“I’m behaving,” I point out, keeping my grin. “He still has all his teeth, doesn’t he?”
Curran nods. “He does. Not that he should,” he reminds me. “Asshole’s lucky you didn’t break his Goddamn jaw.”
“You’re not helping,” Tess sings.
“Babe, did you see him? He was all over her—nothing against Mel, Deck. She was trying to get away from him. You should have beat his ass then handed it back to him on a plate of hors d’oeuvres or some shit.”
“Curran, seriously?” Tess snaps at him.
He holds out his hands. “I’m just saying, if any guy was to touch you like that in front of me, they’d be hauling him out on a stretcher.”
She points to her bulging belly. “I think it’s safe to say you have nothing to worry about.”
I turn away when he pulls her to him, laughing as he nuzzles her neck. My feelings toward Melissa are fucking out of control. This jealousy crap is total bullshit. When Stone grabbed my woman and tried to kiss her in front of me―and my entire family! ―I swear to Christ I could have ripped out his spine out and busted it over his skull.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to shake off the rage that all but blinded me when he touched her, stroked her―like he couldn’t wait to rip off her panties. But when he wouldn’t back off, even when she made it clear she didn’t want him, that’s when I snapped. If I was anyone else, and anywhere else, I would have made him bleed for it.
“Shit,” I mutter, trying to stay quiet. This is my night to shine, to remind all the high-ranking officials who I am, and why there’s no one better to lead this city. So why can’t I just let this thing go?
Oh, I know why. Shit for brains Trevor touched Melissa like he owned her. If he somehow manipulated her, used her, or God help him, hurt her, I will end him.
My back stiffens when Mel and Wren slip out of the bathroom. Her expression falls when she sees me. What the hell? How am I the bad guy here? I kept calm and protected her from his wandering hands.
I march toward her in slow and steady strides. “I need a moment with Melissa,” I tell Wren when I reach her.