He looks at me sharply. He knows there’s more to the story than what I’m telling him.
“Why does their family need to be vindicated?” Fiona asks. She drops her voice to a whisper. “Sheena, are they bad men? Do they do evil things? They seem so nice.”
I honestly don’t even know how to answer that. Yes, of course they’re no innocents, but at the same time… have I been telling myself lies about the McCarthy clan all these years? Have I allowed anger and hatred to fester for naught?
“Well,” I say to Fiona. “They’ve brought you here, haven’t they? And you’re safe. That’s something that matters.”
“Right,” Tiernan says.
Nolan approaches us, bends to one knee, and picks up a bubble wand that lays forgotten on the grass. He dips it into the bottle, lifts it to his lips, and blows. A large bubble floats in the air. Sam squeals, chasing after it. Nolan grins, and my heart squeezes.
He defended me in there. He told Keenan off, at his own personal risk. He’s made sure that my family is protected.
Why?
I make it my mission in life to find out the “why” behind things, to know the reasons why people behave the way they do. And I can’t figure Nolan out.
“Sheena,” he says. “You and I need a private talk.” He gets to his feet. After what he’s done, after what his family’s done, I feel I owe him my compliance.
I nod. “Right, then. You lot behave yourselves and we’ll see you…” My voice trails off. When will we see them?
“Dinner,” Nolan says with a smile.
I look to the large, wrought-iron gate that surrounds the estate. I remember what went on at the meeting, and I’m grateful for this protection. Will my mother try to come here? Will the O’Gregors?
Nolan takes my hand and leads me back to the house.
“Are they safe out there?” I ask him.
“Aye, lass. Probably safest place in all of Ireland for them right now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Then why can’t we stay with them? Why must you—”
“Because we’ve much to discuss, Sheena.” His voice drops. “And it’s time I got you alone again. You heard what Keenan said. There’s not much that’s changed between us.”
But he’s lying. There’s so much that’s changed between us it’s unsettling.
Nolan promised with near glee to keep me under control. I haven’t forgotten what he did just before this meeting. I can still feel the punishing smack of his palm, his fingers stroking through my most sensitive parts. Just the memory has blood pumping through my veins again.
He holds my hand and leads me upstairs. “Come along, now, Sheena.”
“You talk to me like you’re coaxing a puppy,” I mutter.
He grins. “I could collar you and lead you with a chain if you wish. What’s your kink, lass?”
“Nolan, you can’t talk like that when my brothers and sister are right outside that window, and your own brothers are probably milling all about the place.”
“Is that right?” he asks. “Or what?”
“Or I’ll—” I don’t finish the sentence, because he’s got me pressed up against the railing, his fingers woven in my hair, and he’s kissing me. I lose myself in the moment, his firm body pressed up against me, his masculine scent pervading my senses, his soft lips in such contrast to the prickly feel of his beard.
“Oh, my, cousin. Get a room!”
He pulls away with a grin that makes my heart do a somersault. His buxom cousin Megan’s standing on the landing above us, her arms laden with folded towels.
“What the fuck are you doing, spying on us?”
“Spying on you? You’re the ones mugging the face off each other in the damn lobby for God and everyone to see.” She shakes her head and walks in the other direction.
“That girl needs someone to keep her in check, goddamn it.”
We head upstairs, his hand in mine again as if to remind me I’m not free to go.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “And I need a moment to just think.”
“You need more than that,” he mutters.
I swallow, my belly swooping at the warning tone he takes. “You’ve already spanked me. What else do you have in mind?”
His eyes darken, but he doesn’t reply. We walk in silence up the stairs toward his room.
When we reach it, he opens the door, and we nearly trip over boxes and bags just inside the door.
“What’s all this?” I ask.
“Cormac doesn’t want you in borrowed clothing. I don’t either. So I had Megan do a little shopping.”
“That quick?”
“Aye,” he says. “She’s got a black belt in shopping.”
“Is everyone in your family talented in one way or another?”
But he doesn’t respond. He’s leading me into his bedroom. While we were gone, housecleaning came. The bed’s made, the windows sparkle, and a tray laden with tea and biscuits sits on a little table in the room. It makes me ache a little. I’ve never had the basic comforts of home like this.