Her eyes flicked back to mine as I took a step towards her. “Take another step and ye’ won’t ever be able to have kids. I’m warnin’ ye’, buddy.”
I folded my arms across my chest, thoroughly amused at the turn in events. This woman had a backbone, and even though she spoke with venom and tried to be tough, I could tell she was acting this way because she was unsure of myself and my brother, and her attitude was her go to defence.
“I’d appreciate it if ye’ would stop lookin’ at me.”
I looked from her body to her chest.
“Why would you come outside dressed like that if you didn’t want people to look at you?”
I was being a dick, and I was fully aware of it, but when she was irritated, she reacted with fire, and I liked that a lot.
“I came outside dressed in me nightdress because me friend needed me. Gettin’ dressed didn’t cross me mind when ye’ rang me to tell me she was hurt, ye’ eejit.”
I had been called that word a million times since I moved to this country.
“You sound like my bro’s girl. She calls me an eejit a lot, too.”
“She must be kind ‘cause there are a lot of words that would suit ye’ much better. Batty boy would be two of them,” she quipped, then turned in Aideen’s direction and found her kissing Kane. Keela walked forward, took hold of Aideen’s arm, and tugged her not so gently next to her side.
She not so quietly muttered, “D’ye not remember the stranger danger film we watched when we were in school?”
Aideen sighed. “They aren’t dangerous. Kane saved me from danger.”
Keela jabbed her thumb over my shoulder. “Yeah, and batty boy’s bird put ye’ in danger, so let’s go.”
“I get the feeling that you’re calling me gay,” I mused. “Am I right?”
Keela ignored me and continued to tug on Aideen, who frowned over her friend’s shoulder and said, “She is callin’ you gay, but she doesn’t mean it as an insult or anythin’. She’s not homophobic. She just said it because she hoped it would piss ye’ off.”
“Ye’ aren’t supposed to tell ‘im that, Ado.”
“Ado?” Kane’s voice purred from my left. “I like that nickname.”
“Listen,” Keela said directly to Kane, “thanks for helpin’ me friend after she got hurt, but she isn’t goin’ to thank ye’ with some personal pole dancin’, so give the flirtin’ a rest. Please. It’s too late for this kind of carry on.”
Kane raised his eyebrows as he looked at Aideen, and asked, “You’re a stripper?”
“No, I am a teacher,” she answered a little too quickly. “No pole dancin’ means no shaggin’.”
Kane blinked. “Your friend is banning you from having sex with me?”
“Yes,” Aideen and Keela said in unison.
That intrigued me.
“And you’re going along with it?” I asked Aideen as I rounded the women and leaned back against our car.
“Yeah,” Aideen grumbled. “She is pretty big on no sex with strangers, and ... so am I.”
Kane’s eyes bore into Aideen’s as he said, “Pity.”
“Uh-huh,” she agreed with a sad sigh. “Such a pity.”
Keela nudged her friend, and said, “I’ll give ye’ some new batteries for your vibrator to get ye’ through the night. Ye’ll be grand.”
“Keela!”
Kane and I laughed.
Keela looked between us, then at Aideen, she said, “Maybe they could apply to Perverts ‘R Us. They fit the bill with those stares.”
Aideen giggled.
“Excuse me?” I said, confused.
Aideen was grinning as she said, “Keela’s neighbour, Mr. Doyle, is a man who stares a lot, so she named ‘im Mr. Pervert and imagined ‘im bein’ the CEO of a company called Perverts ‘R Us.”
Clever.
“We’re leavin’,” Keela said to Aideen when she shivered. “I have to go home to Storm.”
Who the fuck is Storm?
“Storm?” I quizzed.
“Storm is ‘er—”
“Boyfriend.” Keela cut Aideen off and gave her a pointed look.
“Storm is pretty protective of ‘er,” Aidden said, bobbing her head up and down. “Like, crazy protective.”
Bullshit.
“If he is so protective, then why did he let you come out here alone while dressed like that?”
“Storm is very hard to rouse durin’ the night,” Aideen explained. “He probably didn’t even hear ‘er leave, but he is still a great ... lad.”
“Yeah, he is great,” Keela said with a nod, “and he will kick your arse for how rude you’re bein’ to me.”
I leaned to the right, locked my eyes on hers, and said, “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
“Ye’ better back off then because I’m tired of your shite.”
I bit down on my bottom lip, trying my best not to laugh. She was like a little puppy who thought she was a big scary dog. She had more bark than bite, and I think she knew it. She seemed to know that she amused me greatly, so she scowled at me to show her displeasure, which caused Kane to shake his head. I glanced his way and saw his eyes were lit up with amusement.