Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
I come with my own brand of crazy. You have to be a bit half-baked in the business I’m in. If only she knew.
“So Dean isn’t your real name?” I say with a smile.
I’ve been trying to dig for more about her all throughout dinner, but she’s been tight lipped. I haven’t gotten much about her. She has asked more about my family, but shuts down when I ask about hers.
“No, it’s not,” she replies.
I grin and fold my arms over my chest. Allowing my eyes to roam over her, I pause for her reply. I’m willing to wait her out.
“Oh, you think I’m going to tell you my name?” She laughs and reaches for her wineglass.
I watch as she takes a sip. A drop spills onto her lip, right over that one cute freckle on the right side. Slowly, she darts her tongue out to catch the drip.
My slacks tighten. I want to taste those full lips so bad it hurts. However, I believe I want to crack the mystery that’s this woman more.
I want to hear her secrets slip from those pretty lips. The one thing I admire about her is her ability to keep things to herself. That’s another reason I’ve never gotten serious with anyone.
My life isn’t one I need my woman to go around talking about. I don’t pillow talk, and I don’t need a woman who has a casual tongue. Lives depend on my secrets.
“Friends tell friends their name,” I reply.
“Not this time. Kaye doesn’t even know my real name. Sorry, buddy.
“This is one secret I have to keep to myself. I have a pen name for a reason.”
“So yer telling me that if I were ya man, ya wouldn’t tell me yer name.”
I surprise myself with the words. I haven’t called myself anyone’s man in years. Twenty-three, to be exact.
“Now that’s a very different conversation, Ronan, my friend. My man would know my name. My man would also understand my need for privacy.”
“More reason for me to make ya mine.”
“Argh. Are you ever going to give up?”
I shrug. I should. I should back off now.
Nothing can come of this other than me having her in my bed. Things could become awkward with my family if I hurt this lass. But that’s just the thing. I don’t want to hurt her. I honestly want to get to know her.
“Ach, I’ve never been a quitter.”
She sucks in a breath and pulls her lip between her teeth. I lean into the table on one arm and reach across to cover her hand with mine. She tilts her head and looks deep into my eyes.
“I’ll make a deal with you. If you can get my name out of me, I’ll let you call me yours for one night,” she purrs.
“And if I want more than one night?”
“For more than one night, you’re on your own. You have to figure out who I am for yourself.”
“Is that so? All I need to do is figure out yer identity for myself? Then ya’ll be mine?”
Her smile brightens. “Honey, if you work that hard, I’ll let you beat the brakes of this pussy. You would have earned it. My identity is kept locked down harder than Fort Knox.”
“Be careful what ya ask for, lass. I’m not some little boy for ya to play with. When I say yer mine, yer mine.”
“I’m not worried. I’m not going to tell you my name and you’re not going to find out who I am on your own.”
I sit back in my seat once again. This time I’m the one with the grin on my lips. I’ve accepted her terms.
“Love, ya should have asked about me before throwing down yer challenge. I curate information for a living. There’s nothing I can’t find out.”
I wink at her and lift my glass to finish off my drink. Dean visibly shivers and her eyes go to my lips as she licks her own. All thoughts of who she is to my nephew go out the window.
She’s going to make me shatter my rules.
CHAPTER 6
Ronan the Cook
Dean
“What are you doing here?”
I step back to allow Ronan to enter the cabin. I’ve been working on some ideas. This place has my creative juices flowing.
I haven’t decided on my next move, but I need to get these thoughts out. If I don’t, I think I’ll bubble over with it all. Since they have a nanny on set, Kaye hasn’t needed my help as much with Dae-Dae.
I think both the kid and I are good with that. He has his little friends, and I have some time to figure my shit out without a four-year-old asking me twenty-one questions.
“I haven’t seen ya in a while. I thought I’d come by and check on ya.”
I turn to go to the table where I left my laptop open. I close the top before he can get a look at what I’m working on. I’ve become so much more guarded over my work.