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I walk around the table to where Dean is and place my hand on the small of her back. “Come, let’s go,” I breathe into her ear.

Her chest begins to heave. Before I can say another word, she starts off, trying to rush ahead of me and out of my reach. Those sexy heels aren’t a match for my long strides.

I don’t mind the view as she tries to get away. I bite my lip and groan. With the amount of whiskey I have coursing through my veins, I can’t think of any of the logical reasons for not making her mine. I want her something fierce.

“Ach, love, yer going the wrong way. Make a right to get up the hill to the house,” I chuckle.

She huffs and changes direction. I jog to finally close the gap between us. Once I catch up to her, I loosen my tie and unbutton the top three buttons of my shirt.

Guiding her in the right direction to the house, I get her up the hill before she tries to leave me behind again. I’m amused as I see her heading in the direction of my bedroom. Ma is definitely up to something.

She passes my door, headed for one of the last two rooms at the back of the hall. Before she can get too far, I reach for her wrist and halt her from moving forward. She doesn’t turn to me, so I move in to crowd her space and bend my head to lean into her ear.

“I’ve been missing ya, love. Why are ya in such a rush to get away from me?”

“You’re drunk, you’ll be over me by morning. Faster if you turn around and find yourself something safe to do,” she bites out.

“This is not drunk. My feelings for you will be the same in the morning. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

“Back off.”

“Ach, is that really what you want?” I say against her neck.

“I want you to release me and take a step back. Now.”

“As you wish, love.”

I release her wrist and take a small step back. I’m not about to force myself on her. No matter how much I want her, I know I fucked up.

“I like the accent better, by the way,” she calls over her shoulder.

A smile comes to my lips. “Aye, do you now, Danika?”

She stumbles to a stop. The air seems to be sucked out of the space around us. She turns to me eerily slow.

My smile grows from the shocked look on her face. Her mouth hangs open as she looks back at me with wide eyes. Then she takes a step back as if she’s about to run.

I’ve got her now. I can see it in her eyes. I lick my lips in anticipation.

“Aye, I said it right, didn’t I?Danika,” I croon, making sure my accent is extra thick.

CHAPTER13

Who Ya Are

Dean

Holy shit.He just called me by my real name and damn it, that shit rolled off his tongue like hot, sticky, delicious honey. I want to hear him say it again, but first I need to know where he got it from.

“Where did you get that name from?”

“What’s wrong, Danny? I did warn ya I could find anything and anyone. Come here, love, my room is this one.”

My brows rise into my hairline. Only those close to me call me Danny. Which means he has been digging too close to home for information.

Could that be the reason for his distance? If he knows who I really am, that would be a good enough reason for him to keep away from me. The thought makes me sad.

“I said c’mere, love. I’ll tell ya where I got it from after ya spend the night in my bed,” he croons, pulling me from my thoughts.