Page 15

Aidan walked out of the building with some packages; Cian pressed a button to open the trunk. A moment later, the trunk slammed shut and the back door opened. “Did you drink your coffee already?” Aidan asked, nodding at her empty hands.

“Emma was approached,” Cian said before Emma could respond. Quickly, Cian filled Aidan in on the events of the last half hour.

Aidan’s jaw hardened. “Are you all right?” he asked her, his voice clipped.

“Yes. I think it’s worse than I thought, though.”

Aidan’s eyes narrowed. “The story you gave to the police officer—you said you didn’t know why he threatened you.”

“No, I said that he’d shown violent tendencies in the past,” she replied wearily, dropping her head into her hands. “He’s tied up in some serious stuff, I think. And now, he’s got people after me!”

Aidan gave a nod to Cian, who pulled out into traffic.

“Best let the whole sordid tale out, lass. I need to know what we’re up against here.”

In all her years of living in the city, Emma never once felt the fear coursing through her veins as she did now. Could she really trust this man? Her history with men wasn’t exactly a testament to her good judgment.

“We’ve got a long ride ahead,” Aidan reminded her.

“Boston isn’t all that far. What if he’s following us?” she exclaimed suddenly, twisting her head to peer out the back window.

“He’s not. Cian made sure of it.”

“How can you be sure?” she asked, her voice high.

“Emmaline. The incident in the coffee shop will never be repeated. ”

“You can’t know that.” She glanced out the window, wondering if Ben or one of his minions was close.

“I can, and I do. Trust me, things will settle once we’re in Boston. No one knows you there.”

“Like the Witness Protection Program?” she wondered.

“Better,” he said. “It’s the Aidan MacWilliam Protection Program.”

“Emma, be reasonable.”

Emma remained silent. She was being perfectly reasonable—Cian had dropped them in front of a building that, while beautiful, was clearly not a hotel.

“You’ll like Colin. He’s nice, and has plenty of room,” Aidan coaxed.

“I don’t like relying on the charity of others, Aidan. I said I’d pay for my own hotel room. And I don’t know anything about this man,” she added.

He smiled humorlessly at the jab. “You know enough about me.” They stood outside the building; Aidan’s hands were jammed into the pockets of his leather jacket and Emma’s arms were crossed.

He gently grasped her elbow and led her toward the door.

“His name is Colin O’Rourke. He’s my cousin.

We’re close. And we’re going in, Emma. It’s cold. ”

“I’m not cold, thanks to this ridiculously expensive jacket,” she replied, narrowing her eyes.

“It’s a safe place,” Aidan replied firmly.

She reluctantly gave in (she had no choice, as she was in the middle of an unfamiliar city with a madman after her), and walked up the stairs without further comment.

Colin opened the door, a smile on his face. “Aidan! Long time no see, bro!”

Emma stared. Colin O’Rourke looked as though he just stepped from the pages of a J.

Crew catalog. His dark blond hair was casually swept to the side, and his tee shirt clung to enormous, muscled shoulders that tapered into impressively built biceps.

Low-slung, well-fitted jeans hugged his long, lean legs, and his eyes were a chocolate brown that actually sparkled.

The dimples in his cheeks were so deep Emma almost fanned herself.

“Emma Perkins,” she finally managed, holding her hand out. Colin shook it, grinning.

“A pleasure, Emma. I’m Colin O’Rourke, and welcome to you, as well. I’m happy you agreed to come with Aidan; I’ve been very interested in meeting you.” He had a very slight Boston accent.

“Colin…” Aidan started, a warning in his voice.

Emma couldn’t tear her gaze away from Colin. “Have you?” she asked faintly.

“Of course,” Colin said, nearly shutting the door in Aidan’s face. “He’s never brought a woman to meet the family before.”

“Oh, it’s not like that,” Emma hastened to inform him. “I work for Aidan.” She glanced around; they stood in a foyer with stairs to her right. A doorway to her left revealed a living room, with a comfortable-looking couch and set of armchairs. In front of her was a hallway that led to the kitchen.

“We all work for Aidan,” Colin replied dryly, bringing her attention back to him.

“No, really,” she protested. She turned to Aidan. “Didn’t you explain to him?” She noticed his stormy expression and frowned.

“Not yet,” Aidan replied, shrugging out of his coat and tossing it onto the couch. “I’ve been waiting to see him in person.” He embraced Colin. “Remember your place, O’Rourke. It hasn’t been all that long since I trounced you in a wrestling match.”

“No need for a pissing contest,” Colin replied agreeably, slapping him on the back. “So she works for you? ”

“Indeed she does. She’s exceptionally good at her job.”

Colin slid a glance to Emma, then replied lightly, “That’s good news.”

“I’m sorry for barging in on you like this. I insisted we stay at a hotel, but Aidan refused.”

Colin flashed his thousand-megawatt smile at her (she wasn’t immune—her stomach turned to jelly) and shook his head.

“I would be insulted. I have plenty of room here. It’s a four-bedroom brownstone, and I only use one of them.

Well, actually, I have another houseguest, but there’s still plenty of room even with him here. ”

“Not O’Malley,” Aidan groaned.

Colin frowned. “Do not ruin any of my furniture. If Bri ever found out you destroyed something valuable, you’d be toast.”

Aidan’s face changed to suspicion. “First, if that means what I think it means, we will indeed be staying somewhere else. And second, I doubt I’ll see Bri, as you won’t take me to her.”

Bri? Who’s Bri?

“You know it’s not that easy,” Colin protested mildly. “And if you need my help, as you mentioned last night, I think staying here is the safest bet, right?”

Aidan glanced at Emma, who was desperately trying to pretend she wasn’t interested in what they were saying, then asked Colin, “Where is he, then?”

“He’ll be down momentarily. Emma, let me take your coat. Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you,” she replied. “Um, where’s Cian going to stay?”

“With Aidan,” Colin replied, as though it were obvious. “I’ll put you in the adjoining room.”

“There’s no need to go to all this trouble,” she insisted. “Cian didn’t think we were followed. I don’t mind a hotel and Aidan can stay here— ”

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” a deep, lilting, Irish-accented voice behind her said. Emma let out a small scream and whirled around, and, for the umpteenth time that day, her heart nearly stopped.

The man before her was tall—taller than either Colin or Aidan—and all she saw at first were impossibly large arms, crossed over an equally large chest. Her eyes traveled up to a face that would stop traffic—a chiseled jaw, covered with a day’s worth of dark stubble; a small cleft in his chin; smooth lips; a strong, patrician nose.

Hard planes, cheekbones to die for, almost jet-black hair, and eyelashes that should’ve been illegal on a man.

They framed the most beautiful set of hazel eyes Emma had ever seen.

Her mouth dried.

“O’Malley,” Aidan said tensely.

“MacWilliam,” he replied jovially. He stepped off the stair and held out his hand to Emma. “Reilly O’Malley. Call me Ry.”

“Emma, uh…Emma…”

“Perkins,” Aidan growled between his teeth.

“Right. Perkins,” she echoed as Reilly brought her hand to his lips. “Are you another cousin?”

Reilly met Aidan’s eyes, and his smile widened. “Aye.”

Did all the gorgeous man genes in the world fall to your family, Aidan? she wondered, slightly dazed.

“Probably not all of them,” Colin replied, not bothering to hide the smile in his voice.

Emma clapped her free hand over her mouth and felt the blush creep up her neck. “I didn’t say that aloud, did I?” she asked, horrified.

“Think nothing of it,” Reilly said easily, not letting go of her other hand. “The only one here whose head would get bigger is your friend Aidan’s, and he doesn’t seem to be paying any attention.”

“Emma, I’ll show you to your room,” Aidan spit out, taking her hand from Reilly’s and tucking it protectively into his arm. He shot Reilly a look and only glowered harder when Reilly laughed at him.

Emma didn’t say anything as they walked down the hall. She was more than humiliated and tried to rationalize her behavior. I’ve been under a lot of stress. I was threatened today. I’m tired from a really long drive.

But she couldn’t really lie to herself. These three men—four, if she included Cian—had more testosterone in their pinky fingers than Ben did in his entire body, and it scrambled her wits.

She sneaked a peek at Aidan, and she swallowed hard.

Colin’s all-American good looks and Reilly’s sex appeal still paled in comparison to the dark, mysterious man walking next to her.

Good thing she worked for him. Getting involved in anything other than a professional relationship with a man like him would overwhelm her. She was sure of it.

Besides , she reassured herself, I would never involve myself with a client, so it’s a moot point.

“You’ll be sleeping here,” Aidan said gruffly as he opened one of the doors. “It has a lock. I suggest you use it.”

“Are your cousins a danger to me?”

He met her gaze. “They wouldn’t lay a hand on you.”

“Then why would I need the lock?”

He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked directly at her. “To keep me from laying a hand on you.”

Emma must’ve looked as confused as she felt, because he closed his eyes again, muttered something incomprehensible, then, without warning, cupped her face and kissed her.

She smelled like sunshine and heather.

But she tastes like home , Aidan thought.

Emma’s lips parted in surprise, and Aidan took the opening, running his tongue along her bottom lip, invading her mouth, tangling her tongue with his.

He deepened the kiss, drank in her sigh, and felt a flash of triumph as her body melted into his.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him, and his control nearly snapped.

Without breaking the kiss, he backed her into the room and kicked the door shut behind them.

He walked her backward to the bed and laid her down on it, pressing his own body into hers.

Feeling her passion rise for him, he hungrily kissed her neck, her ear, the sensitive spot beneath her earlobe, and she moaned his name.

“This is a bad idea,” she whispered, even as she tightened her grip on him.

He eased from the kiss, unwillingly, and sat up, his breathing ragged.

“What was that for?” she whispered, her hand touching her lips.

So that every time you look at another man, you’ll remember that you’re mine.

“I don’t know,” he finally said. He stood. “Lock the door, Emma.”

He closed the door behind him and waited to hear the lock click.

It didn’t matter that when he kissed her, he felt a whisper in his soul, telling him she was his forever.

Nay. He should not have given in to his impulse.

She was a woman in trouble, and he was a bastard for taking advantage of her vulnerability.

He snorted to himself. Vulnerable though she might be, she would probably never admit it out loud.

“You can’t claim every pretty girl who turns your head,” Reilly grumbled as Aidan flopped onto the couch in the front living room.

Aidan shot him a glare.

Colin, in one of the armchairs, put his booted feet up on the coffee table. He smirked. “I’m interested to know how you got her here. And so willingly, too.”

“Are those new Docs?” Reilly asked, leaning in to admire the shoes. “They’re nice. Good quality.”

“Thanks. Got ’em on sale,” Colin replied, admiring them. “Normally I hate getting new shoes, but these were a great find. No need to break them in.”

“If you two are done comparing shopping notes?” Aidan cut in, annoyed.

“Looks like she’s got under his skin,” Reilly noted.

“Shove off.”

“Don’t see what’s got his knickers in a twist,” Reilly said to Colin, who shrugged, still admiring his new Doc Martens.

“I’ll go real slow so the dim-witted one here can keep up,” Aidan said with a roll of his eyes. “I got my sword back.”

Colin raised his eyebrows. “Nice. How much did that run you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know. That’s not the important part.” He switched to Gaelic, in case Emma came downstairs, and quickly relayed her situation through to the threats in the coffee shop that morning.

Colin let out a whistle. “She’s in some serious trouble.”

“And you stepped in, the white knight, waving your sword,” Reilly stated.

“Sounds slightly dirty when you say it that way,” Colin snickered.

“By the saints, you arses, the lass needs my help!” Aidan nearly shouted, his knuckles white.

Colin sat up, dropping his feet, and even Reilly sat straighter.

“Holy hell,” Colin breathed. He looked at Reilly in shock. “He’s claimed her.”

“I’ve done nothing of the sort,” Aidan sputtered.

“My laird,” Cian said, descending the stairs. “With all due respect, ye’ve given the lass food, shelter, and clothing. All she owns now is MacWilliam colors, and she’s under your protection. Methinks it fair to say—”

“Don’t,” Aidan growled.

“Sorry, MacWilliam,” Reilly guffawed, “but it looks like you found your mate.”

Aidan stopped short of tackling Reilly as Emma came down the stairs.

She paused at the door. “About before—”

“No worries, lass,” Reilly said.

“Don’t worry about it,” Colin added.

Aidan just watched her, his fingers gently pulling his lips.

“Okay, well, thanks,” she said, clearly at a loss.

“Do you play cards?” Colin asked suddenly.

She cocked her head. “Depends on what you’re playing for.”

“Money and bragging rights,” Colin answered.

She looked thoughtful.

“They’ll wipe the floor with you,” Aidan warned.

She raised her eyebrows at him. “You playing?”

“You bet.”

“Deal me in,” she decided firmly.

“Have a seat, Emma Perkins,” Reilly laughed. “I think I like you.”

As she settled next to Reilly, Aidan began to worry that his teeth would grind themselves into powder before the night was through.