Page 36 of Beautiful Trauma (The Irish Rogues #5)

I was filling out the paperwork for my latest sale when my phone rang. At the sight of Kellan’s name on the ID, a giddy feeling washed over me. Jesus, what was this man doing to me? I didn’t get “giddy” over men. I never had before, and I sure as hell didn’t want to.

“Hey, you,” I said with a smile.

“Guess where I am?”

“New York?”

“No. I’m in Philly.”

I gasped. “No you’re not.”

“Don’t worry. I ended up here with my brothers after Ava’s crazy uncle had her brought here.”

“And are your brothers with you now?”

“No, they’ve gone back to Boston.”

With a groan, I countered, “Why didn’t you go with them?”

“Because I wanted to see you.”

“But it’s not good for you to be here.”

“Rest easy. I’m currently in the heavily fortified Neretti mansion. I don’t plan on going anywhere near your father’s territory.”

“I’m glad o hear it.”

“Will you come to me?”

“Of course, I will.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“We could just Netflix and Chill at the house so you can stay hidden.”

“While that’s tempting, I would like to take you out to dinner.”

“Kellan–”

“Do you honestly think your Father will be combing the streets of Little Italy on the off chance we might be having dinner?”

“Never estimate that bastard,” I grumbled.

Kellan laughed. “Listen, I want you to meet me at six at Ralph’s on 9th Street.”

“Sounds interesting,” I mused.

“It’s a hundred year old restaurant that Leo recommended. Trust me, he takes his Italian food very seriously.”

I laughed. “Okay, I’ll see you at Ralph’s at six.”

“Will you wear something sexy for me?”

“Possibly. What do I get if I do?”

“As many orgasms as you can take?”

“That sounds like a good deal.”

“I thought you’d like it.”

As I glanced at the buyers waiting on the security feed, I said, “Okay, I gotta go. I’ll see you at six.”

“Bye, Mila.”

After I got home at a little after five, I raced into the shower. Somehow I managed to get ready in just thirty minutes. I’d outfitted myself in a sexy black number that was sure to get Kellan’s blood racing.

When I came downstairs to the lobby, I asked the doorman to hail a taxi. “That won’t be necessary, Ms. Korolova. There’s a car waiting for you.”

“Of course there is,” I mused. “Thanks anyway then.”

As soon as I exited the building, a driver stepped out of a black SUV. “Ms. Korolova?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Dino. I work for the Neretti family, and I’ll be taking you to Ralph’s.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Dino.”

He nodded and then opened the door for me. When I got inside, I texted Kellan that I’d been picked up, but that we might be a little late because of traffic. He quickly replied:

I’m here and waiting, beautiful.

Tonight you should call me sexy, not beautiful.

But you’re always beautiful.

You might change your mind when you see my dress.

Mmm, is it as sexy as your red one?

Maybe even sexier.

Trocaire.

What does that mean?

Mercy

I laughed.

You better not show my pussy mercy tonight.

Jaysus, Mila. I can’t get hard with a table full of kids next to me.

So, I shouldn’t send you a picture of my tits?

Bean éadrócaireach. And before you can ask, that means cruel woman.”

You have no idea how cruel I can be when not letting you come.

I’m putting down my phone.

Fine. Prude.

I’ll remember this the next time you’re in the worst possible place for sexy talk.

Once again, I laughed.

Bring it.

Thankfully, we made it to the restaurant fairly quickly. After parking on the curb, Dino hopped out. With one hand inside his jacket pocket, he stayed close by my side as we walked up the sidewalk. After we entered, Kellan appeared, and my heart jumpstarted at the sight of him.

He wasn’t wearing a suit, but he did have on a white shirt and black dress pants. The sleeves of his shirt were unbuttoned and pushed up to his elbows, giving me an excellent view of his arm porn.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Dino alerted me.”

“I was wondering if you’d put a tracking device on me.”

He waggled his brows. “Any day now.”

“Whatever.”

Kellan nodded at Dino. “We have someone patrolling the restaurant. You’re welcome to order something to be brought out to you.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ll stay on the sidewalk.”

“I appreciate it.”

As Kellan led me to our table, I remarked, “The Nerettis are serious about security.”

“While they would normally be good, I think Callum made a call to Leo to be on heightened alert.”

“That’s sweet of him.”

He huffed out an angry breath. “You wouldn’t say that if you’d heard him earlier.”

As he held out the chair for me, I sat down. “Let me guess. He’s not a fan of the two of us dating?”

“Correct.”

When Kellan sat down, I flashed him a smile. “How nice that our warring families can both agree on something?”

He chuckled as he grabbed a napkin. “They have more in common than they think.”

“I guess I can’t blame them. I mean, they’re doing it out of love.”

“That is true. I would probably be doing the same thing if I felt Eamon was involved with someone dangerous.”

My brows popped wide at his summation. “I’m dangerous, huh?”

“You know what I mean.”

“I kinda like the thought of being labeled a dangerous woman.”

“I don’t know about dangerous, but you’re sure as hell devious.” He jerked his chin at the table next to us where several young children giggled as they sucked their noodles into their mouth.

“I’m pretty sure you could’ve kept a napkin over your crotch, and they would’ve never known.”

He grimaced. “Yeah, but if their parents caught sight of it, I would look like a total pedo.”

I snorted. “That would’ve definitely put a damper on our evening if you’d been arrested.”

The waiter appeared then. “Good evening. What can I get you?”

“We’ll start with some red wine.”

“Actually, I’m not a fan.”

At Kellan’s blush, my heart beat accelerated. “How about a glass of white for the lady?” the waiter suggested.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Once we were alone, Kellan gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry for being an alpha asshole and ordering for us.”

“You could never be an asshole.”

“Give me time,” he replied with a grin.

“I seriously doubt that.”

“I’m a man. All men have asshole DNA.” He then winked. “Some just have more than others.”

“I have to agree with your assessment. Apparently my father’s DNA is overrun with asshole cells.”

“Same with mine.”

“I guess I’m lucky that it didn’t overrun my brothers.”

“It’s the same for me.”

A pang reverberated through my chest. “Maybe it’s because our mothers’ love was enough to weaken the asshole DNA.”

Kellan gave me a sad smile. “I know my mother is the only reason why my brothers and I aren’t absolute monsters.”

At the thought of my stepmother, I wrinkled my nose. “Of course, that thought is discredited when it comes to Maksim and Aleksander.”

“Is their mom not maternal?”

“She treated them well, especially Annika. But she wasn’t a mother like my mother was. Mine gave her heart and soul to each of us. She never had a nanny. She did everything herself.”

“That’s my Mam as well.”

Furrowing my brows, I asked, “Mam?”

Kellan smiled. “That’s an Irish nickname for mother. Instead of mom, it’s mam. When we were little, we called her mammy.”

“Since my mother didn’t grow up in Russia, she didn’t use the names like mamulya or mamochka . We called her mama, but we pronounced it like in British period dramas.”

“Don’t mention anything British in front of the Northern Irish man,” Kellan teased.

“I’ll have to remember that.”

With an intense look on his face, Kellan opened his mouth to say something. But then the waiter appeared again with our wine. “Would you like a starter while you decide?”

“Bruschetta?” I suggested.

Kellan nodded. “My friends tell me I have to try the calamari.”

The waiter nodded. “Good choice, sir.”

When he left, I cocked my brows at Kellan. “What were you about to say when we were interrupted?”

“I’m not sure you’ll like it.”

With a pointed look, I ordered, “Spit it out!”