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After mentally scrambling for a way to minimize contact, I blurted out, “I say we give it a trial run. Tell them we’ll be at their disposal for ninety days.

We want to test whether it fits with our business and lifestyles.

You can explain the expansion idea. While we do that, we can work on finding a place for the second office.

I would like to say that I’d like to remain in our Hastings office no matter where the second one is,” I tacked on the end.

At least if I did that, it would limit seeing him.

“Really? I thought you’d love to be in the new one,” Rardo said.

“I would’ve, but with Aurora having the baby and no help, she needs me close. I promised she could count on me.”

Lucky for me, this seemed to appease them.

They soon were content, and Papà said he’d wait a few days before telling Darragh our decision.

It was in case one of us had second thoughts or other concerns.

It sounded wise, so we didn’t object. It was another hour before the evening broke up, and they excused themselves.

I was exhausted when they left. I reluctantly headed to my room.

I knew I was in for a terrible night, no matter how tired I was.

There was no way Rian wouldn’t be weighing heavily on my mind and in my dreams.

???

This week has been extremely busy. Not only had we posted bail for many people, but we also handled four cases involving individuals who had jumped bail and had to be hunted down.

Not all were bonded by DeSantis Bounty & Bonds.

Two were out of state and ended up in Florida, which was typical.

We had no idea why so many ran here, but it was good for business.

We worked late every night until tonight.

Papà waited until Wednesday evening to call Darragh and give him our answer. Despite my issues with it exposing me more to Rian, I kept my mouth shut. Darragh agreed to a ninety-day trial. He’d been thankful, according to Papà.

I was thankful that I had tonight off. It was time to implement my plan to replace Rian as my fantasy man and find a real one.

Aurora made my plan more possible. Even though she was pregnant and couldn’t drink, she wasn’t opposed to joining me as my wing woman.

I hated to go alone. When I told her I needed a night out and hoped I might get lucky and meet someone, she was all for it.

Knowing my aversion to doing it alone, she’d offered to come.

Her only hesitancy was what if she scared off prospective men due to her pregnancy.

I informed her if men were turned off or scared due to that, I didn’t want their pansy asses anyway.

She giggled and told me she loved me. I said the same.

She was the sister I never had. My family treated her as if she were a part of our family. She even called my dad Papà.

We got ready at her place. She bemoaned her lack of clothing and said she looked like an ugly beached whale.

I had to inform her that she was full of it.

Even if she did have a belly, she wasn’t nearly as big as she thought.

Her skin glowed, and she was gorgeous. I knew when I had kids, I’d end up looking like hell. I hated her, and I said as much.

We both decided to wear dresses. Hers came to just above her knees.

It was a dark rose pink bodycon, off-the-shoulder style that emphasized her entire body.

I told her that her larger-than-normal breasts were more eye-catching than her belly.

Her hair was left down in a long tousled style.

Her makeup was on point. The only consideration in her outfit for her pregnancy was that she wore a pair of short kitten heels instead of high heels. She was stunning.

Aurora pleaded with me to dress similarly to her so she wouldn’t feel as weird.

I was the one who bought her the dress in the first place.

I agreed and had a bright blue bodycon and an off-the-shoulder dress similar to hers.

Mine hit higher up on my legs, closer to mid-thigh.

My body was curved differently from hers, but I thought I looked good.

Aurora said I was hot and would have the men following me like slaves.

I waved her comment away. I knew I wasn’t ugly, but I would hope a man would want me for more than my looks or body.

My hair was left long. I didn’t get to wear it that way much due to the job.

You were stupid if you left it flowing. It got in the way, and those we apprehended could use it against you.

A black lace choker went around my throat, and I added long, ornate, slightly Gothic-looking silver-and-black earrings to my ears.

My makeup was smoky and darker than my usual daytime makeup.

I wore a pair of four-inch strappy heels for shoes, which showed off my red toenail polish and toned legs.

I loved my legs the most. We took her car.

Aurora would drive us home if I drank, and I would crash at her place.

I let her pick the place since she was doing me a favor.

We planned to dance and hang out, and maybe I’d have a drink or two.

She refused to tell me where we were going, only that we’d be going to Jacksonville, would have fun, and had to dress up.

When she pulled into the location, I had to hold back my groan. Why did she have to pick this place?

Before us was Sirens, one of the hottest nightclubs in Florida and the one owned by none other than the freaking O’Sheeran family.

Christ, why did she choose this one? It was true.

We’d talked about it and wanted to check it out one day, but we had never done it, mainly because Weasel Shit had objected to it.

He said there was no way he wanted his girlfriend in there.

She’d listened. I glanced over at her. She was giving me a happy grin.

I knew she wanted me to be excited, and I refused to ruin her night.

“Wow, I had no clue this was the place. Are you sure we can even get in? I heard that some people end up standing outside for hours and don’t always make it inside,” I cautioned.

She parked in a spot that wasn’t four hundred miles from the door.

It was a fluke to find one that close. The lot was packed.

“All we can do is try. We’re early, so that might help our odds. Come on, we’ll stand in line, and if we don’t make it in within an hour, we’ll go somewhere else,” she pleaded.

“We can do that.”

We made our way to the front, where a long line was formed.

We stood at the end. People were chattering excitedly.

The line was moving slowly. I saw two huge, intimidating men standing at the door.

They were the ones to check IDs and wave people inside when it was time.

I kept reminding myself that just because they owned it didn’t mean Rian would be here tonight.

And if he was, it was a vast place. Three levels, I’d heard.

What would be the odds we’d see each other even if he were?

We were at the fifty-minute mark. I was about to suggest to Aurora we cut out now when I heard my name called.

I glanced around to see who knew me there.

My mouth dropped open when I saw Aidan, Karizma, Alistair, and Aisling O’Sheeran.

Technically, Aisling and Alistair’s last name wasn’t O’Sheeran, but they were all part of the family.

As they came closer, I heard Aurora gasp.

Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was open.

She recognized at least Aidan and Aisling.

I talked about my work with her. However, the extracurricular stuff we did was a secret. I didn’t believe she’d narc on or judge us, but it was better to keep it quiet. Aurora had no idea we’d met or had been helping the O’Sheerans. She had to think, how the hell did they know me?

They finally made it to us. The men acting as their bodyguards remained in the background, yet they were alert.

The women instantly embraced me, then released me, and the men did the same.

I was shocked. They all said they missed me last weekend and how good it was to see me.

I muttered something along those same lines that seemed to satisfy them.

When they were done, they turned and smiled sweetly at Aurora. My manners kicked in.

“I’m so sorry, how rude. Forgive me, Rora.

Everyone, this is my best friend, Aurora.

We’ve been besties since our first day of high school.

Aurora, this is Aidan O’Sheeran and his wife, Karizma.

Aisling is Aidan’s sister, and she’s married to Alistair.

Their last name is Graeme.” I knew that from my investigation of them.

“H-hello, it’s very nice to meet you. I had no idea Gia knew you,” Aurora said.

“We’ve recently met. Her family and ours had an unexpected business overlap. We were fortunate to meet all of them,” Aidan explained smoothly.

“Are you meeting someone here?” Karizma asked.

“No, it’s just the two of us. We decided we needed a night out. Aurora surprised me with this place. We’ve never been here,” I said.

“We’d heard rumors about how long it takes to get in, but I don’t think I believed them until tonight.” Aurora chuckled.

“How long have you been in line?” Aisling asked.

I glanced at my phone and said, “An hour in a couple more minutes.”

“Oh no, you shouldn’t wait that long, especially with Aurora in her condition. I know how tiring it is to stand when pregnant,” Aisling commented as she rubbed her rounded belly.