Page 30 of Three Irish Kings

She tilts her head, narrowing her eyes at me. “You’re kind of the strong, silent type, aren’t you?”

I chuckle. “I guess you could say that.”

“Didn’t even know you could crack a smile, let alone laugh.”

“I don’t, not often.”

“Don’t smile or don’t laugh?”

“Both. Either.”

“Why’s that?”

I go silent for a moment. “I guess in my life, there’s never all that much to smile about.”

The sundress slips down her shoulder, revealing just a bit of the top of her breast.

Blood floods my face.

I really need to get laid.

I clear my throat and get the hell out of there.

I make my way to the kitchen, pouring another cup of coffee since my first one has gone cold.

What the hell is wrong with me?

What the hell is wrong with all three of us?

Chapter Nine

ISLA

My brief tasteof freedom is over by the time I open my eyes the next morning. Apparently, while I was sleeping, Cillian installed a new door. Stealthy fucker.

And this time, it locks from the outside.

Shit.

I had hoped it was Dare who stayed the night, hoping his attraction to me would make it easy for me to escape, but not discarding the possibility of it being any one of them and maybe me having to use my almost non-existing flirting skills.

But after Cillian splintered that door to pieces, the seduction plan went out the window, and I wasn’t able to pull myself out from that fearful headspace until after he left the room.

Something inside me tells me he didn’t want to hurt me, though. With all his arguing with Liam, I’m beginning to think he didn’t want to take me at all.

Dare certainly didn’t look like he did. I can tell by the guilt in his eyes every time he looks at me.

I rifle through the closet. It’s filled with luxury clothes, even though they’re a bit outdated. Makes me wonder if Liam has a sister, or worse, a wife.

The idea turns my stomach for reasons I can’t begin to understand.

Pulling out a simple shift dress, a green one that might bring out the bits of green in my eyes, I put it on and try the door.

My heart leaps when the knob turns.

Slowly walking out into the hall, I expect Cillian, but instead, it’s Dare who lounges on the couch, watching television.

My heart stops for a second.