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I couldn’t help it; I hid my face in my hands and laughed. It was the distraction I needed. I relaxed when Rudy’s arms came around me as he sat on the arm of the chair beside me.
“Ignore them,” he snickered.
“I do. I mean, it’s a daily threat now. If she meant it, he’d have been gone long ago.”
He leaned in and kissed me softly. “Exactly.” He ran his finger over my sore cheek. “No matter what’s in yer past, I want to know it. I don’t see ye any differently. Well, I now know just how strong and determined ye are. To survive as much as ye have—ye never have to worry about anything like that happening again.”
“I won’t allow anything like that to happen to me again. I’m worth more than that.”
“Can you say that again, a little louder?” May requested. “I’m not sure I heard you.”
I did. Much louder. So loud, it probably drew the neighbors’ attention.
Rudy leaned back down, and once again, his lips brushed mine. The kiss didn’t last as long as I wished it had, but it was just what I needed. He gave me another reason to take care of myself, to be the best me I could be. The ‘me’ that fell in love with him sometime between “grab your pad and pencil” and “can I buy you dinner?”
This man was going to be the best part of the new life I was making for myself.
Chapter Four
Rudy
What were they on about now?
I should be?—
Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I rolled my head, cracking my tension-filled neck.
This mood I was in seemed to get worse by the moment. Three days without her by my side and I was falling apart.
“This is a brilliant idea.”
“We should set it up for the last Saturday of the month.”
“Aye, whatever ye wanna do, Kandy.”
“There needs to be an MC chosen.”
“I’ll do it.”
“No, you’re going to be on the block.”
Glaring down at my desk, the red light on the phone showing the line was in use only served to aggravate my already pissed off mood. They were all talking at once. I was in no way wanting to be on this call or have anything to do with any of this. It was a charity; I’d write a check, but Da insisted I be a part of this—shite.
What Da wanted, he usually got.
Pacing in front of the large window that adorned the corner of my office, I listened yet heard nothing more that they were saying. The committee for a new charity my Da’s friend’s family—say that ten times fast—was a part of wanted to do an auction. A people auction. Not just any people, no. The rich, young, and to use the words I’d heard earlier, “pretty” people in the area.
Of course, me Da thought putting my name on the list was a good idea. I, however, was not inclined to be a show dog. I had other things to do and yet, it was for a charity that would help people like my Ella. I was caught between helping and just saying feck aff to it all.
I glanced down at the busy street and let my mind slow down. I had a fair view of the city below from this height, but I couldn’t really concentrate on it or this conference call anymore; or anything for that matter. Not right now.
Ella, my sweet, kind-hearted angel—as she has been lately—was consuming my every thought. She’s been out of the office for the last few days, getting herself ‘together.’ With everything that happened with her ex, I didn’t blame her. I told her to take her time, but it was a struggle to not rush over to her place and pull her into my arms.
I needed to know that she was okay. To be there for her. What he’d done to her then and just days ago?—
“Fecking arse piece. If ye wasn’t already in jail, I’d rip yer head aff!”
“Excuse me?” the voice, the one that seemed to be trying to take charge anytime someone else spoke, sounded put out. I didn’t have time for delicate feelings right now.
