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I catch her by the wrist, squeezing it as we lock eyes. “Love you.”
She quirks her lips. “Love you more.”
“Never.”
“Debatable.”
“It’s not.”
She grins as she walks away, and I watch each step she takes. I bring my top lip between my teeth as I watch her ass sway side to side. The tight black jeans mold to each curve that I love to squeeze and bite. I shouldn’t let her go, but I want her to enjoy her sisters. I can’t keep her locked up with me all the time.
Even though I want nothing more than to do just that.
I exhale and then adjust myself as I shake my head. My love drives me insane to the point that I feel out of control. I groan inwardly as I push off the brick building and head the other direction so that no one will know I was copping a feel of the owner’s granddaughter.
It isn’t until I’m on the edge of the celebration that Alex steps into my path. I jerk back, surprised since I didn’t see him. “Fucking hell, Cruz. What is your deal?” He eyes me, his brow perked as he stares at me. “What?”
“Is something going on with Clara?”
I pull in my brows, my heart kicking up. “What?”
His caramel eyes bore into mine, and I know he knows the truth. Fuck. “I saw you kissing her just a second ago.”
My throat bobs as I swallow. I shrug. “She’s a pretty girl,” I admit, and then I smile. “But it was nothing. Just a wee drunken one-night-stand mistake. We thought something was there, but she realized it was wrong, just as I did. She works for me, and she’s a baby.”
The lie leaves my mouth so quickly, and I realize I am a bit drunker than I thought. I try to smile, but guilt washes over me almost instantly. I can’t tell him the truth, though. I know he’ll run his mouth, and I want to be the one to tell Dan myself. I don’t want rumors starting. I don’t want anything to ruin Louisa and Ciaran’s wedding. It means too much to everyone.
“You hooked up with her?” he asks incredulously, and I shrug.
“Sure.”
“When?”
“Over a month ago. It’s no big deal. It meant nothing.”
“You’re right. She’s a sweet girl. You’re too rough and old for her.”
I bristle at his words. “Old. Jeez, you’re a real gobshite, ya know that?”
“I’m just saying.”
“Fine, but she’s an adult.”
He doesn’t like that, and even though he isn’t her blood, I can tell he’s protective. While I appreciate that, I’m the one who is supposed to protect her. She is mine. “I don’t like it, Coach. As much as I want you to be happy, I know she’s too sweet for you. You’ll chew her up and spit her out.”
I have to school my features because he’s right—the me before Clara was like that, but now, that girl owns me, and I’d never hurt her.
“Which is why it was a stupid drunken mistake. Don’t worry a bit about it, aye? All is well. She’s safe. I don’t want her. I’m going to go sober up,” I say, smacking his chest and walking past him. I exhale heavily, his words shaking me to my core, but I know they’re not true.
I would never hurt Clara.
Not when hurting her would lead to my demise.
But why do I have the feeling that I might have just done that?
CHAPTER 32
Clara
