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I ignore him, bouncing Emilia on my hip to make her laugh again. “He’s right,” I tell her. “Not every woman. Because you’ll be the most loyal, best woman out there, won’t you?”
Dante sighs.
Sienna finishes getting ready just as the nanny returns to take over, and we head out, driving separately. Tonight is supposed to be a friendly dinner to get to know each other. I don’t know if Cara took the time to see what I looked like or not, but I’m just waiting to see her face when she realizes who I am.
The dinner is being held at our restaurant in Manhattan, though now it’ll also belong to the Irish once we say our vows. Already, we’re supplying their beer at the restaurant, on top of offering it at every event thereafter. It’s located on the top floor, complete with a deck that overlooks the New York skyline. Sienna had planned it all, mostly because I couldn’t be bothered with planning something I didn’t even want to do.
When we arrive, there are already a few other customers present. Most of them I recognize. The mayor of New York City is here, along with his wife. Along with several other businessmen Dante mostly deals with, are scattered about the tables. But the first person I see when I walk in…is her.
Cara is seated beside her father, a brilliant smile plastered on her face. It can’t be real, but to anyone else, it probably looks as if she’s the happiest woman in the world. My eyes can’t help but trace the soft curves of her body. That dress she’s wearing leaves nothing to the imagination. It’s skin-tight, hugging her hips and breasts, the fabric so thin I can see just a hint of the skin beneath the shimmering cloth. It’s stark red, brilliant among the sea of black suits and cocktail dresses. Those onyx eyes are lined with black, shadowed with just the right amount of gray, and her raven-like hair glimmers beneath the fairy lights strung along the ceiling.
Overall, she looks stunning.
Which just makes me hate her more.
She catches sight of Dante and Sienna almost immediately, and it takes her a second to realize I’m standing just behind them. I see the exact moment she discovers who she’s about to marry. At first, her eyes widen with shock, lush lips parting, and I can’t help but imagine how they’d look…doing other things. But then the shock is gone in seconds, replaced with the same flashy smile.
I follow Dante and Sienna, heading straight towards the Irish. Besides her father, who looks very much like the male version of his daughter, they’d brought along some friends. Two men bigger than Cain stand on either side of them, completely expressionless. They look like some mean motherfuckers, and I can see the bulge beneath their suit jackets. Now that I’m paying attention, I notice more men spread out amongst the crowd.
Apparently, they still didn’t trust us. Imagine that.
“This must be the lad, Killian.” Callahan Ryan rises and steps forward, hand outstretched. I take it, ignoring the iron-like grip he gives me. I think it’s meant to be intimidating, but the dude is like five inches shorter than I am.
“Yes, sir,” I reply politely, forcing the words out.
Cara stands still as stone beside him. She’s glaring at me now, probably forgetting that she’s supposed to be putting on a show. I turn to her next, grinning. “It’s so nice to properly meet you again. Without all the sneaking around.”
Her eyes flare just a bit at my remark, and it’s clear she understands. “I wouldn’t call trying to pick up women at the club meeting.”
Her father and my brother eye us both critically as we stare each other down. Cara’s still glaring, and I can’t wipe the smug grin off my face. “Whatever you want to call it, it’s a pleasure.” I take her hand, letting my lips brush across her skin.
She shivers before yanking her fingers from my grip. “I wish I could say the same.”
“Cara,” Callahan hisses. She sighs and looks away, finally noticing we’re being watched. Nearly every eye in the hall has turned on us. Cara straightens, smoothing out the tight pencil skirt of her dress to cover up her mistake.
Sienna’s eyes flick between us. “So, you two have already met?”
Cara snorts, surprising me. “Something like that.” Her father looks like he’s about to smack her upside the head.
We sit in uncomfortable silence, and I can almost feel the heat of Cara’s gaze zeroed in on me. I ignore her, letting her stew for a while. This dinner might turn out more fun than I thought it would be. The waiter arrives, and we allow Callahan to order the alcohol for us. Of course, it’s his own beer. I just really hope it doesn’t taste like shit.
Cara is still watching me when the waiter returns. Sienna and Callahan are politely discussing their more legal businesses, with my sister-in-law pretending to be interested in how a brewery business even works. It’s really not that complicated. You make the beer. Then you sell it. That’s it.
“So, Killian.” Cara’s voice catches my attention, along with the rest of the table. “What do you do?”
I relax, one arm hanging over the back of my chair. “I manage the clubs. As you know.” Among other things, I mentally add. Her lip curls. The subtle jab isn’t lost on her.
“Sounds…interesting. You must spend a lot of time there, then. At the clubs.”
I clench my teeth, forcing a smile. “Yup.”
And that’s when I know she’s heard everything about me. Or at least thinks she’s heard everything. From how she’s been acting, I can take a guess at what she thinks she knows.
Instantly, I’m on guard. There’s no fucking way I’m letting this stuck-up bitch judge me before she’s even gotten to know me. I’ll have her questioning every damn thing by the end of tonight. She believes she can play this little game and win. But she would be dead wrong.
I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Maybe I’ll take you to one and show you what I really do.” Her face turns scarlet at my wink.
I sit back, satisfied.
