“I can make more, pet. Besides, I like the thought of you wearing things I’ve bought for you. Of you flaunting my money in your father’s face. If it helps, you can think of it that way.”
My breath catches in my throat. “I don’t?—”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I know what I’m doing.”
“You can have me added to your accounts all you want, but it doesn’t mean anything,” I reason.
“Of course not. But you’re welcome to use it. Go on a shopping spree. Donate it to your favorite charities. Renovate the estate or buy another one. Blow it at the tables.”
“Maybe I’ll donate it all.” I try to sound confident, but I’m certain he can hear the way my voice quavers.
“Do it,” he insists. “Which charity? Should I have Mara show you to her favorite designers? I’m sure she’d love to indulge you.”
“I’m a little afraid of Mara, if we’re being honest. When she helped with my dress for the reception, she told me she’d kill me if I fucked things up for you.”
A smile tugs at O’Connor’s lips. “Trust me, that’s practically her saying she loves you.”
“Your friends are strange.”
“So we’ll start with charities. We're organizing a charity gala. Why don’t you give a generous donation in our name?”
“A gala?”
He nods, relaxing into a wide-limbed sprawl. “Plated, black-tie, you know.”
“All too well.”
“It would be a great opportunity to clear up our image after the reception.”
Wincing, I say, “Right. Of course.”
“I’m going to have to spoil you like this more often. It’s worth giving away my fortune to see you this speechless.”
I narrow my eyes to slits. “Don’t get used to it. Anyone would be shocked by being offered that amount of money. But I get to keep my mom’s inheritance, not that it would mean anything to you. And everything I make on my own.” It makes me feel greedy, but while he may be eager to give away everything he owns, I feel like I need to hold on to it with everything I have.
“Whatever’s yours remains yours. I would never take it from you.” He leans close and palms my hair, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. “So you’re just going to have to deal with receiving for now.”
“What about what my father owes Cian?”
A sad smile. “I told you I’ve taken care of it.”
“I should slap you more often. You aren’t planning to do anything dangerous, are you? Out of the norm, I mean? This isn’t a dying-wish situation, is it?” The thought grabs me by the throat. Has Cian said something? Done something? It hasn’t occurred to me until this moment that there may be men out there who want to do to O’Connor what he does to others. Christ, what have I gotten myself into?
“No, Catriona,” he says, the words colored by a smile, which he presses into my hair. It shocks me so much that I don’t react, and then it’s over before I can. “Nothing out of the usual, anyway.”
“Screw law school, I should have just become a findomme.”
He tilts his head. “A what?”
“A findomme. Financial dominatrix. A woman who dominates men for money.”
Shoving to his feet, heclenches, unclencheshis jaw again. “Let’s get out of here.”
CHAPTER 15
AIDEN
The silence on Catriona’s side of the car during the ride home grates. What I’d give to know what she’s thinking. This week has been a bitch. The waiting. For the news of the reception to break. But even more, for Catriona to come to me.
