8
Moira - Fall - 2016
Moira’s stomachdropped at the sound of her boss’s voice behindher.
Swirling, her jaw followed suit, and fell to her chest. She wished the ground would swallow her right that instant as she eyeballed the newcomers. Not so much because of Noah’s boyish grin splitting his face as he took in the scene he had walked into, but definitely because of the Greek god standing besidehim.
She tried and failed to take her eyes off the young man’sperfection.
Smooth forehead, broad shoulders, and narrowhips.
Big blue eyes, shoulder-length brown hair, and drool-worthy brawnyeverything.
Her eyes stuck on the man’s powerful thighs bulging beneath the stretched fabric of his khaki Bermudashorts.
Her brain stuck in a loop feeding her erotic scenes featuring another part of his anatomy that was equally bulging hisshorts.
Damnit.
When arousal flooded her girly parts, like it hadn’t happened in forever, reminding Moira of her dry spell, she got self-conscious. Not of her natural reaction to the man’s beauty, but of her disheveledappearance.
Crap.
As Noah introduced his companion, she tucked a strand of hair that had escaped the loose bun she had piled on top of her head. “Ladies, sorry to interrupt your riveting debate, but I’d like you to meet the newest addition to my band. Aidan Gallagher, these are Ana Oliveira, Karen Razzini, and MoiraRomano.”
Aidan dipped his head to greet each woman as Noah named them, but his eyes didn’t leave Moira’s when he spoke, in a charming accent that caressed her ears. “Always a pleasure meeting your country’s beauties. I think I might never go back toIreland.”
That explained the music in his voice. Moira had lost hers, so she leaned on the mop and ogled, praying she wouldn’tdrool.
Karen stretched out her hand. “Right back at you. Ireland has just shot up to the top of my dream destinations bucketlist.”
Even his laughter has an enchanting ring toit.
Moira wished her inner teenager would behave, but that was a lost cause. Aidan Gallagher was the right age for the brat. Adult Moira, however, was too old for that kind of nonsense. She needed to focus on that. Maybe then she would regain control of her rebelledbody.
Still incapable of speaking or moving, she watched Aidan bowed over Karen’s hand pretending to kiss it, like gentlemen used to do in imperial times, and whispered in French, “Enchanté.” He repeated the reverence to Ana. He did the same with Moira’s hand, except he didn’t let go of it, once he straighten his back. He held the fingers she tried to pull away and covered her hand with his other one. Blue eyes probed hers, and the rest of the world faded to the background. “Have dinner withme.”
Yes, screamed teenMoira.
The perfect arch of his right eyebrow hitched up, followed by his full lower lip. “Please?”
Yes, damn it, insisted the brat, stomping afoot.
Moira shut her eyes on temptation for a second and recovered her cool when she reopened them. Except, she had to focus her stare on the lower button of his polo shirt to be able to keep her resolve. “Sorry. I’ve got two kids to look after when I go home.” She brandished the killer blow with precision. Nothing scared men like the Kword.
“I’m great withkids.”
Her time to probe his gaze. Aidan wasn’t bullshitting her. Great. Too bad he was a friend of her bosses, a barely legal friend of herbosses.
“I don’t doubt it, being close to their age andall.”
“Moira!” Karen and Ana scoldedher.
“Ouch!” Noah sounded at the same time as thewomen.
Aidan was the only one amused by her words, as his guffaw indicated. The sound sparked another wave of reaction in her. She steeled her spine and held the scowl in place as itslipped.
He remarked, “Twenty-two is a long way from childhood, but I’ll take that as acompliment.”
