I answer, knowing exactly what this is about before Callum even speaks.
“Ronan.” His voice is clipped. “We need to talk.”
“Then talk.” I don’t bother hiding the irritation in my tone.
“This marriage… It’s not exactly benefiting my family the way you promised. It seems you’re getting all the benefits from this union while we’re getting nothing.”
“Your sister is getting plenty of benefits, trust me.”
For a second, I wish Callum was in the room, if only so I could see the look on his face.
While I might not have technically fucked his sister, he doesn’t need to know that. And from the sounds of it, he’d do well to remember that she’s living under my roof and is completely atmymercy.
“I want to arrange a meeting to discuss strategy,” he eventually says, and I roll my eyes.
“You’re serious?”
“I wouldn’t have called if I wasn’t.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, Callum, your family was circling the drain until I decided to do you a favor and stepped in.”
His answering silence only makes me want to push the knife in farther.
“You want to talk about fairness? Consider where you’d be right now without this alliance, then ask yourself if this call was a good idea.”
He hangs up without another word, and I huff a laugh.
Smart man.
I set down my phone on the desk and lean back in my chair, glancing out of the window.
The Range Rover is cutting a smooth path up the driveway, and my blood instantly heats.
I’m pissed as hell after the call with Callum, and what better way to let off some steam than to rile Ciara up. It’s truly becoming one of my favorite pastimes.
I head out of the study and toward the kitchen just in time to hear the door to the garage slam shut.
My lips twitch when I enter the kitchen as Ciara dumps what looks to be a load of crap on the island.
She doesn’t even look up as I approach her, which grates on my nerves.
“Have you always been this messy?” I gesture at the discarded coffee cup and random bags she brought in from the car. “Or is this just for my benefit?”
She looks up at me then, her eyebrows raised and her green eyes blazing. “Seriously?”
“It’s just a question.” I tuck my hands into my pockets. “I wouldn’t want you thinking your only job around here is to keep the bed warm.”
Her jaw tightens as she snatches her coffee cup off of the counter and tosses it in the trash. “Is it exhausting being this much of an asshole, or does it come naturally?”
I smirk as I lean against the island, my eyes glued to her ass as she moves around the kitchen. I swear, she wore that short skirt just to tease me, and unfortunately for me, it’s working.
“Pretty naturally,” I grunt as I adjust myself.
She shoots me another glare over her shoulder, and I bite the inside of my cheek to prevent my grin.
“I had a great day, by the way, thanks for asking,” she mutters under her breath as she passes me.
I grab her wrist, halting her in her tracks. “If you want the kind of marriage where we talk about our days,Tine Bheag, I suggest you start holding up your end of the bargain, starting with picking up around the house.”
