Not by a flicker of expression did he give the slightest indication her words had wounded him.
"You make a decent cup of tea. Being half Irish, we tend to drink it strong, enough to knock you back." He smiled at her as she snarled. "Have I told you already how beautiful you are when you're angry?" he eyed her warily as she hefted the cup in one hand, a dangerous look in her eyes. "And if you toss that hot cup of tea in my face, you'll be scarring the father of your children."
Biting off a scream, she slapped the cup on the saucer and moved towards the front door. He figured he had better leave before she caused physical damage.
"How about..." She slammed the door in his face, cutting off the rest of the words.
Grinning like an idiot, he rocked back on his heels and contemplated trying his luck by shoving it open when he heardthe locks engaged. Shaking his head, he turned around and ran out into the rain.
Pausing in the act of opening the door, he turned to look at the window, in time to see the living room curtain twitching closed.
"Yep." He declared cheerfully as he hopped into the driver's seat. "She's interested."
Taking a peek out the window, she watched as his taillights disappeared, before leaning against the door and closing her eyes. Despite the annoyance and frustration at his temerity, she had to admit that the man had gotten under her skin.
"Father of my children, my ass." She muttered, a smile curving her lips. It did her ego good to have a man like that pursuing her. But that had to stop.
She sobered instantly, the old worry nagging at her. She had more than enough drama in her life to deal with. She certainly did not need any more from the likes of Oscar O'Sullivan.
Shaking her head, she went back to the kitchen to clean up.
He waited a few more days and went back for a visit. This time Kiara was ready for him. Seated on the porch, she was hammering at her laptop when the vehicle pulled up.
Shaking her head, she continued working, ignoring him when he strolled up the driveway, bearing a basket.
"I was doing some paperwork, when something told me that you had not had a decent meal." Placing the basket on the porch swing, he sat companionably next to her and started to take out the contents.
"I think I'm going to have to take out a TRO on you. I happen to have a very good lawyer."
"We have better ones." He told her cheerfully, pulling out cheeses, thin crackers, fat purple grapes and a bottle of Chianti. "So, how's it going?"
She laughed. It could not be helped. The man was incorrigible.
"Don't you have a business to run?"
"I do, yes. But I happen to have an excellent assistant as well as a business manager. He's a pain in the ass, but he's thorough," his quick grin came. "I'll get some glasses."
She watched him stroll inside and shook her head in resignation.
Chapter 1
"Twins?" Kiara divided a stunned look between the doctor and the man standing next to the examination table. "Twins?" She repeated. "How? I don't... I'm an only child and so were my parents." She searched frantically through her head to see if she could remember anyone saying there were twins in her very small family and came up blank.
"Ah, there's someone in my family." Oscar ran the tip of his tongue over his teeth. "My maternal grandfather Roger Sweeney. Had a twin who died as an infant."
Her gaze swung to the man holding her hand. It was hard to believe that it had been one year since she walked into one of his pubs and started something. Oh, she had fought valiantly to stop the instant attraction that had taken on a life of its own. Now she was pregnant. With twins.
"You didn't think to share that piece of information with me?"
Her precise diction always fascinated him. From the first time she walked into his pub, he had been poleaxed. Almost brought to his knees. He had spent close to three months trying to convince her that they belonged together.
"Baby..."
"Don't baby me." She snapped, trying desperately to curb the fear. They had arguments about getting married and she had finally committed to living together.
He winced as her fingers dug into his, pressing against his bones. "I'm pregnant. With two babies inside me." She heaved out a breath and could just imagine what her dear mother was going to say. She had not warmed to Oscar, not one bit. It did not matter that he was loaded and handsome and charming. There had been one dire prediction after the other.
"He was going to move on to the next willing woman. He was too pretty and has a wildness about him." There had been others.
