Jamie grinned. “Thought ya were taking the piss outta me for sure. My word, two knockouts from the same mold.”
Forrest whirled toward Jamie. “Were you two fighting?”
He shook his head. “No, love. Fighting? Not us. We’re good God-fearing Irishmen, we don’t fight. We settle disagreements.” He winked at Forrest, but then Rourke was in my space and all I could see was his furious face. He trapped me there. Panic rushed through me and I shoved him away. Rourke came back in and pushed me hard, and this time it did hurt as I smacked against the wall. Forrest was cursing again and on Rourke, tugging at his arm, but Rourke didn’t budge.
“Stop,” he roared at Forrest.
Forrest didn’t move away, just closed his mouth and glared.
Rourke crowded close enough that I could feel his breath on my cheeks, and hissed quietly, “If you ever, and I meanever, pretend to be Forrest again.”
Forrest snorted out a laugh, and Rourke gave him a sour look.
“What did you do?” Forrest whispered and stared at me.
My face scalded and I shook my head.
“You do that shit with the wrong person here, and you could get someone killed.” Rourke finished and backed off, straightening his tie. His suit coat was gone, and his sleeves were rolled to the elbows. Blood dotted the white shirt.
Jamie winked at Forrest again. “Someone killed? Ach, that’s a bit of an overstatement. Like anyone could kill me. Rourke was hot under the collar when I asked if he was done with ya, love. Tried to take my head clean off—only tried,” he added as Forrest placed a hand on his hip and stared at Rourke. “Guess he’s happy with his twofer. I sure as shite would be. Your brother gives wicked head.”
Forrest stepped forward whip fast and cracked his palm across Jamie’s face, and then it was Rourke who was hauling ass across the room to drag Forrest from Jamie. I just stood there, my knees wanting to dump me on the floor while my face scorched.
“You respect my brother. He’s… he doesn’t like to hear things like that. Look at him,” Forrest nearly screeched.
Jamie, who had a handprint blossoming on his cheek to go with the blood on his lip, did turn his attention to me, and I wanted to die.
“I’m sorry,” I said to the room in general and then stared at my boots. They were filthy, and this white carpet was so nice. I should go home where I belonged. Hell, I’d been here one night and look at the problems I was causing.
“Hunter’s a bad influence on you,” Rourke said, and I couldn’t tell if he was amused or pissed off, but I felt even worse.
Glancing up at Jamie, who was back to laughing and shaking his head, I wished again I’d stayed a little longer with him, but now that he knew I wasn’t Forrest…. To my horror, Jamie caught me staring.
“You’re more of a wee devil than I thought. Ya work here too, then?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Forrest cut in.
Jamie said something else to him, but I couldn’t stand being the center of attention, couldn’t stand that I’d caused so much trouble. I really wished, in a messed up way, that Forrest would have just told himyes, I did work here, so I would have had some sort of excuse to go back to his room and finish what we’d started.
“Angel’s free,” I mumbled and then cut toward the door. I made it outside before I realized I didn’t have anywhere to run. At home in New Gothenburg, when things were terrible, before King…ugh, goddamned King… I would go hide in his office, and that was good. I’d never had a place I could go to and feel safe that way. And there was no hiding spot like that here. I covered my face with my hands and breathed.
“What’s your name, wee devil?” The whisper in my ear caught me by surprise. I stiffened, but then hands landed on my arms, and I glanced over my shoulder. Jamie’s brown eyes were twinkling more than ever, and instead of being furious with me, or anything else I had imagined might be the case, he seemed… curious. My breath caught.
“Hunter. And you’re Jamie.”
He laughed. “That I am.” Moving around, he didn’t take his hands away, so that by the time he came to stand in front of me he had a light hold on my forearms. He eased my hands from my face until he had them both firmly grasped in his. “You’re a satisfying change of pace for a man like me.”
“Sorry it was bad.” I tried to look away, but he let go of my hands and snagged my chin. I was forced to stare back into his eyes.
“Didn’t say that. Do ya often take compliments as attacks?”
Irritated, I tried to jerk my chin free. “I… people don’t say nice shit to me. I’m… I’m a King.” Prospect, but he didn’t need to know that. Seemed I’d surprised him because his eyes widened a little, but he didn’t let go, just rubbed his thumb along my jaw.
“Woulda never have guessed.”
“I won’t be here long. I’ll be going back to New Gothenburg soon.” I didn’t know why I wanted him to know that. Maybe I just wanted to chase him away before I could get excited about him standing here with me, touching me, and decide it meant something it probably didn’t.
“Interesting.”
