"Thank you for thekindsuggestion," Bridget forced out, making it very clear she thought Saoirse's helpful suggestion was anythingbutkind.
The kitchen door swung open, hitting the wall with a bang, much to Declan’s irritation. Ronan's amused gaze snagged on me while I tried not to stare at his broad, shirtless torso or the way his joggers hugged his thick, muscular thighs.
Color crept back up my neck and hit my cheeks in a blaze of fiery red as I looked at the stone floor and prayed for divine intervention.
"Are ya coming to the dance, Bridge?" Ronan's voice boomed across the kitchen. He sauntered across to the refrigerator and snagged a beer. Bridget beamed, apparently now over being insulted.
"Of course! That's why I returned early from the Vogue shoot in New York. I wouldn't want to miss such an important event in Declan's social calendar."
Declan ground his teeth but stayed silent. I peered at him through my bangs, surprised by his lack of enthusiasm. Surely he'd want his girlfriend there? It was an important event, after all. Saoirse had mentioned Aoife was on her way back with her boyfriend, Chris, in tow.
Lots of big names would be there. Local dignitaries, influencers, members of the criminal fraternity.
I planned to stay in my room. The memories of the last Kelly extravaganza were still too fresh in my mind.
"Amazing, eh, Dec? How sweet of the lovely Bridge to pop back early. I bet you're delighted." Even I could tell Ronan was taking the piss, but Bridget elected to ignore it. She just leaned into Declan, marking her territory.
Declan scowled at his brother.
"Yes, very. Now let's eat these pizzas before they get cold. Go choose a movie, girls, while I escort Bridget out."
Ronan scooped up the mountain of boxes and winked at us.
"No shite romance movies - are we clear, girls?"
"We're not watching Alien Vs Predator again!"
"But it's my favorite movie!" Ronan groaned dramatically when Saoirse thumped him before leading us downstairs into the basement home movie theater. I took a seat at the back of the room, hoping to eat some pizza and stay out of the conversation. Except Ronan picked up the box labeled 'Hawaiian' and another labeled 'extra hot, meat feast' and dropped into the chair next to me.
"Oy! I'm sitting next to my bestie! Move your fat, ugly ass!" Saoirse tried to wrestle her brother out of the chair next to me, but he gave her a middle finger salute and smirked.
"You're such a fucking useless dickhead," Saoirse spat as she slid into the next row with her pizza.
My stomach groaned loudly when Ronan opened my pizza box. The smell of hot cheese made my mouth water.
"Here, eat, Pixie girl." I took a thick slice of pizza from him and bit into it. A moan slipped out as I inhaled the decadently sweet combo of ham, pineapple, and tomato. God, the pizza fromRomano'swas amazing.
"Good?" When I looked up, Ronan's gray eyes had turned almost black. He stared at me as the lights dimmed.
"Mmm." Damn, it wassooogood. I almost wished I’d visited more in the last three years.
"Then eat it all because you've got way too skinny, and it doesn't suit you."
And just like that, my mood sank like the fucking Titanic.
8
Verity
The stench of man-sweat and testosterone, undercut with a sharp lemon fragrance, hit me hard when I walked into the basement gym. I scanned the room, searching for the twins, but it was empty.
Gyms were not my favorite place. Unlike my sister, I had zero interest in fitness or learning lethal martial arts moves. Sure, I sometimes did a Pilates class and had once taken part in a fun-run. Not that there'd been much fun involved.
No fun at all, in fact.
So why was I here, two days after pizza and movie night, dressed in a pair of pink yoga pants and a tee, at 7 AM? Oh yes. Orders from the big man himself.
No, not God. Although Declan had God-like attributes, such as a heavenly body and a face designed to deliver me into temptation.
