Torin was an intelligent man, and she admired him for his strength of mind and body.
He surveyed the thick trees that bordered Oakland, his eyes narrowing. He probably had a friend or two keeping watch in the woods. He never went anywhere without his companions from the Saints Alley gang. If there was one good thing about gangs, at least they looked out for each other.
It’s just that Torin wouldn’t have needed looking out for if he’d never joined a gang in the first place.
He shifted his attention back to her. “How have you been?”
She couldn’t contain a smile. “I love it here.”
“You do?” His eyes held uncertainty and hope, as though he desperately wanted to believe her.
“I do.” The workload was still difficult and endless, but as long as she could spend time with Kiernan as well as read her books, she would be satisfied.
“I didn’t believe Mr. Shanahan when he told me to call off the matchmaking. But it looks like he was right, that you’re happy enough.”
Call off the matchmaking? Surely Torin meant that Kiernan had wanted the matchmaking called off with other fellowsexcept for him.
“I’m happy,” she reassured her brother.
“I’ve been worried about you living here, that maybe Mr. Shanahan would take liberties with you.”
“He’s a good man, Torin.” She didn’t realize how besotted she sounded until his brows dipped into a dangerous glare.
“You like him,” he said in a low, ominous voice.
Something in Torin’s eyes made her hesitate to admit just how much she liked Kiernan.
What if Torin didn’t know that Bellamy had lined up a match with Kiernan? Even if Bellamy hadn’t spoken with Torin about the man he’d picked for her, surely Kiernan had mentioned it. He’d said he’d talk with Torin. But maybe he hadn’t yet done so.
“I told Mr. Shanahan to leave you alone.” Torin hefted his shoulders as though preparing for a fight.
“So you don’t approve of the match?”
“What match?”
“With Kiernan.”
Torin’s brows rose at her use of Kiernan’s given name.
“With Mr. Shanahan,” she quickly corrected herself.
Torin opened his mouth to respond but then didn’t say anything.
It was becoming clearer by the moment that neither Bellamy nor Kiernan had said anything to Torin about the match, and that was strange. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned it either. But now that she had, she might as well clear up his confusion. “When Bellamy met with me a couple of weeks ago, he told me his choice of match for me was Kiernan—Mr. Shanahan.”
“He did?”
“Aye, so he did.”
“Whyever for?” Torin’s confusion only seemed to be increasing by the moment rather than clearing up.
“I didn’t believe Bellamy was serious at first either. But when Kiernan began spending time with me, I realized he’s been giving the match a fair try, just as I have.”
“Blimey.” Torin scrubbed a hand down his mouth and chin. “I never would have expected Mr. Shanahan to agree to something like that. Not with how arrogant he is.”
“He’s not arrogant. He’s actually really wonderful.”
Torin halted. “I was right. You’ve already fallen for him.”
