Face flaming, Dagr admitted, “Another law firm found her an acceptable position.”
Bébhinn looked surprised by the news. “Really,” she whispered, even though the table heard.
“Nothing and no one comes before your happiness, baby.” Dagr was smooth. Ciar would give him that.
“How are you feeling, Gray?” Ciar turned his attention to the woman doing her level best not to move. “I texted you while you were in Scotland. Did you not get them?” He knew he was playing with fire, but with Gray, he couldn’t help himself.
Under the table, Gray pinched the top of this leg. Before she could pull away, he flattened her hand on his thigh and held on tight enough that she couldn’t yank free without making a scene.
“I’m much better,” she gritted out. “I did get your messages. Thank you for your concern. Today is the first day I’ve felt well enough to respond to everyone. I’m starving after days of puking my guts up. Who wants a starter?”
Conversation started again, but as he scanned the table, Blair, who was sitting in the corner of the booth, had her eyes trained on him. She propped her menu against the napkin dispenser and quickly signed, “So, you’re the naked selfie guy.”
Oh shit. Gray told Blair about the pictures. Not who it was, though, but Blair was one of the cleverest people he’d ever met.She kept his attention another moment, long enough to sign, “Be careful.”
Ciar gave the tiny redhead a slight nod. He had no doubt that she would call in the big guns if he hurt her friend, and the big gun would be strapped to Thomas MacGregor’s thigh.
“Let me out, Ciar. I need to use the restroom,” Gray whispered and gave his side a small poke with her elbow.
Loudly, he replied, “Me too. I’ll walk with you.” To the table, he said, “Order me and Gray the crab cake bites.” It was a test of his acting skills not to smile at the fuming woman shoving him out of her way as she exited the booth.
They walked in silence to the back, but instead of letting her go into the women’s room, he grasped her upper arm and propelled her to the door just past the restrooms. Punching in the security code, he pulled her in behind him and shut the door fast.
Swinging her around until her back was pressed to the wooden storage door, he growled, “Now, Miss MacGregor, you’re going to listen to what I have to say whether you want to or not.”
Her “I want to” threw off the righteous anger he’d been building.
“Well, good then.”Real cool, Murphy.
“That dinner was business.” At her disbelieving snort, he added, “It was business to me. My boss set it up weeks ago. The office is about to land one of the biggest, most lucrative clients we’ve ever had. Daria was the client’s daughter. Anders leaves nothing to chance, and if he thought me wining and dining that idiot woman would give us a leg up in negotiations, he wasn’t above taking it.
“Or at least having me take it. It was business, Gray. Damn it,” his palms slapped the door on each side of her body, “I fucked up. I should have told you I had to take a woman out. Ishould have told you that I would never touch another woman as long as I thought I had even the barest chance of having you.”
When he finished his speech, they were both breathing heavy, their lips almost touching, their heaving chests brushing.
He let his hands slide down the door until he had her hips in his grasp. She placed her hands on his chest and leaned forward until her breath tickled his ear.
“I believe you, but business or pleasure, no woman would ever touch what is mine. I stood there and watched her lay a possessive hand on you, and you did nothing to stop her.
“I’m worth more than that. I’m a MacGregor, Ciar. I’m no one’s second best.”
With that shocking announcement, she shoved his chest. The unexpected move caused him to stumble back, allowing her to open the door behind her and escape.
“Well, fuck me.”
seven
PRESENT—FLIGHT TO COLORADO
GRAY
Stop looking at him,you idiot.No matter how many times Gray berated herself, her eyes kept finding Ciar’s over and over.
She had every right to put him in his place the night before and refused to feel guilty. Over breakfast with the O’Faolains that morning, she spoke to Ciar as she always had, as friends and now as a client.
While the group chatted, waiting for Dagr’s father, Ulf, to arrive, Gray approached Ciar and went over some of the details she hoped they could finalize for his high-end pub while they were in Colorado.
He hadn’t liked her no-nonsense, we’re back to being friends, approach. When he responded, it was low enough that no one could overhear. “Cut the shit, Gray. Don’t treat me like you haven’t had my hard dick rubbing between your legs, and my tongue as deep in your throat as it could go.”
