Finally, his gaze lands on mine, pinning me in a stare so intimate it strips me bare. He strides over, sucking the inside of his cheek like he’s biting back a grin.
‘Good evening, ladies,’ he purrs to both of us, but his eyes remain fixed on me.
‘It was…’ I mutter, making a production of rolling my eyes. Ashley is going to take one look at me and know I’ve been keeping a secret from her.
‘Ouch.’ He holds a huge hand over his heart mockingly. ‘And there was me thinking we bonded last weekend.’
‘Ronan.’ The warning is clear in my tone.
‘Is that any way to talk to your new babysitter?’ A smile splits his mouth wide enough to reveal his straight, naturally white teeth.
‘You let him babysit the twins?’ Ashley shrieks.
I shrug like it meant nothing. ‘I was desperate.’
‘Yes, you were.’ Ronan’s cobalt eyes twinkle.
I shoot him a warning look.
Ashley’s beady eyes bounce between the two of us. ‘Shut. The. Front. Door! You two had sex.’
‘We didn’t,’ Ronan and I say simultaneously.
Ashley’s eyes narrow. ‘You so did.’
‘I would’ve, given half the chance,’ Ronan admits, torrid pupils boring into mine with an intensity that melts my underwear.
‘Yes, but I’m a good girl,’ I fire back. Laughter tumbles from his lips.
The air is heavy with hormones, mostly mine. Ronan’s raw masculine scent surrounds me, and I can’t think straight, dizzy with lust.
‘If it’s any consolation, I told her she should bone you.’ Ashley sweeps her auburn hair behind her ear, her voice as solemn as a judge’s. How this woman is the principal of themost prestigious Catholic school in Ireland, I will never know.
‘Thanks for your support, Ashley. Nice to know you’ve got my back.’ Ronan’s lips twist into a smile.
‘Hello, I’m standing right here, you know.’ I roll my eyes and pretend I’m not secretly enjoying their exchange.
From my periphery, a familiar flash of dark hair catches my eye. Lucas Beechwood.
Ashley spots him a second later. ‘Isn’t that Lucas Beechwood, AKA your new boss, sort of?’
Ronan turns, following Ashley’s shameless stare.
‘That’s him.’ I raise my hand in a greeting as he turns towards us. ‘We went for dinner at Azure on Saturday to discuss my contract.’
‘That’s who you went for dinner with last Saturday night?’ Ronan growls.
‘He is paying me a million euro to model his swimwear range.’ I roll my lips, watching as Ronan’s jaw locks. ‘He wanted to check my “vibe” personally, apparently.’
Ronan’s face dips forwards, his lips brushing over my earlobe as he whispers, ‘The only man checking your vibe is me. If I hadn’t caught you moaningmyname after that dinner, you’d be in big trouble tonight.’
‘Is that right?’ I rock back on my heels to stare up at him.
Is that jealousy I detect? A surge of satisfaction that I have no right to feel runs straight down my spine.
Before we have the chance to discuss it further, Lucas swaggers towards us, every bit as smooth as he was the other night.
‘Savannah.’ He presses a kiss to both my cheeks. ‘Such a pleasure to see you here tonight.’ His perusing stare roams over my dress. ‘You look stunning.’
