‘Pizza’s ready,’ Jessica calls from downstairs. She took it upon herself to play chef while we finished tidying up.
‘Coming,’ Ronan shouts. He steps back and rakes his fingers through his dirty blond hair with a groan.
It’s been a mere three seconds, but I already miss the weight of his body flush with mine. ‘Thank you, by the way.’
‘What for?’ His face angles down towards mine.
‘For organising your friends to help. I really am grateful. The only men that have ever gone out of their way for me before are my dads.’
‘You still don’t get it, do you, Sav?’ Amusement tinged with something else twinkles in his eyes. ‘I’d do pretty much anything for you.’
His words are so sincere, I almost believe him.
‘It’s getting cold down here,’ Jessica calls up again.
I open the bathroom door, blinking back the hearts I’m pretty sure are swimming in my eyes.
‘Don’t make her use her “mom” voice already,’ Jake says, loitering in the door of one of the guest bedrooms with a towel wrapped round his middle and his clothes tucked under his arms. His taut tanned chest isn’t nearly as appealing as Ronan’s but still, I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t easy on the eye.
Surrounded by men who look like that, is it any wonder my self-control has left the building?
Ronan shrugs, like he can read my mind. ‘Naughty girl,’ he mouths and my stomach somersaults. He eyes the bathtub again, a reminder of his earlier threat.
‘I was only looking,’ I whisper when Jake turns back into the room, presumably to dress.
‘The only thing you’re going to be looking at is my cock sliding in and out of that perfect pussy of yours. Now, go downstairs before I make you scream so hard, they’ll be able to hear you in Dublin.’ His palm connects with my ass, and I yelp.
‘Yes, sir.’
How someone can be so good, so kind and so caring on one hand, and yet so deliciously dirty in other ways? It’s like pineapple on a meat pizza. I didn’t think that combination would be so damn delicious, yet just like Ronan, it’s a combination I’d devour all day, every day.
I back out of the room, following the enticing scent of mozzarella all the way to the kitchen. Jessica’s made herself at home in my kitchen and is slicing pizza into segments of eight, piling them onto a huge tray in the middle of the island. Her brother, Bobby, swipes a slice and loads up his plate.
‘Beer or wine?’ I offer, opening the fridge.
‘Beer,’ Bobby says, as Jake and Ronan strut down the stairs, Jake now dressed in a fresh t-shirt and shorts.
‘I’ll have a beer too, please.’ Jake slides into one of the high-backed chairs circling the island and drops a kiss on Jessica’s cheek. She turns to him and smiles. My heart flutters.
What would it be like to have a husband?
Someone to share my life with?
Someone to kiss me on the cheek just for the sake of it?
You’ll never find out, Single Sav.
I grab Bobby, Jake, and Ronan a beer and pour myself a generous glass of Sancerre.
‘Guys, I can’t thank you enough for all your help tonight, seriously. I owe you big time.’ I grab a slice of pizza and slip onto the bar stool next to Ronan.
Even though I own the villa, I haven’t stepped foot in it inwell over a year. Now I’m here, I’m wondering why not. It’s so tranquil. So plush. I should make more of an effort to get out of the city. Bring the girls here, they’d love it.
I’ve been busy working to ensure they have everything they might need. I’ve forgotten what they might really need – downtime with me. A week or two where we’re not rushing out of the door to piano lessons or dancing or swimming. A week where it doesn’t matter if Isla’s standing around in just her panties, because there’s nowhere else we need to be.
Jake swallows the pizza in his mouth and turns to me. ‘You owe us nothing, but if you feel like keeping an eye on Ronan, that’d be a great help,’ Jake says, covering his smirk with his beer can.
‘Does he need a babysitter?’ I grab a slice of ham and pineapple and glance at Ronan. He picks up a slice of pepperoni and side-eyes me with a smirk and a shrug.
