Sean slid his arm around her and grasped what seemed like her entire bottom in one hand.
“You’d best do more than think about it, love, if you know what’s good for you,” he growled, nuzzling her neck.
Giggling, Maeve pushed him away and collapsed back on the couch.
“And you’d best hurry home, O’Malley. Could be someone else could make those little noises come out of my throat too,” she taunted.
Sean stood, towering over her, his face a mask of indecision. The tingling in her bottom surprised her, and she wiggled a bit as her face flushed. He wanted to spank her; no doubt about it, and she scooted further away. Thankfully her da chose that moment to return to the room and she heaved a sigh of relief.
“Come along, you cheeky hooligan. Walk me to the door,” Sean ordered, plucking her from the couch. “I won’t see you for a while,” he continued, towing her behind him from the room.
“Have a safe journey, Sean,” Mr. Donahue called after them. “Good luck with the job.”
“Thank you, sir,” Sean replied, pinning Maeve to the front door once out of her da’s sight. He lifted her and trapped her with his body. Instinctively her legs wrapped round his waist, her arms around his neck. Both of his big hands supported her bottom, and a burst of heat flashed through her.
“Oh,” she moaned, wide-eyed before pushing her breasts against his chest. His lips trailed along her cheek, and she tipped her head, allowing him access to her throat. Warm little kisses became nips, and then sucks which grew stronger as she clutched him tighter and quivered.
Abruptly, he set her on her feet, catching her when she swayed to the left. “I’ll call you from the States and let you know what’s goin’ on,” he told her, bending one more time to claim her lips. Taking her shoulders in his hands, he leaned her against the wall to steady her. In the next instant, he was gone.
“I think I’ll go up to bed now,” she mumbled, dazed as she slowly went up the stairs. Damn, maybe he really could make her howl with pleasure.
* * *
She went to school on Friday, made sure Sean’s brother John spotted her outside and then returned home. On Fridays, her ma had her hair done and did the marketing. She’d be gone most of the day.
Going up to her room, she exchanged her uniform for a brown and rust plaid pleated skirt, rust colored sweater and matching knee high boots. Pinning her hair up in a French twist to make her look older, she applied what seemed like suitable make-up for a twenty-something girl and left the house through the back door. Two blocks over, she headed to the heart of town.
There were several merchants with signs in the window advertising for help. The butcher was out. She didn’t fancy working with dead, bloody animal bits. Nor did she want somewhere she was sure to run into girls from school if she could help it. Most of the upscale clothing shops were full of female employees who would spot her inexperience and youth quickly. No, it had to be somewhere small and out of the way.
She stopped for a drink and a sandwich at the luncheon counter in the department store and nearly fainted when she saw Mrs. O’Malley making her purchases. Sliding down in her seat, she looked away, but a huge mirror at the back of the store reflected the scene back at her. For a moment, she could have sworn Sean’s ma looked directly at her, but she finished paying and left the store without saying anything. Sucking down her drink, she left half her sandwich behind and hurried from the store. Just when her feet were beginning to hurt and she was ready to give up, she spotted a small sign in the window of the chemist.
“How old are you?” the elderly man asked, squinting at her through thick glasses.
“Twenty,” Maeve replied, keeping her fingers crossed behind her back.
“So you’ve graduated?”
“Aye, two years ago.”
“Well, I don’t fancy putting an ad in the paper so I guess I’ll give you a go. You’ll be working in the back, typing labels and such and answering the phone. Wear your hair up, it will be under a cap anyway, and I’ll have a white coat for you, but still dress in a ladylike manner. And for heaven’s sake, wear some sensible shoes. I’ve had more lassies quit complaining about standing on their feet all day than I can shake a stick at.
“Don’t fret about what you know and don’t know. I’ll teach you as we go along and your duties will increase with time.”
“When do I start and what time should I be here?” she asked.
“Six days a week, Monday through Saturday from nine to three. You may get more hours as time goes on, but, on the other hand, one day I may just up and decide to sell the darn place in which case you’ll be out of a job. That’s the best I can offer, young lady.”
“I’ll take it,” Maeve said firmly. “See you tomorrow.”
“I hope so,” he called as she walked away. “You wouldn’t be the first lass I’ve hired who never showed up,” he grumbled.
She just about skipped home and made it to the house as her ma was carrying groceries in the back door. Bolting up the front steps, she flew upstairs and changed into jeans and a tee-shirt before going downstairs to help.
“How was school today?”
“Fine.”
“You’re a liar,” her mother replied with narrowed eyes. “Sister Magdalena called to see how you were feelin’. She was concerned you may have had an ‘unfortunate event’. Whatever is she talkin’ about?” she demanded.
