“Ten minutes or so more than what it will take you to get here. I need to shower and dress. You two can go on without me, and I’ll follow.”
“We’ll wait for you. Your grand-mère called Claudette last night.”
Ronan sighed. He’d received calls from her, too, and knew he needed to explain his extended absence. “I’ll meet you outside.”
Hanging up, he acknowledged that he was avoiding necessary conversations, and it couldn’t continue. Ireland had fearlessly drawn the line with her family, and it was time for him to do the same. He hesitated because she was vulnerable now.
The Boudreauxes were experts at sensing weaknesses to exploit. And he would have to introduce her to them. She and he would have to stand side-by-side before his grand-mère, a united front, as they’d done with Cross.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, rolling carefully onto her back and arching sinuously.
He managed an easy smile, not wanting to worry her about anything beyond her own recovery. “I’m going to be late. Not a good look for the new guy.”
“Are you kidding?” She grinned. “I love the way you look after we’ve spent the night together. You’ve always got a swagger, but it’s different. More delicious. I like to think every woman who sees you knows you’ve spent the night fucking. It’ll be better when they know it’s me who’s so lucky.”
“I’m the fortunate one,cher.”
“You sweet talker, you. Keep flattering me, and I’ll suck you off again.”
“Merde.” His head fell against the headboard again as he willed strength into his legs. “You’re trying to kill me.”
Ireland pushed herself upright and swung her legs carefully over the edge of the bed. “I’m gonna get ready and go with you.”
Ronan sat up, alarmed, and set his hand on her shoulder. “You have things to do here, Ireland. Getting some rest, most importantly. Reviewing dossiers. Followed by more rest.”
“I can do that at work. Now that my father has moved out, it’s even more important that I at least show my face. And I’d really like to talk to Brett and the band about “First Kiss Goodbye.” Just to let them know that I’m really excited about the song and we’re going to support the hell out of it.”
“I can let them know your thoughts. And you should be able to do some of what you want from here,non?”
“I won’t stay long. An hour or so,” she said, standing.
“I would rather you didn’t.” He turned to sit on the edge of the bed.
Looking down at him with an icy expression too reminiscent of Cross’s, she asked, “Are you telling me not to go?”
He gave an exasperated sigh and stood. “You’ll do what you want, Ireland. But I have a right to say I’m not comfortable with you going out, and I don’t like it.”
“Okay. And I’ve heard you.”
Ronan gripped her shoulders, bent his head, and kissed her. She was unyielding at first but quickly lost the tension. Shesmelled and tasted of him, soothing the growing possessiveness he felt.
Pulling back, he rested his forehead against hers. “I want you happy, healthy, and safe.”
“One out of three ain’t bad,” she said, giving him a quick, hard kiss.
He groaned. “I don’t even know how we’d smuggle you out,cher. There are still reporters outside, hoping to catch you or your brother. But more than that, it’s a risk in general. Everyone knows you’re here. Anyone who hopes to gain access to you will be waiting, and with the number of people outside, it’s too easy for them to hide.”
“There’s no place safer for me than with you,” she reminded him.
“Except for a penthouse apartment in a building owned by Gideon Cross.”
Stepping around him, she walked toward the bathroom. “You didn’t feel it was that safe when my dad stopped by yesterday.”
“You weren’t expecting anyone.” He followed her, relieved to see that her backside was unmarked and unharmed after the horror of seeing the injuries on the front of her body.
“If you tell Jules to pull up to the garage entrance, we can leave that way. We won’t be outside for more than a minute.”
Reaching the bathroom, he leaned against the doorjamb and watched her turn on the shower. “Why are you pushing yourself so soon?”
