Page 45 of Niall

“Yes,” I replied instantly.

“Because you love both of them,” he stated triumphantly.

I had to look down, grip the back of the chair, and take a deep breath.

Holy feck, was he right? Did I love Anna? The thought of her hurt killed me. The idea of her leaving was abhorrent to me. And I would trade my life for hers in an instant. Being with her made me feel things I had never experienced before. I felt lighter. Happier. As if the only thing in the world that mattered was right there.

I looked up, meeting Finn’s knowing gaze.

“The lightbulb finally went off,” he stated, triumphant.

I walked toward him, and he held out his hand, expecting me to shake it.

Instead, I punched him in the gut.

He gasped, bending over.

“That’s for putting me in a fecking impossible situation.”

“It was hypothetical!”

“Fecker,” I snarled.

He laughed between gasps of air.

“Go get your girl, if she’ll still take you.” He sat down. “You dumb feck.”

I slammed the door behind me and headed to the elevator.

But I was smiling as I stepped in.

Anna came out of the bedroom, looking nervous. I stared at her, enraptured by her simple beauty. Her makeup was light, mostly covering the fading marks, but she had played up her dark eyes and they looked huge in her face, set off by her long lashes. Her mouth was pouty with some pink stuff on her lips I wanted to kiss off.

She wore a dress I’d picked. A swath of royal blue, the color suited her. With a deep neckline and gathered at the waist, it had long sleeves, a demure slit on one leg, and suited her to perfection. I knew she’d chosen it as it covered the still-darker bruises on her arms. Her hair was up to one side, tendrils hanging around her face. She was elegant and sexy.

“You take my breath away,” I told her. “You are so beautiful, mo mhuirnín.”

Her eyes widened, and she looked away. I stepped closer, brushing my knuckles over her cheek.

“What?”

“That doesn’t mean little doll.”

“No,” I agreed tenderly. “It means more.” I paused. “You mean more.”

She inhaled sharply.

“I need some time, Anna. To put it all into words. The right words.” I tilted my head. “Can you give me a little more time?”

Her answer was breathless. “Yes.”

I pressed a kiss to her soft mouth. “Thank you.”

I slipped a small box out of my pocket. “I had this made. I had planned on asking you to wear it for added safety, but the truth is, I want you to wear it because it’s from me.”

She took the box, her hand trembling. As she opened the lid, her gaze flew to mine, then back. I reached in, pulling out the bracelet. It was white gold, the banding a simple weave, the tiny chocolate and white diamonds woven on the top twinkling under the lights. It was delicate yet strong—like her.

“Niall,” she breathed.