Taking Risk Series Read online

  When a tear runs down my cheek and splashes on my hand, I look down as I take in a deep breath.

  “Don’t hide,” Declan whispers before lifting my face so he can see me. “That is really amazing of you, to want to do that for your ma.”

  I smile. Man, I miss her, and I would do it all over again. Everything. “Yeah, but sometimes, I think I didn’t do enough. Maybe I could have saved her somehow, but then I know I couldn’t have. I was the best daughter I could have been because I wanted her to be happy and proud of me. I worked so hard, didn’t do anything but focus on my studies and take care of her. I don’t have any friends back home because I didn’t have time. I went to school, came home, did homework, and did anything she needed. My senior year, I was homeschooled. I didn’t have a prom, homecoming, nothing. I did everything for her, and I was a nobody to the kids my age. Don’t think I regret any of it, because I don’t, but it’s sad to think that when I left, no one knew, no one missed me, because I didn’t have time for anything or anyone but her. And if I hadn’t come here, I’d be alone, trying to figure out how to live life without my mom. I know she knew that, and that’s why she asked me to come here.”

  Moving our food, Declan slides beside me. Taking my hands in his, he kisses each of my palms before looking deep into my eyes. “I believe that you are the strongest person I know, Amberlyn. Your ma was right to ask you to come here. It may very well be for my own selfish reasons, but because of that, I thank your ma every day. You know why I came out after hiding away for three years, right?”

  My eyes are cloudy with tears, and my heart feels like a vise grip is around it as I look deep in his eyes. I haven’t shared any of that with anyone else but Fiona. I can’t believe I just blurted it out like that either, but it’s just different with him. I feel so at ease with him. Slowly, I shake my head. “No.”

  “For you. I saw you across the lake that day when you were sunbathing, and I knew I had to know your name and the color of your eyes.”

  Hearing him say those words has me breathless as he holds my gaze, his ice-blue eyes shining. “Then I met you and had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of that beautiful smile of yours, and the more I learned about you, the more I thank God I came off this damn land.”

  If he wanted me to smile, he succeeded. My grin is huge as stray tears roll down my cheeks. “And if you left now, I’d miss you. Terribly.”

  Leaning toward him, I rest my head to his. “I’d miss you, too.”

  He smiles, and I can’t help but smile back, even though I want to break down and cry for both of us. Grinning, I say, “Good thing I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

  “That is a good thing.”

  His mouth is still curved in a contagious grin as he reaches up, slowly moving his thumb along my bottom lip, causing gooseflesh to cover my skin despite the hot weather. His eyes are so dark, locked with mine, and when his tongue comes out to wet his lips, I ask, “Are you gonna kiss me now? Oh-dear-God-why-did-I-just-ask-that!”

  I say it as one word before I close my eyes in complete and utter humiliation. Declan’s laugh runs down my spine, and it doesn’t help my embarrassment one bit. If anything, it makes it worse as I open my eyes to look at him, and what I find makes me smile. His face is so close to mine, his eyes bright and playful.

  “Really though, why do you keep asking? Do you want to kiss me or something?” he jokes, pulling a nervous laugh from me.

  “Something like that,” I joke back with a grin, but then I shake my head. “I need a filter.”

  “No, I like that you say what you think,” he says, cupping my face. With his eyes locked on mine, breathing is not an option. As he leans toward me, his lips coming for mine, I hold my breath and close my eyes tight because thank sweet baby Jesus, he is going to kiss me. But then his lips meet my nose in a sweet, soft kiss, and my eyes spring open as he pulls away. Deflated, I ask, “Not the moment, huh?”

  He reaches for his burger and takes a huge bite before shaking his head. After swallowing, he grins over at me. “Not yet.”

  “This better be some amazingly awesome kiss,” I tease as I pick up my own burger.

  He winks, his eyes dark as he says, “Best damn kiss you’ll ever have. I can promise ya that.”

  I want to say he has that right since I’ve kissed only one guy, and he had weird braces that stuck me in the lip. Instead, I just nod and eat my hamburger happily because this was probably the best first date ever.

  Chapter 14

  Declan

  I hate board meetings.

  They are stupid and pointless, in my opinion. I am the youngest person in here, while my da and our colleagues are all in their late fifties. Usually, I don’t say anything. I can be found at the end of the table, taking notes and taking in everything my da is saying. This will be my company one day, and when that happens, I want to be able to fall into the seat my da is sitting in and lead like he does. He is a powerful man, knows what he wants for the company, and what he doesn’t. He is vocal about his opinions, and everyone respects him.

  I want that.

  But today, instead of taking notes and listening attentively like I should, my thoughts are on a certain lady with freckles that dust every inch of her. I haven’t seen Amberlyn since I dropped her off at eleven thirty, two nights ago. I didn’t make it to the pub yesterday because one of our pot stills went on the fritz, and then today, I have this damn meeting. I’m pining for her.

  Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I hold it under the table and quickly text her.

  I’m stuck at work. I won’t be in today.

  I go to tuck it back in my pocket when it vibrates with a new message.

  You’re slacking, slacker. Haha. No worries, just means you owe me dinner or something.

  Doesn’t that sound like a perfect idea? Smiling, I write her back.

  Tonight? You free?

  I can be if you are asking.

  Yeah, I am.

  Then yes, I’ll see you…when?

  Six.

  Awesome. 

  “Declan, what do you think?”

  I glance up, tucking my phone in my pocket. “I think it’s good,” I say, even though I don’t have a clue what is going on.

  “So you agree on an increase of two percent for the distributors in the US?” my da asks.

  I shake my head, leaning on the table. “Why are we raising the prices at all?”

  “Because they are making a double profit off us. Where have you been?”

  I shrug. “Not listening, I guess. Excuse me, I was distracted.”

  Da nods. “Would you like us to wait until you are done?”

  “No sir, I apologize.”

  “That’s fine, please read the proposal and give us your opinion.”

  I glance down at the file in front of me and know that all eyes are on me. Biting into my lip, I read quickly and agree that the distributors’ prices need to go up. Looking down at my da to find he is watching me, I try not to be nervous as I say, “Yes, but it needs to be more. At least four percent so that we are both equal, and send a suggested price because they don’t have that yet. Since we are the best whiskey in the world, they are taking advantage of it. Send a suggested price and then a cap of what they can sell. If they don’t like it, that’s fine. We are the leading whiskey brand in the United States behind Jack Daniel’s. I know they are banking from their distributors, and we can too.”

  My da nods as a satisfied smile covers his face. Pride is shining in his eyes as everyone at the table nods in agreement. The nervousness I was feeling is gone as a triumphant feeling takes over. This is what I love; this is what I was meant to do. I may hate being trapped in this room with these stiffs, but I love the feeling I get when I do something right. It’s almost as satisfying as being close to Amberlyn.

  “I agree. Ryan, write it up and get it together for the distributors all over the world. Good job, Declan.”

  Everyone sends me a nod before getting up and leaving