Taking Risk Series Read online

  “Stop, you don’t need this. I like your hair, and I’m sure the rest of the world will too.”

  I want to reach for it off her head, but I have to admit, she looks pretty fuckin’ cute with it on. So I return to eating. “I don’t care if they like me. Sometimes, I wish they’d stop staring.”

  “Oh goodness, me too! I don’t get it. Why are you such a big deal to them?” she asks, but then, before I can answer, she says, “Sorry if that came off rude!”

  I shake my head, my mouth forming in a grin. I’ve never smiled this much. It’s weird but exhilarating all at the same time. I like the way she makes me feel. I like the way her eyes stay locked with mine. I like her. Placing my fork down, I say, “It’s always been this way. My great-great-great-great-great-grandda started it. He wanted to be admired for what he did around here, and people flocked to him. They made a big deal when he got married, when he had kids, and then it just carried on and carried on. When I was born, my grandda called me his little Whiskey Prince and it stuck. I don’t like it, but it is what it is, I guess.”

  “Wow, that’s neat.”

  I shrug. “I don’t think so. I think it’s weird.”

  She smiles. “Well, I hope you know I’m not like everyone else, and I don’t plan to treat you any differently.”

  “It’s ’cause you’re a Yank,” I say with a wink, and she grins.

  “Yup, but remember—take that to your grave,” she says, returning the wink.

  “Will do.”

  “Good. Well, I hate to say this, but I have to get some stuff done before my family gets back for dinner rush, so I’m going to actually work while you eat, okay?”

  “Sure. I’m almost done, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

  She reaches for a bucket but looks back at me to say, “But maybe you can come back?”

  Breathlessly, I say, “Sure, that’d be grand.”

  She sends me a wide grin before turning to start cleaning. I want to say more, maybe ask her to dinner, or anything really, just to see her, but I don’t. Instead, I finish my food and my pint as I watch her. She has a great ass, round and full in her fitted blue jeans. I also love the way her hair falls down her back. Knowing if I don’t leave now I never will, I lay some money on the bar before standing up. She is over by the window, wiping down tables, and she looks up at me when I push the stool back under the bar.

  “You outta here?”

  “Yeah, I have to get back to work.”

  Walking toward her, I stop in front of her as she smiles up at me. “I didn’t know you work. What do you do?”

  “I push paper mainly, but I help run the whiskey business.”

  “That’s cool. I bet it’s awesome.”

  “It really is,” I say. Silence falls between us as we stare into each other’s eyes.

  “All right, well, until next time.”

  It would be sooner than she thought, but I didn’t want to sound like an eejit, so I just ask, “Can I get my hat back?”

  She laughs as she pulls it off her head. “Totally forgot I had it. Here ya go, but I promise you don’t need it.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I say as I put it back on, tucking my hands in my pockets afterward. I rock back on my heels, not wanting to leave, but knowing I need too. She has work to do, and I do too. I’ve been hiding out for too long as it is, and Kane is probably blowing my phone up. “Okay, so I’ll go.”

  “It was good seeing ya again, Declan.”

  “Yeah, you too, Amberlyn. Have a good day.”

  “You too,” she says as I reach for the door and push out of it.

  Once outside, a grin is on my face and I know that I can’t wait to see her again.

  Chapter 7

  Amberlyn

  Declan has been in almost every day for the last two weeks. He usually comes during my dead hour when Fiona is out doing errands, and I love sharing that time with him. We don’t say much, usually just small talk while he eats and I clean, but it’s fun. He’s quiet, and because of that, I find him intriguing. I want to pick his brain, find out what makes him tick, but every time I go to do just that, I feel like an asshole because what is that going to do for me? It’s not like I can date him. He has a fiancée, even though he has never mentioned her. You would think he would have by now, but he hasn’t, which makes me wonder why, though I can’t bring myself to ask. So I have to keep this completely innocent, but it’s hard because I want more.

  Like today, he looks positively provocative. He is wearing a thin, black T-shirt with a pair of khakis and a black beanie. He walked in with aviators on, and I don’t know why, but they made him hotter. Especially when he pushed them up on his head, and my eyes met his. I mean, honestly, my heart kicked into overdrive and my panties got damp. I’m so attracted to him. It scares me the way I feel about him, especially with the fact that he is off-limits to me. I guess the phrase, you want what you can’t have, is completely true because I want Declan O’Callaghan, and it seems like whenever I say how cute or hot he is, Fiona is there reminding me about his relationship status. It’s annoying.

  But most of all, I’m annoyed by how much I like him, especially when he smiles. His smiles are breathtaking. Hell, everything about him makes me breathless. Like now, I’m all the way across the pub, but I can feel him watching me when I move, and I don’t know why he does that. Doesn’t he know that it makes me giddy inside? That it makes me warm all over? I turn, catching his gaze, and he smiles as he holds up his pint.

  “Can I have some more beer?”

  “Sure!” I say as I head around the bar. “Holler at me next time.”

  “You’re busy.”

  “Yes, but I’m here to serve you!” I say, and I swear his eyes darken. I don’t know why, but suddenly it is extremely hot in here. I look away, filling his glass with beer before looking back up and handing it to him. He nods his thanks as he takes a long pull. The air is crackling around us or maybe me. Hell, I don’t know, but I have to say something before I come out of my skin. “Do you have to go to work after this?”

  Not even close to what I wanted to say.

  “Yes, I have to go give a tour to a new buyer. He’s an arse. I don’t want to deal with him at all.”

  I laugh. “Sounds like a blast.”

  He doesn’t smile. “Loads.”

  I can’t help but laugh again. I don’t want to stop talking, so with a wide smile, I say, “Guess what I’m doing tonight.”

  His eyes are shining as he looks up at me. “What’s that?”

  “I’m getting my first tattoo!”

  “Really?” he asks, a smirk growing on his face.

  “Yup! I’m pretty excited and scared shitless, but it’s gonna be awesome.”

  “Sure, what are you getting?”

  “My mom and dad’s names in a sparrow on my ribs,” I say, trying to ignore my jumpy nerves. I am scared, but Fiona guaranteed me it won’t be that bad. I don’t believe her, though. I’m still trying to adjust to the idea. The whole thing wasn’t even supposed to happen, but Fiona found me crying last night as I held my mom’s letter in my arms. I couldn’t tell her what was wrong, but thankfully, she didn’t ask. She just held me. Then when I was able to speak, I told her that I just missed my mom, and I was so upset with myself because I hadn’t done anything from her letter yet. So she read it and decided that she wanted to help me honor my mom’s wishes. It was sweet, and I think that moment brought us closer. When I said that I was thinking about a tattoo for the something drastic part, she was all about it. So we are doing it. A tattoo. Yay!

  I wish I were as badass as I just sounded there.

  “That’s really exciting, Amberlyn. I can’t wait to see it.”

  His eyes run over my body to the spot where my hand lays over where I plan to get the tattoo. I can feel his gaze on me, running over my breast to the spot, which makes me gasp for breath. Letting out a long breath, I look up at him and smile as I say, “Yeah, I’m nervous but I’m excited. Do y