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 you have any tattoos?”

He nods. “Sure.”

“Show me!”

A smile plays on his lips as he stands up, slowly pulling his shirt up and over his head, which causes my tongue to promptly fall out of my mouth. I’ve seen men shirtless, I have. I mean, there is the Internet and movies, but what is standing in front of me is God’s gift to women. All I see is ripples of muscles, abs for days, and toned arms. I can’t believe it because when I looked at him, I didn’t see him having this kind of body. But hell, he does. Maybe spending all that time locked up in his castle did a body good because holy crow, he is hot! And of course his pants are hanging low on his hips and for goodness sakes, he has the V! Swallowing loudly, I remember I am supposed to be looking at his tattoos, so I shift my gaze from his mouthwatering muscles and take in the awesome piece on his shoulder. Leaning over the bar for a closer look, I’m amazed at the detail. It looks as if the skin on his shoulder has been ripped away and underneath is armor with a Celtic symbol on the arm. It has amazing detail, blood and stitching in spots so it looks like the skin is trying to be held together. It’s mind blowing.

“That is fabulous.”

He smiles. “Yeah, I figured if I’m the prince, I need to have armor for battle. I’m really into our history here, and I love the whole aspect of royalty and stuff.”

First, I am so turned on that he loves history, that’s hot, and second, I love the way he says prince. He says it all slow and sexy like. Looking up in his eyes, I smile. “That’s so cool! I am, too. I love reading about Knights of the Round Table and cool shit like that. Best book ever is Lord of the Rings.”

“Fuck yeah, I love it, and Beowulf is another good one.”

“Heck yeah! I love that kind of stuff. I’m reading Pride and Prejudice right now.”

He scoffs. “Such a chick book, but it’s good.”

“Yeah, it’s awesome,” I say, and then I realize how close I am to him. I look up from his arm into his eyes, and my breath hitches. God, he has beautiful lips, and I swear his eyes are darker than normal again. Is he coming closer to me? Holy shit! He isn’t going to kiss me, is he?

“Um, Amberlyn, why is Declan O’Callaghan standing without a shirt on in my pub?”

At the sound of my aunt’s voice, I fall back off the bar, almost tripping over the pipe that we use to stand on, and turn quickly to find her staring at us. My heart is pounding in my chest, my throat tight, and my face flushes. I look back at Declan and his face is burning with color as he puts his shirt back on. Guilt floods me as I realize what just happened, what this looks like. It’s only Aunt Shelia, but what if it gets back to his fiancée? Quickly, I tell the truth. “He was showing me his tattoo.”