Taking Risk Series Read online

I glance over at her. There is a smile on her beautiful face, but I can see the pain in her eyes, and the laugh isn’t a regular Amberlyn gut-busting laugh. “You didn’t date when you were younger?”

  She shakes her head. “Nope, I took care of my mom. She was sick for a long time before she passed.”

  “So what, this is your first date?”

  She smiles nervously up at me. “Officially, yeah.”

  I smile, too. Why does that make me feel so good? When she stops suddenly, she glances back over at me before pointing to my Mercedes CL65. “No horse?”

  I scoff as I reach for the door. “Not tonight.”

  “Darn, I was hoping to be whisked away on horseback. I even wore pants,” she teases with a wink. I smile as I shut the door and head around the car.

  Sitting down, I put the key in the ignition. “It does have a 510-horsepower engine though.”

  She giggles, and the smell of her fills the inside of my car. It’s intoxicating, a mix of flowers and shampoo. I love it and want to nuzzle my nose in her hair. Turning the key in the ignition to make sure I don’t, I glance over at her as she says, “That will be fine then. Whisk me away, Declan.”

  She does a very flourishing wave with her hand like she is royalty as she leans back, her face bright with a smile as her eyes stay locked on me. I can’t get enough of her, and the nerves from before are gone as I nod with a grin pulling at the side of my mouth.

  “I hope to.”

  Chapter 13

  Amberlyn

  I’m nervous.

  So freaking nervous that my knee is bouncing out of control as I ride in Declan’s very expensive car. I’m not sure if he’s had it long, but it smells new and has me afraid to touch anything. I glance over to admire him; he looks simply scrumptious as always, but then I notice that damn beanie. I wish he wouldn’t wear it. I love his curly hair. Shaking my head, I say, “Still with your trusty beanie, I see.”

  He smiles over at me sheepishly, causing my body to catch fire. There is something about this man’s smile that makes me come completely undone. He has dimples, and his teeth are so straight and white, which makes me realize that I must have a thing for straight, white teeth because I am hot just watching him smile. I grin as he reaches up, pulling the beanie down some. “I thought about leavin’ it off, but then I remember that I don’t like my hair.”

  I reach out, but he moves out of my way, sending me a grin. “Take it off. I like your hair,” I plead, giving him a little pout.

  He scoffs. “No way. That pout is cute, hot even, but I need my hat.”

  “Why?” I ask, my body liking that he said I was hot a little more than it should.

  “’Cause, I just like it on.”

  I roll my eyes, letting out a breath as I lean back, mock pouting. “Fine.”

  He laughs as he takes my hand in his. The warmth of his hand is consuming and soon I forget about the beanie as his fingers lace with mine. “This is okay?”

  I nod quickly because I like the way my hand fits in his. I’ve wanted this, and I am soon watching as his thumb moves across the back of my hand. A smile is pulling at his lips as he drives. His eyes are on the road, and I wish they were on me. I have been a wreck all day. I tried to work to keep myself from thinking about tonight, but when it came time for me to get ready, I was basically shaking with nerves. Fiona helped, and I have to admit I look hot as hell, but even knowing that doesn’t calm the butterflies in my belly.

  Silence stretches in the car, and I’m not sure if that is a bad thing or good. I am comfortable, happy even, but what if he is bored and I need to talk to make him feel better? I’ve learned very quickly that Declan is a man of few words, and I am fine with the silence, but I’m not sure if he is. I want to make him comfortable with me because I am with him. He makes me all giggly, and oh my goodness, how I love this feeling.

  When we pull into the valet of Thorsten’s Restaurant, my door opens and I reach for the hand that awaits me. I smile at the valet and then glance over to see Declan right there, his arm out for me to take. I want to giggle from the sheer chivalry of it all as I take his arm, but I push that giddiness away as he leads me inside. This place is like a castle, so huge and beautiful, stone walls with golden furniture. It’s superfancy and a part of me feels like I didn’t dress nicely enough. I also think that if I touch anything, it’ll break, so with my other hand, I reach over to hold on to his wrist. He sends me a sweet grin before looking up at the host.

  When he sees us, he stands up straighter than before and comes to meet us. “Mr. O’Callaghan, it’s wonderful to have you tonight and your beautiful date, of course.”

  “Thank you,” Declan says very sternly, but when he looks over at me, his eyes dance as he says, “She is beautiful, huh?”

  My lips curve into a grin as I lean into him, wanting to hide my face, but before I can, we are being led to our table. I want to take in the fancy décor, the beautiful, large windows and gold tablecloths, but as we walk, people who are walking too stop to look at us. Even people who are eating stop to stare. Even some of the waiters and waitresses pause to glance at us too. Well, not us, but Declan.

  When we come to our seats, he pulls my chair out for me and I sit down, placing my clutch on the table as I met the gaze of all the people in the restaurant. Nervous, I push my hair off my shoulders before clasping my hands in my lap. My heart is knocking into my ribs, and I can’t help but look around as everyone stares.

  “Amberlyn?”

  I glance up to meet Declan’s gaze. His eyes are narrowed, his cheeks flushed, and his beautiful lips are in a straight line. His nervousness is coming off him in waves, and I hate that he is nervous. I wonder if it is all the watchful eyes because I know they are making me nervous. “Yeah?”

  “Would you like wine?” he asks, nodding his head toward the waiter that I didn’t realize was standing there.

  “Oh, what are you having?”

  “Whiskey.”

  Of course. I smile as I nod. “Well, I guess I need to have a glass too.”

  That makes his lips twitch as he nods, and the waiter is off to fill our orders. Taking in a deep breath, I try to look at the menu but I can feel eyes on me, and it has me clumsily flipping through the menu. When I knock the candle over, I groan as I reach for it, putting it back up. When I glance up to see if Declan saw me do it, I find that he did and his lips are curved up at the side as his eyes dance with laughter. I bite into my lip as my face reddens. I shrug and then look back down. Letting out an annoyed breath, I try to read the menu, but all I can think of is the people staring at me.

  When a glass is set down before me, I reach for it, downing the bitter liquid in one gulp. I want to puke afterward, but as the liquor warms my throat and chest, I keep it down with the hope it calms my nerves. Placing the glass down, I look over to find Declan with his glass paused at his mouth. Even the waiter is staring at me, and shit, so is the rest of the fucking restaurant. Damn it!

  “Sorry,” I breathe, tucking my hands in my lap, my shoulders falling forward in embarrassment.

  Declan smiles, and I swear that I’m in a Taylor Swift song because all I see are sparks flying. There is something about those ice-blue eyes plus that smile that make me feel like I’m soaring through the air. Soon I forget about everyone in the room. The only person here is him.

  “Don’t apologize,” he says before downing his glass too. He lets out a gasp and then grins over at me. “Future advice… it’s meant to be sipped, not knocked back.”

  “I’m nervous,” I admit.

  He nods. “I am, too.”

  “Everyone is staring.”

  He nods again but doesn’t take his eyes off me. “I know. I hate it.”

  It’s at that moment that I actually realize that since we’ve been here, he has only looked at me and the menu, never around us. He is wound tight, his shoulders taut, the veins in his hands and arms showing. I hate that, and the fixer in me wants to make him feel better. Without really thi