Taking Risk Series Read online

  “It’s bullshite is what it is. I swear, the man is going to drive me crazy.”

  I nod. “Yeah, but I doubt you’ll stop seeing him.”

  “Nope, but I swear to God, Amberlyn, he sees another girl, I’m gonna throttle him.”

  “I’ll help,” I promise, and like I wanted, she smiles before wrapping me up in a tight hug.

  “You’re too good to me.”

  “Always will be, too,” I say, sending her a grin and then restocking the beer. We only have a few folks in the pub today, mainly older ladies who are enjoying tea and Aunt Shelia’s chocolate cake. I’d already had two pieces…okay three, but it’s the best dang cake I’ve ever had! I kind of hope that Declan comes in for a piece. I texted him earlier about it, but he hasn’t responded yet. He usually doesn’t during the day—he is busy at the distillery—but I’m still hopeful.

  As Fiona walks around to make sure our patrons are taken care of, I clean the barstools and mop. We are getting ready for the Friday dinner rush, and since tonight is bound to be busy, we are working quickly so that we can both go back home and nap. As I wash out the mugs and glasses Fiona has laid on the bar, the door sounds and I look up, wanting to glare at the asshole who comes in twenty minutes before we close. However, I freeze when I see it’s Casey.

  “Howya, Fiona.”

  Fiona pauses, her eyes wide, but she doesn’t say anything. Casey doesn’t seem worried about it though. His eyes are on me as he comes toward the bar. “Howya, my beautiful sunshine?”

  “Casey,” I say, diverting my eyes toward the glasses I’m washing. “How can I help ya?”

  “I came to see if ya got the flowers I sent?”

  I nod. “I did, thank you. They were nice.”

  He doesn’t say anything, and I don’t look up. I am hoping he’ll catch the drift, but he doesn’t apparently. “Did ya read the note?”

  I nod once more. “Yeah. I did.”

  “I really am sorry,” he says, a little louder than a whisper.

  Knowing that I can’t ignore him much longer, I look up and brace my hands on the sink as I look into his eyes. I can see Fiona watching me out of the corner of my eye, and I know she is there since I have to nip this in the bud now. I need to tell him the truth, even if I feel like my voice is shaky. My heart is clanking against my ribs, but I have to do this. “Thank you, and I forgive you, Casey. I didn’t set boundaries or something, but still, I don’t feel the way you do.”

  He waves me off. “Sure you do. We just have to get over what happened and move forward. I wanted to give you some time. I think it’s been enough, don’t you?”

  Not nearly enough, but I don’t say that. Instead, I say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t, and I can’t get over it. You hurt my face and you scared my family and me. Nothing is going to happen between us.”

  “Because of Lena O’Callaghan?”

  I shake my head. “No, because of you! I don’t feel comfortable around you.”

  Holding my gaze, he seems to mull that over before he nods. “Then I’ll have to work to make you comfortable.”

  Before I can say that, no, that’s not what I am trying to say, the door opens again. When I glance over his shoulder, my stomach drops.

  Declan’s face breaks into a grin until Casey turns to look back at who I am staring at. The grin is gone, and I swear it is so quiet the only thing you can hear is one of the older ladies’ breathing machines. When Declan looks back at me, his eyes are full of anger, but before I can say anything, his heated gaze meets Casey’s again and he says, “What the fuck are you doing talking to my girl?”

  Chapter 16

  Declan

  My body tenses and I feel my teeth grind as my gaze meets Casey’s look of surprise, but he still doesn’t seem to care that I’m talking to him. I want to kill him. Tear his limbs one by one from his body and then beat him with the bloody ends. Yes, I may be overreacting, but I hate this man and wish him to the nine circles of hell. I feel I have good reason for my hatred, too. He is a fuckin’ slick git!

  Putting a smirk on his face, he leans against the bar and throws a thumb toward Amberlyn.

  “This is your girl?”

  “Yes, that’s what I said, you fuckin’ arsehole,” I say as I start for him. Within seconds though, a hand comes around my bicep, stopping me. I look back to hit whoever has a hold of me, but when my heated gaze meets Kane’s cool one, I pause. Kane slowly shakes his head as Casey says, “She didn’t tell me that. Maybe it isn’t true?”

  I whip my head toward him to tell him that it is fuckin’ true, but Amberlyn beats me to it. “Actually, I never got the chance to.”

  Casey looks back at her, his brows up. “You’re seeing stiff-ass Declan O’Callaghan?”

  She nods. “I am.”

  “So he’s the reason you won’t go out with me?”

  She shakes her head. “That…and because I’m not comfortable around you.”

  “I told ya I could make you comfortable, if you’d give me the chance, sunshine.”

  “The fuck you will,” I sneer as I head for him, basically dragging Kane along with me. “Call her sunshine again, and you’ll never see the light of day, ya arsehole!”

  “Dec, calm down,” Kane tries, but I’m not listening.

  “No,” I say, pulling my arm out of his grip and going toe-to-toe with Casey. “You stay the fuck away from her. She doesn’t want anything to do with you, ya sick fuck.”

  He still stands with a cool expression and a smirk. I want nothing more than to knock the look off his face, but I doubt Kane will let me get that far. I can still feel him beside me. As Casey turns fully toward me, I hold his gaze. He is bigger than I am by a foot, but in no way, shape, or form am I scared of this wanker.

  “You looking for a fight, Dec? Because I feel you are, and I have no problem finishing with you. You’ve been a constant pain in my arse for years.”

  “And I’ll continue being one until you leave.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, friend, so get used to seein’ me. Also, you better be careful because I might try to steal your girl.”

  Amberlyn scoffs. “In your dreams, buddy.”

  He glances back at her, but I don’t move, my gaze locked on him, waiting for the moment to swing. As he looks back at me, Casey glares. “What do ya say, then?”

  I have a lot to say, but before I can, Fiona comes between us, pushing Casey.

  “That’s enough is what I say. Get the hell out, Casey. You’re not welcome here anymore.”

  He laughs. “What the hell? You don’t mean that.”

  She nods. “I do. Don’t come back.”

  “Because of that wanker? You’re taking his side? I thought you were my friend.”

  She takes a step toward him, a look of pure disgust on her face as she says, “I was until you laid your hands on my cousin. You’re dead to me, Casey Burke, and you are no longer welcome here. Now off with ya. Don’t make me go find my da, or he’ll let Declan have a go at ya.”

  A look of distress comes over Casey’s ugly mug, but for only a second before he glances up at me. “Fuck you, Declan.”

  Heat bubbles in my chest and I’m ready to go, but when a hand comes over mine, I glance down to see it belongs to Amberlyn. “Don’t. Let him go.”

  I nod, and when the door slams shut, I let out the breath I was holding. “Fuckin’ eejit.”

  Kane laughs as he sits down. “Jaysus, Dec, you dragged me at least a yard!”

  I smile grimly. “He’s an arsehole, makes me crazy.”

  Lacing my fingers with Amberlyn’s, I bring them to my lips, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles before looking deep into her eyes. Her hair is up today in a tight bun, her eyes are dark with makeup, and her lips lush and pink. Leaning forward, I brush my mouth over hers as her hand comes to rest on my cheek. I want to deepen the kiss, but we have an audience, so reluctantly, I pull away, smiling slightly. “Hi.”

  She smiles. “Hi. Great entrance there.”

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