Taking Risk Series Read online

  When she pulls me close, I think it is for a kiss. I tense slightly because the last time I kissed this gorgeous girl in public, we ended up in the papers. But instead, she whispers in my ear, “Just let go.”

  I pull back some, a grin curving my lips as I hold her gaze. “I’m trying.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re supertense. No one matters but us. As long as we are having fun, why does it matter who’s staring?”

  I hold her gaze for a long time as she grins up at me with no cares in the world. All she cares about is me, and I couldn’t love her any more than I already do for it.

  “It doesn’t,” I say and she nods, her grin growing.

  “That’s right, so let go. Have fun with me.”

  Holding her closer, I run my nose along hers before capturing her mouth with mine. We kiss and tease as we move, and soon no one is there. Only Amberlyn and her gorgeous, aquamarine eyes. The eyes that captivate me. When the song changes to a slow one, she wraps her arms around my neck, and I hold her waist as we slowly sway to an old Michael Bublé track.

  “So my uncle called today.”

  “Yeah?” I ask. “Your uncle back in America, right?”

  “Yeah, his girlfriend is pregnant, and he was questioning how I like it here because I guess they want to settle somewhere and probably hope I’d want to stay here so he can have my parents’ home.”

  I can only blink as I hold her gaze. “What did you say?”

  “I told him that he can buy my parents’ house from me. I know that’s crazy ’cause we’ve only been dating for like seven weeks, but I can’t think of leaving you or the only family I have. Even if for some off-the-wall reason we don’t work, I love it here. I love the family I have here, and I’m happy. I know once I start school that things will be strained between us, but I think we might work, ya know? I don’t know, is this crazy?” she exclaims, her face turning red.

  I shake my head as I gather her closer, running my nose along hers. “No, it’s not crazy, and we will work ’cause, like you, I feel we will. I’m invested here, Amberlyn. Wholeheartedly.”

  Her eyes shine as she holds my gaze. “Me too.”

  Does that mean she loves me? Our gaze is heated, and I can’t look anywhere but in her beautiful eyes. The words are there and I almost utter them, but before I can, the song ends and Fiona is there beside us.

  “Amberlyn, you have to come see the chocolate fountain and come to the powder room with me because all these people scare me.”

  I want to tell Fiona to wait, but Amberlyn is laughing as she nods. “Okay, I’ll be back.”

  Kissing me quickly on the cheek, she is off, and as I watch her, I know that I can’t wait anymore.

  I have to tell her I love her.

  Chapter 23

  Amberlyn

  The chocolate fountain is amazing.

  After eating way more sweets than I need to, I follow Fiona to the bathroom and wait alongside the sink with my thoughts drifting back to Declan. The word good doesn’t even give how he looks justice. Fucking hot is more like it. The suit he is wearing hugs every single inch of him and is tailored just for him. It’s a charcoal color with an off-white tie. He’s gorgeous and I love being on his arm, centered in his gorgeous gaze. He makes me feel like I’m the only girl in the world, and I can’t get enough of it.

  When my uncle called earlier, it was too easy to agree to sell the house. While my heart hurts to know that I am letting go of the only thing that my mom and dad shared with me, I know it needs to be done. I have to let go of everything to move on completely. I still have all the important things, and my uncle agreed to ship all those things here. I am thinking that I might get my own place, maybe rent a flat in town so that I’ll still be close to the pub. I’m not sure. I might wait and stay at the pub with my family, or maybe Declan and I will want to get a place. I’m not sure, but either way, I am so excited to start my life, and I hope that it’s with Declan. I am putting my whole heart in his hands, and I can’t help but feel like it is the right thing to do. It as if my mom sent him to me, the perfect man, all for me.

  With a content grin on my face, I wait as Fiona washes her hands before looking at me in the mirror while she does her hair. “Having fun?”

  “Yes, this place is amazing,” I say, and it’s true. Even the bathroom is breathtaking. All of it is expensive marble and so pretty that I’m scared to touch it, let alone take a piss on it. Fiona doesn’t seem to care and uses everything as if it is hers.

  “I know, and to think maybe it will all be yours one day,” she teases with a wink.

  I laugh as my heart flutters in my chest. “I don’t want all this; I only want Declan.”

  “That is something that every sister loves to hear from the girl who is dating her brother.”

  I jump at the new voice and turn to find Lena O’Callaghan smiling at me. She looks like she stepped out of a magazine in a very fashionable white dress that fits her like a glove. Like mine, it sparkles and has cuts along the side that give off a very sexy, but classy look. Her hair is up in a chignon and her makeup is dramatically done, enhancing her ice-blue eyes. She is simply stunning.

  “You must be Amberlyn. It’s so wonderful to meet you,” she says, taking a step toward me and enveloping me in a hug.

  “I am. Hello,” I fumble as I back away, embarrassed that she heard us talking about Declan. Even Fiona is red with embarrassment when I turn to her. “This is my cousin, Fiona Maclaster.”

  She smiles as she hugs Fiona. “Yes, you’re dating Kane, right? I saw you two together. He’s always been a big brother to me, too, and he looks beyond happy with you.”

  “Thank you,” is all Fiona says, and I swear she looks like she is talking to someone famous.

  I roll my eyes as Lena looks back at me. “Are you two having fun?”

  “Yes,” I say as Fiona nods. “It’s a beautiful party.”

  “Thank you. I’m so glad you could come, or that Declan finally got the balls to invite you!” She laughs, and we both laugh along with her. “We’ll have to get together, maybe next week? Get to know each other.”

  “I’d love that,” I admit, and her eyes light up.

  “Wonderful, I’ll give you a ring next week then. You’ll have to come, too, Fiona.”

  Fiona can only nod as I say, “That’s so sweet, thank you.”

  When her gaze leaves mine to look down, I wait as she types something on her phone before looking up at us with her brows together. “I’m so sorry, excuse me. I have to go attend to something, but I look forward to getting together with you next week. Maybe tea?”

  “Sure, me too,” I say, and before I can say more, she is gone. “Well, that was odd.”

  “I can’t believe she hugged me. That was so cool.”

  I roll my eyes. “You are acting like Aunt Shelia. She is just another person.”

  “She has dresses made for her by all the great designers, she is marrying the one of the richest bachelors from England, and she’s my idol,” Fiona gushes as I just shake my head.

  “You’re crazy,” I tease as we start for the ballroom.

  “Let’s make another stop for the chocolate fountain before finding the guys. I should have had dinner instead of having sex with my hot boyfriend,” she laughs as we beeline for the fountain.

  “Probably would have been a good idea,” I say with a shake of my head.

  Once at the fountain, we both make ourselves a little plate before grabbing a glass of wine. Finding a table, we munch as I people watch and look for Declan. I find him standing with Kane and an older man. It’s not his father, but he does look a lot like Kane.

  “Is that Kane’s dad?”

  Fiona looks to where I am pointing and covers her mouth as she says, “Yup, cool guy. His ma is real nice, too. I like them. I think they like me. I hope so, at least.”

  “I’m sure they do. You’re fabulous.”

  She grins. “Maybe. I did spill the gravy all over the floor, and they st