Taking Risk Series Read online

  He is the first guy since Declan that I am actually attracted to, and I feel like the forces beyond are trying to push me away from Declan—for good reason, of course. Maybe my mom brought Casey to me to distract me from my feelings. I can’t do anything to risk Declan’s relationship with whomever he is with, and because of that, I feel like I need to act on this attraction. Moving toward him, I say, “I like your tattoos.”

  His eyes don’t leave mine as he says, “Thanks, I did some of them, but it’s hard to tattoo yourself.”

  “Oh cool, so you’re a tattoo artist?”

  “Yup, the best in town.”

  I smile as I lean into the bar. “Wow! I’m going to go get my first one tonight.”

  “I know. You are coming to my shop. That’s why I’m here. I came to pick ya up.”

  His eyes are dancing with mischief, and I can’t help but love being under his gaze. He makes me feel tingly all over, and I like him—he is intoxicating. “You lie.”

  “Never! I wouldn’t do such a thing. Not to such a looker of a lady.”

  I eye him, a grin playing on my lips, as I say, “You’re a total flirt.”

  “Oh sure, I am, and you like it. You do; I can tell.”

  I shrug. “Maybe.”

  “No maybe about it. I know you do. By the end of the night, I’ll have your number and my artwork will be on your skin.”

  I love his confidence, and I especially love the way he is looking deep in my eyes as he grins. I like the color of his eyes too. They aren’t your normal light blue. No, they are dark, almost purplish, and they have me gasping as I get lost in the depths of them. I can’t help but feel drawn to him, and I know he is bound to be a fun time.

  “Sure, why not.”

  “Atta girl!” he yells as he stands up, clapping his hands together. He leans against the bar, taking my face in his hands before laying a loud, smacking kiss on my lips. It happens so fast that when he pulls away, his eyes boring into mine, I don’t know what to do, but I do know that my lips are tingling from the quick feel of his. His eyes are darker, his smile beaming, and I have to smile back, instead of hitting him upside his head, as I would have done to any other guy that would kiss me without even taking me to dinner first.

  “By the way, the name’s Casey Burke.”

  “Amberlyn Reilly.”

  His grin grows as his gaze drops to my lips. My heart bangs against my ribs, and I swear he is going to kiss me again, but instead, he says, “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

  Oh, he is good. Butterflies are fluttering in my stomach as he holds my gaze. I thought tonight I was going to only mark off the do something drastic by getting my tattoo, but I am beginning to think that I might be able to mark off take a risk too.

  Because Casey Burke is a walking risk.

  One I want to take.

  Chapter 8

  Declan

  There’s a party at the Carney.

  I look down at my phone and laugh. So what if there is a party? Why would Kane tell me that? I won’t go. I haven’t been to a party at the Carney since I was eighteen, and I have no desire to go to one now. No fucking way.

  Amberlyn is going.

  Okay, maybe I will go.

  Sitting up out of my chair, I put down the book I’m reading, The Hobbit, since Amberlyn had mention loving the Lord of the Rings. I hadn’t read it in a while and decided that tomorrow we could discuss it, if I can keep myself from trying to kiss her again. Man, that was close and so wrong of me. I haven’t even told her I like her or even run the idea of going out with me across her, and I was about to kiss the hell out of her. I mean, really devour her beautiful, pouty lips. I don’t know what came over me. Usually, I have more control of my actions, but with her, my control is shot. She constantly has my head spinning and my heart racing. It’s crazy, and I think that it’s about time for me to do something about it.

  Not sure what that will be, but we’ve been doing this dance of getting to know each other too long. I know there is a chance she will say no because she is still recovering from the loss of her mother, but I feel like I could help her with that. I could kiss away each tear. It would be an honor, and I know I can be the man who her parents would want for her. Rounding the corner of the hall, I halt when I come face-to-face with my ma. I reach out, taking my mother by the back of the arm to steady her. She smiles as she brings me in for a tight hug.

  As we part, she asks, “Declan? Where are you off to?”

  “I’m going out.”

  She cups my face. “Good, I’ve noticed you’ve been out a lot. The media are going nuts about it.”

  I know, and it makes no sense. How do they catch me without me knowing? It drives me insane. “Sure, I’ve seen it.”

  “They say you’ve been at the Céad Míle Fáilte. Someone there worth your time?”

  She is meddling, but I don’t expect anything less from her. I’m surprised that Lena hasn’t been asking me questions either. Of course, I want to tell her about Amberlyn, but I want to wait until things are where I want them. I don’t want to bring her up, and Ma immediately starts planning our wedding. I know for sure that would scare Amberlyn off, and plus, I don’t even know if I want that with her. Yes, I am attracted and I like her a lot, but I don’t know how we work as a couple. I need that before I start screaming from the rooftop that Amberlyn Reilly is my gal.

  “Yeah, the best damn beer in town.”

  She scolds me with her eyes before playfully smacking me. “Fine, don’t tell me, but be careful, okay?”

  I nod. “Sure, Ma.”

  “Grand. Well, have fun tonight.”

  “Will do,” I say before placing a kiss to her cheek and then walking toward the door. Our butler opens the door for me and follows me out to open the door of my car. I smile my thanks before getting in and driving off. My nerves are fried, and my heart hasn’t stilled since Kane said Amberlyn would be at the Carney. I really don’t want to go, but I will deal with it as long as I get to see Amberlyn out of the pub. Not that I don’t love seeing her there because I do, but I want to see what it is like between us outside of it. Does she only like me because I’m a paying customer, or does she like me for me? I hope that she does since I’m almost positive she wanted to kiss me this afternoon. It may have been all in my head, but then again, her breathing hitched and I saw her eyes start to drift shut.

  It was the hottest thing I had ever seen.

  Letting my foot push the pedal harder, I drive with ease down the winding roads to the Carney. When I see the rows of cars and then the lights, I know I have reached it. It hasn’t changed much in the last couple of years, and like before, couples are in every place, getting a feel as drunks move around them like they aren’t there. Cups and bottles litter the ground, and people are everywhere. This is what the Carney is known for—beer, sex, and drugs—all outside. Smashing time, right? Yeah, it used to be my scene, not so much anymore.

  Weaving through the crowds as the music pulsates around me, I keep an eye out for Kane. He messaged me that they were by the bonfire where the DJ is. When I come up to that spot, I see Amberlyn first. She is dancing with Fiona, a wide smile on her face as they hold hands, dancing to the techno beat. Her hair is moving, her breasts bouncing, and fuck, I’m getting hard just watching her. I blame it on the shirt; it shows way more of her delectable breasts than usual, and it doesn’t help that the shorts are shorter than normal either. She looks so carefree, so happy, that a wide smile comes over my lips.

  When a hand comes down on my shoulder, I look over to find Kane. He is grinning like an eejit, handing me a beer as his eyes redirect to where the girls are dancing.

  “Glad you came,” he yells over the music.

  “Couldn’t miss seein’ her.”

  As she bends over, shaking her ass in Fiona’s pelvic area, I know that this was the best idea ever. God bless Kane, such a great friend for inviting me. I don’t even care that we are in a cesspool of vermin. Nope, all I care about is t