Taking Risk Series Read online

  I feel like she is stabbing me with each word she says after because, but I can’t let her see that. So holding her gaze, I say, “So stop, let me take you to dinner tonight.”

  “He’s taking me,” she whispers, looking sad as she says it. I hate the words. Hate them with everything inside me. I want to beg her to say no and go with me, but that would make me look desperate. “I’d feel weird dating both of you at the same time. It isn’t fair to either of you.”

  I nod as my fingers bite into my thighs. “I guess I should have acted sooner. I lost my chance.”

  She looks down at the bar, playing with the edge of it as she whispers, “Don’t say that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to believe it. I know that we don’t know each other well, but I like you a lot, Declan. I would love the chance to get to know you better.”

  I want to run and hide. But at the same time, I never want to leave, afraid that I’ll never see her like this again. In here, just us, life is great. Outside of these walls, life is shit, and it irritates the living hell out of me. My heart is out of control in my chest, and blood is rushing to my head. I want to say that to her. Knowing she has the same feelings has me holding on to the stool so I don’t fall off. I don’t know what to say next. When she looks up, looking at me through her long, dark lashes, I’m breathless.

  “I like you, too.”

  Did I just say that?

  She slowly lets out a long breath. “I don’t know what will happen between Casey and me. It could be nothing, but I’ve said yes, so I need to honor that,” she says as she folds her hands nervously.

  I nod my head, looking down at the bar. “I respect that.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “I feel like I’m ruining everything between us,” she says, unsure of herself, so I reach out, my hand shaking as I take hers in mine. Her hand is small, warm, and so soft. It calms me but at the same time, it excites me at the possibility of her body feeling just like this.

  When she looks up at me, I smile. “Never. I won’t say that my pride isn’t dented or that I’ll wait for you, but I hope that I get the chance to show you who I am.”

  “Me too.”

  I’m taking this better than I thought I would. Maybe because I know Casey can’t carry a candle compared to me. He is the slime of the universe, and the thought of her going out with him scares me.

  Taking in a deep breath, I say, “Promise me something though, Amberlyn.”

  “Anything.”

  “Be careful,” I stress, my eyes locked on hers. “Call me whenever, don’t worry about the hour, and always text Fiona to let her know where you are.”

  She looks confused, but she agrees. “Okay.”

  When the door opens and we both look back to find the man of the hour walking in, our hands part, slowly sliding away from each other, and even though I don’t want to, I decide that it’s time for me to go.

  Chapter 9

  Amberlyn

  Did that just happen?

  My head is pounding and I feel like I’m going to puke, but I’m not sure if it is the hangover or what just happened with Declan. I want to cry, but at the same time, I want to cut Fiona. But then again, I should have freaking asked! Instead, I sat back and allowed myself to fall for a guy I thought I couldn’t have, when in all reality, I could. I mean, fuck! That’s not fair. Life isn’t fair! I mean seriously, the last couple of months have been hard, and then this? Really?

  I guess I could cancel my date with Casey, but that is so incredibly rude. And I know if I make up an excuse, he’ll figure out another way to ask me. I’ve only spent a little bit of time with him, but I feel like I’ve known him for years. He is so open, very persistent, and I do like him. He is nice, hot, and funny, but he isn’t Declan. I’ve had a thing for Declan since the moment I saw him, and now he’s sitting here, telling me he has feelings for me, and I have to turn him down. How is that fair?

  And to top it all off, now Casey is here, and Declan is pulling his hand from mine.

  I mean, really, if someone would have told me I was going to be in this moment months ago, I would have laughed at them. I went from being the most unavailable person to having not only one guy wanting me but also the fucking royalty of Mayo. Seriously? How does this happen? I am having a hard time believing it, and to make sure this isn’t a drunken dream, I pinch myself. When pain shoots up my arm, I groan. Fucking hell.

  I didn’t even know Casey was coming, and by the looks of it, Declan is not happy to see him. I have no clue what is going on between these two, but I have every intention on finding out. Casey, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to care one way or another. His eyes are on me, a grin on his face, and a single daisy in his hand. He looks great today, too. His blond hair is a mess, and it looks like he just rolled out of bed, but I find it sexy. As he comes around the bar, gathering me in his arms and hugging me tightly, I find myself breathless. He smells good, spicy and sexy. When I look up into his face, I find myself smiling, even though I feel like shit. His eyes are bright as he leans down and brushes his lips on my cheek.

  I try to back away some because I don’t want Declan seeing this. I feel like an ass just hugging Casey, but he is grinning and he has a daisy. I can’t exactly just wave.

  “You look like hell today,” he says, and I laugh.

  “Wow, thanks.” I pull myself from his arms and glance over to the bar to find that Declan isn’t there. When I look out the window, I catch his car speeding out of the parking lot and my heart drops. Damn it, I might have just fucked that all up.

  “Doesn’t mean you don’t look hot, too,” he whispers in my ear.

  I laugh as I push him away, but he isn’t letting me go. He pulls me back into his arms and looks deep in my eyes. I look up, surprised, because I have never been handled like this before and it’s weird. I don’t like being pulled around, but it seems like Casey does that a lot. I’ve only known him for a day, and he’s kissed me more in one night than I’ve been kissed my whole life. It makes me nervous, but at the same time, I wonder if this is how a relationship is.

  “Ugh, no making out in the pub. Take that shite outside,” Fiona says, causing me to jump in surprise. I wiggle out of Casey’s arms and grab a rag to act as if I am wiping the counter. He laughs as he comes around the bar, going on a stool and setting Fiona with a look.

  “Don’t act like you have never done it.”

  Fiona flips him the middle finger before going to the back, leaving me alone with him. I want to ask her to come back out. I don’t know why it is weird today with him. I was so comfortable with him yesterday. Was it the alcohol? Or is it the fact that I now know Declan is single? How shitty is that? Casey has done nothing but be nice to me. Yeah, we may need to set some ground rules on the whole touching me thing, but he’s a nice guy. He brought me a daisy. But then again, something is off. I don’t know. I just feel weird.

  “What brings you in?”

  He smiles. “You. I thought we’d make plans for tonight.”

  I smile back at him. “Of course, what would you like to do?”

  “Anything you want. We can go driving, we can go to dinner, go back to my place, whatever you like.”

  The only thing that appeals to me is dinner. “Dinner would be great. I’m not working tonight.”

  “Great. So I’ll pick you up at six?”

  I nod. “That would be fine.”

  “Awesome,” he says. Getting up, he leans over the bar toward me. I’m pretty sure he is going to kiss me, so I ask, “How do you know Declan O’Callaghan?”

  He pauses, his strong forearms on the bar as he looks at me. “Went to school together.”

  “Do you two get along?”

  He shrugs. “Sure, why?”

  “Just asking.”

  “Do you talk?”

  I nod. “Yeah, he comes in to eat almost every day.”

  He eyes me suspiciously, and I have no clue