His rosy cheeks brighten. He takes the lease out of his back pocket, along with a pen. “It’s yours whenever you want it.”
“Seems a bit eager, doesn’t he, Gwen?” Mills eyes him suspiciously.
I snag the pen from Mr. Hopkins’ hand and sign the paper. “Just sign the damn thing, Mills. It isn’t haunted.”
She takes the pen from me, scratching the ballpoint on the paper and signing her name. “If a ghost kills me, I’m haunting you.”
“I’m so scared.” I mock her, giving the pen and the lease back to Mr. Hopkins. “Hey, can you leave a copy of the lease at my parents’ house?”
“Oh, sure thing. They are coming over tomorrow for drinks. I’ll give it to them then.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hopkins.”
“I wouldn’t want this place to go to anyone else. Here are the keys. I’ll see you around, okay? You can move in whenever.”
“Wait, don’t you need first month and last month’s rent right now?” That’s how they did it in Portland.
He waves the question away like an annoying bug. “Heck no. Pay me first month’s rent when you move in.” He disappears down the steps, leaving me gawking.
“That saves me so much money,” I say, as I slump with relief.
“As it should, since the place is haunted.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“You know what’s ridiculous? You and Reilly not giving in to your primal urges.” She thrusts the air with her hips, pretending to smack an ass.
“There are no urges,” I lie, prancing down the steps and out the door. The evening air slaps me in the face, taking my breath away.
Mills’ arm slithers around mine as we walk down Main Street, a chill still hanging in the air from the tail end of winter. “Liar. There are so many urges between you guys, it nearly smothers me.”
“It isn’t going to happen.” I don’t even believe the words as they fall from my lips. I want the urges. I want to cave in and slide my hands over his broad shoulders, trace his tattoos with my tongue, and hold on tight as he drives his big cock into me. I want to feel his arms wrapping around me, his mouth kissing my neck, and his hands gripping my ass—I want it all.
I want to jump off the cliff and fall into the waters of Reilly O’Hara. I want to drown in him. I want to lose all my senses in him. The feelings are so strong between us that they feel like they are crushing me from the inside out. The urgency, the need, the lust, the desire, the overwhelming sense of there being more to us than what we pretend there is—all of it is crushing me and stealing my breath.
“Well, whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep well at night. I think you guys are crazy, but what do I know?”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing,” I tease. She pushes me, causing me to stumble right into a hard, firm chest, but it isn’t the chest that heats my dreams every night. I glance up to see Grayson Harding—my old high school boyfriend. The one I lost my virginity to.
“Gwendolyn? Is that really you?”
Is it really me? Is he joking? “Hi, Grayson.” I tuck my hair behind my ear, taking a step back. I give him a once-over and immediately start comparing him to Reilly. His chest isn’t as broad, his arms aren’t as big, he doesn’t have a beard, and he doesn’t have an Irish accent. What did I ever see in this guy? Right. I was sixteen. Young and dumb, living on the edge of hormones and popularity, trying to do anything I could to tear my attention from Reilly even then.
“You look amazing.” He pulls me in for a hug, taking the breath out of my lungs with the uncomfortable way he holds me to his chest.
My nose turns up when I smell him. He smells like oil and body odor. How did I ever find this guy attractive? “Thanks, Grayson. I didn’t know you were back in town. I thought you went off to New York City or something for law school.”
“I did. But I graduated and I’m opening a firm here. Maybe we can go out sometime and catch up. I’d love to know what’s going on in your life,” Grayson says. He smiles, and a familiar twinkle appears in his eyes. I know that look. He just wants to get laid.
Over my dead body. I’ll never be making that mistake again.
“You know what? She can’t. She has prior engagements, Grayson,” Mills replies for me.
He rolls his eyes as he turns to acknowledge Mills. “Oh, Camilla. How wonderful it would have been to not run into you today.”
“Tell me about it. I would have given my left leg to not see you for another five years, but here we are.” She glances at her nails, something she does whenever she’s bored of someone.
“Well, last time I checked, you don’t speak for Gwendolyn.”
“Actually, Grayson, she is right. I’m kind of seeing someone right now, so I don’t think it would be appropriate. It was nice to see you, though.” A few cars pass us on the road, their headlights blinding me for a moment. I grab Mills’ hand and start to drag her away when Grayson wraps his hand around my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
“Really? Who are you seeing? Maybe I know him.”
“You don’t. It’s someone from out-of-state,” I lie. It seems like I’ll be doing a lot of that if I decide to be with Reilly. I never thought I’d have to lie to be with someone. I hate lying. I’ve always felt like I’d do anything to be with Reilly but lying really leaves me unsettled. I know it would be something I’d continue to do for him, though. Does that make me less of a person because I’d do anything if it means I can call Reilly mine?
“Well, he isn’t here, is he?”
“He doesn’t need to be here for you to respect her space. She said no. Get lost.” Mills pushes his shoulder, and he releases my arm. She drags me across the street, speed-walking away from him.
We keep walking for another few blocks until we get to her car. I struggle for a few breaths. I don’t work out much, and I feel a cramp on my right side. That’s just plain sad.
“Hey, check it out,” Mills nudges me and nods to the right. In front of the old Gredence Place mansion stands Hannah Brown, local real estate agent and well-known bitch, but what really kicks me in the shin is who she was talking to. “What’s Reilly doing talking to her? Especially at that old place,” Mills wonders out loud.
“I don’t know. I’m not his keeper,” I spit, a bit of venom very clearly resounding in my voice. He’s free to talk to whomever he wants, but it still irks me. No matter how much I don’t like Hannah, I can’t deny that she is pretty. She has long blonde hair, baby blue eyes, big boobs, and a small, tight body. She is a guy’s wet dream, not to mention the best real estate agent in town.
“Attitude, much? Jeez. I think someone is bothered. I don’t think you have any reason to be, though. She has nothing on you. Plus, she is a royal you-know-what,” Mills sang, opening up the car doors.
After we get in, we sit there for a moment, just watching them. “Why do you think he is in front of this old mansion?” It has an old, gothic gate, and bushes that cover up the surrounding fence. It looks like an Irish castle, but it seems very old and run down. The stone has turned black from all the dirt and a few windows are knocked out. Growing up, kids would try to climb the ten-foot-tall fence to spend the night in the old place.
“It’s for sale. Maybe he’s trying to buy it,” Mills states as she starts the car.
“That place is millions of dollars. Since when does he have that kind of money?”
“Well, Lucky died recently. Maybe he had a big fortune that he didn’t tell anyone about,” Mills hypothesizes.
We keep watching as Hannah reaches out and touches Reilly’s arm. He looks down and takes a step back, shaking his head. He says something that takes the flirtation out of her eyes.
“Oh, he didn’t like that. See? You have nothing to worry about.”
“He can be interested in whoever he wants. We aren’t a couple.” But even the words taste like poison on my tongue. I don’t want him with anyone else. I want him to be with me and only me. And even though I’ve only been back in town for a few
days, and we’ve only shared one evening of kissing together, I feel like we’ve been together for ages. Like our relationship means something more than just a fling.
Mills places her arm behind the passenger seat and reverses the car, pulling us away from the scene playing out in front of us. I’m intrigued, that’s for sure. Why would he be standing in front of that old place? Is Mills right? Did he inherit a lot of money? Or maybe he’s talking to Hannah because he wants to take her out on a date.
My phone dings and I pull it out of my purse as Mills drives us back to my place. My breath catches in my throat when I see Reilly’s name on the screen.
Reilly: What are you doing tonight?
Me: Catching a ride back with Mills to my house.
That doesn’t really answer his question, but I’m not sure if I want to see him after watching him with Hannah. I have a lot of conflicting feelings and I don’t know which ones I can trust.
Reilly: Can I see you tonight?
I stare at the message for a few minutes and slap the top of the phone in my hand as I think it over. I want to see him more than I want my next breath.
“What’cha huffing and puffing about over there?”
I watch the trees blur together as I stare out the window. “Reilly asked me what I was doing tonight. He wants to see me, but I don’t know.”
“What’s there to know? You like him and he likes you. Just do it.”
“I just don’t know, okay?”
She holds her hands up in surrender, her palms still pressed against the steering wheel. “Alright. Dang. You’ll figure it out. I know you two have made this huge, fake scenario in your head about Anthony coming at you with a machete, but I promise it’ll be fine.”
Mills turns left down the road and then pulls into the driveway of my parents’ house. “Just do what your gut tells you to do. Always follow your instinct. If your instinct tells you not to, then listen to it. It’ll never steer you wrong, but if you don't go after something out of fear, well… I’m sorry babe, but that isn’t a good reason to deny something that can make you happy.”
I don’t get out of the car right away. I tap my fingers against my phone and stare at it, wondering if she’s right. I open my messages and start texting Reilly.
Me: Okay.
My phone dings a second later.
Reilly: Think Mills could bring you to Lucky’s?
“How much would you hate me if I had you drive me to Lucky’s right now?”
Mills starts the car and spins out of the driveway, burning rubber as she presses on the gas. The tires shriek before lurching forward. The car fishtails as we take a right down the road and I grab the ‘Oh shit!’ handle above me, holding on for dear life. “Just get me there alive,” I breathe through my nose and out of my mouth, trying to calm my racing heart.
“Always so dramatic,” she laughs with a roll of her eyes.
“Coming from the girl who thinks our apartment is haunted.”
“That isn’t being dramatic. Those are facts.”
And that’s the moment I realize my friend might be a crazy person, but I love her anyway.
Chapter Fourteen
Reilly
My stomach turns, my nerves getting the best of me. I wonder for the hundredth time what the hell I could be thinking, buying the house on Gredence Place. Hannah, the real estate agent I had first tried to buy it from, originally kept hitting on me. Now, I’m not oblivious to how pretty she is, but she just isn’t my kind of pretty. The situation was annoying because every time I brought up the house, she brought up dinner. Every time I brought up the price, she brought up her place. I finally had to walk away. I went back to the realtor’s office and bought the place through John Momick. He and I went to high school together, and he completely understood why I decided not to buy from Hannah. He’s married with two kids, but she still tries to be a home wrecker in his life, too.
And that’s just distasteful.
But now, I have the keys to the one place I’ve always wanted. Growing up in this town, there was one house that reminded me of Ireland, but I never in a million years thought I’d be able to buy it. The old man that owned it passed away about ten years ago and the bank has been trying to sell it ever since. It needs work. Lots of it, at that. The pipes need to be replaced, and the windows need to be switched out with heat-efficient ones, especially because most of them are busted out anyway. The hardwood floors are rotting, the deck is crooked, and the weeds have taken over the place, but I don’t care. It’s my new home.
And I’m about to show it to Gwen. I have the car packed up with a picnic basket, some water, a bottle of wine, a blanket, and a few candles. Tonight I plan to tell her I’m a billionaire, or I could say that Lucky left a lot of money to me. I’m not sure how I’m going to phrase it quite yet.
“Why are you so nervous, Reilly?” Brock asks as I stand against one of the pool tables, watching the front door like a hawk. People have already started filtering into the bar and Brock is slinging drinks like crazy. He could use my help, but I really want a night with Gwen, something that’s been in the making for a while now. A long while now.
“Keep ye mouth shut, Brock.” I don’t want anyone to overhear him.
“You’re playing a dangerous game.”
I glance at my watch and notice that I had talked to Gwen about five minutes ago, so I grab my jacket and head out the door. I don’t want anyone to see her walk into the bar and then leave with me. I get what she means now. We haven’t even been trying this thing for more than a few days and the secret is already much harder to carry than I thought.
I just want to sweep her up in my arms when she walks into the bar, but that’s wishful thinking on my end. I want us to have time together before we have to answer to people. Everyone always wants answers, demanding to know what is going on in someone else’s life and never leaving it alone until the excitement has been sucked out of life. I refuse to let that happen with Gwen.
I swing my keychain around my finger as I walk to my car. The headlights flash when I press the button, illuminating parts of the night, but at the same time, I spot a figure sitting in the back seat of my car. My hackles would have risen, but as soon as I see the outline of Gwen's flowing hair, I realize she must have just found a way into my car… But how?
The night is cold. The stars aren’t out like they had been a few nights ago, since the sky is full of clouds this evening. I pick up the pace, trying to put a pep in my step. I climb into the car and roar the engine to life a few moments later. I don’t turn on the lights because I don’t want anyone to see us yet. “How did ye get in the car?”
Gwen steps over the middle console, plopping her ass into the passenger seat. “It isn’t smart to keep your spare in the same place all these years.”
I turn my head, lifting a brow. “And how did you know where the spare was?”
Her finger draws lazy circles over my hand as it rests on the gear shift. “That’s my secret.”
“I’ll get it out of you eventually.”
“Maybe.”
“Oh, I will.” I put the car into drive and pull out of Lucky’s parking lot, driving to Gredence Place. My palms start to sweat as I debate about what to tell her when we pull up to the gate.
As we drive down the road, I lace my fingers through hers. “Feels so right,” I admit, bringing our hands to my lips and giving her knuckles a kiss. “How have we fought this for so long?”
“It’s hard to fight something when we weren’t anywhere near each other.”
Her words cut me deep because they are meant for me. “It was hard, Gwenie. Don’t think I didn’t wish I was next to you every step of the way.”
“Why now, then? What makes it so different now?” she asks, her thumb rubbing the inside of my palm.
We pass the town church, which indicates we’re about a minute away from our destination. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away again. When your brother told me ye were coming back, my insides cr
umbled. The resolve I had built came crumbling down. It had been easy because ye had left, but seeing ye again, I didn’t have the strength. But if it’s what ye want, tell me, and I’ll find it somehow. I’ll leave ye alone. Not without a fight, but I will, if you say the words.” I hold my breath, waiting for her answer. My lungs start to burn from the need to breathe.
“I don’t want you to leave me alone, but I also don’t want you talking to other women, either, if we are going to do this.” She huffs and pulls her hand away from mine. She slouches against the seat and glares out the window.
That perplexes me. “Another woman? Are ye mad? I haven’t dated another woman in years. What are ye talking about?”
She whips her head in my direction so fast that the ends of her hair smack my cheek, leaving a soft sting behind. “I saw you talking to Hannah Brown today,” she says, in the tone of a jealous girlfriend.
And for some reason, I like it.
I hide my smirk with my hand. “Ye crazy, ye know that? I wasn’t talking to her, talking to her. We were just discussing business.”
“Looked like a little more than business when she touched your arm.”
“She touched me arm, but I didn’t reciprocate said touch. Actually, I went back to the real estate office and spoke to John instead. She made me feel uncomfortable. What’s yer beef with her anyway?”
“She has always been rude to me, as if she’s out to get me. That type of rude. And it rubbed me the wrong way when I saw her touch you. You need to know right now that I’m the jealous type. I’m a bit possessive, so if you can’t handle that, now would be the time to tell me. I’m telling you upfront so that when you see my crazy side come out, you aren’t surprised.”
“I have never spoken to such an educated crazy person before about crazy people. It’s truly impressive,” I compliment her. She punches me in the arm, and I rub it, acting like it hurt.
“Very funny.”
“Ye know, I’m the same way. I don’t want ye with other guys. Not now. Not ever. I’ve always thought of ye as mine, even when ye couldn’t be,” I reply. The headlights of my car shine against the black, iron ‘G’ on the gates of Gredence Place. My Mustang idles for a minute and the exhaust billows clouds of smoke into the air, wafting to the front of the car because of the wind. It gives the place a spooky, haunted appearance, but it doesn’t bother me.
Lucky Daddy Page 10
