Equity (Balance Sheet #3)

by Shannon Dermott

  Her words trailed out into a space I could no longer hear. My vision blurred with a familiar red haze. I stood, my chair scraping the floor with my sudden movement. I began to move forward with determined strides. Keely moved fast and removed the tray from Bailey’s hands just as I reached her. She stood at the table of four men where one previously had his hand on her arse.

  With a shove, I pushed Bailey behind me. She protested, but I didn’t hear a word she said. Griff appeared, blocking my vision. “Whoa.” Griff’s hands were up, trying to calm me down. As much as I wanted to knock heads, I respected Ennis’s place. So I turned and ushered Bailey back through the doors she’d just come, surprising the cook. Then I shoved open the side door, leading us outside.

  Bailey slapped at my grip once we were alone.

  “What is your problem?” she asked, turning angry eyes up to me.

  “What’s yours? Why are you here working?” And that was it, wasn’t it? She was mine and she had no business working where everyone would assume I couldn’t take care of my own.

  “I wasn’t working,” she stated, shoving at my hands while I still held her.

  My muscles bunched with the urge to strike something. Not Bailey, but rather the wall. I should step away, but it had been far too long and I’d crossed over the edge. I caged her in. I wanted her and I hated myself for it. She’d chosen someone else. So why the fuck was I out here with her in reach yet her heart so far from mine?

  Her breaths were coming fast and she looked at me with frighten eyes. The urge to sooth took over. The back of my fingers made contact with her cheek. However, the need to kiss her made me take a frustrated step back.

  We stood in a battle of iron wills. I searched her eyes for something. Anything that would tell me what was going on in that lovely head of hers. She searched mine and I kept my face blank, void of all the emotions that gathered deep in me. I couldn’t let her know just how far I’d fallen.

  She’d obviously found what she was looking for because she turned and headed for the door.

  “Don’t,” I said dangerously. Don’t leave, I almost added but wouldn’t say it. She had enough power over me as it was.

  Her voice was sharp and cut into me more than she’d ever know. “Don’t what?”

  Don’t fucking leave and break my heart all over again. But I didn’t say that either. “Why are you letting some arse put his fucking hands on you?” I used the full force of my brogue on her, channeling the warriors of old who would have tossed the lass over their shoulder, taken her to bed and had their way with her.

  “My ass isn’t yours,” she spat as if I didn’t know that already.

  “Have a care,” I said.

  “What the hell does that mean? I care, I care that you made me look like I’d done something wrong in there.” She pointed her finger like it was a deadly weapon.

  “And what would Turner think if he’d seen what you did?” I said triumphantly. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. “Why are you here working of all things anyway? I can provide you with all you need.” I could take care of her always, if she’d let me.

  She flung her hands to her sides, balling them into fist. Her face flushed red, but not in embarrassment. She was preparing herself for the verbal assault I felt coming.

  Her eyes tunneled into me with a fierceness I’d felt pride over. “I was bored, alright? You were out with your new girlfriend and I had nothing to do.”

  I quirked a brow. It was almost cute. “Jealous?”

  “No, I’m not jealous. You’re free to do whatever the hell you want. So why don’t you go back and leave me alone?”

  There was a moment for me to do the right thing and leave her be. However, her jealousy gave me irrational hope. I stepped back into her and gave her little retreat to the wall at her back. I leaned in and did what I wanted to do. I pressed my lips to hers in an onslaught of need.

  She started to move, so I caught her around the waist, holding her there as she melted into me. Her hand slid up my chest and fisted in my hair. Prepared to hoist her up so she could wrap her legs around my waist, I positioned my hand at her thigh.

  The tug was sharp and caused me to curse under my breath. I pulled back and gazed into frosty eyes. “This can’t happen,” she declared before storming back inside.

  I stood panting, trying to work out my frustration. I shifted on my feet, trying to adjust the strain in my pants. I took a shot with my fist against the wall, feeling my knuckles split against the stone. The pain was release and killed the lust in less than a second. I planted my head on the cool stones, wondering what the hell I was doing. I’d made an arse out of myself for nothing. I still lost the girl.

  When I walked in, I didn’t immediately see her. I took my seat while Griff eyed me.

  “So I ask again. That’s the lassie that has you all pent up?”

  I nodded, not bothering with a lie. The group of men that had been flirting with my girl stared daggers at me. I felt my chest puff up, spoiling for a fight. I needed to vent my anger, and what better way that knocking heads like the old days? I knew Griff would have my back and we’d easily take the four. We had more times than not been outnumbered with worse odds.

  Then she appeared. I found myself lost in her movements. She was graceful in a way I’d never noticed before. She pointedly didn’t look my way.

  “Why is she here taking over my job?” a voice said from over me. I faced Keely, whose frustration seemed to rival mine.

  I shifted back in my seat and pulled her into my lap. Bailey turned in time to catch Keely’s giggles. Without taking my eyes from the woman I loved, I kissed Keely with everything that belonged to the redhead half a bar away from me.

  Focused on her through it all, I watched Bailey’s eyes grow wide. Then she turned and ran out the back. She was most certainly jealous.

  When I pulled away from the kiss, I caught Griff’s stunned glance at me. Fuck. Griff was in love with Keely, which was one of the reasons I steered clear from her. The other had been that I had always seen her as a little sister. That was, until last night.

  Knowing Griff would understand my little display, I ignored his glare. I asked Keely, “Why are you still working here?” I waited for a response, fighting the urge to chase after Bailey.

  Keely was saved from answering when Ennis, my mother’s boyfriend and the proprietor of the bar, called for her assistance. From the exchange and his pissed glance my way, I knew he was going after Bailey, probably to give her a ride so she didn’t walk back to my mother’s in the dark.

  Griff caught my attention. “Are we done here?”

  I nodded.

  “Then let’s get out of here. Want to go to a club?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Bits of dust plume rose from underneath my stamping feet. The sun was low in the sky, barely a glowing ember. It didn’t matter though. I just needed to get the hell out of there and away from that asshat.

  It was a strange word that I hadn’t used before but fitting. I was in an extraordinary and beautiful place. I’d only been trying to fill my empty day by taking the asshat’s mother’s suggestion to make my way to the only pub in the area run by her boyfriend Ennis. We had gotten word that Turner wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow morning.

  Ennis been the kindest man I’d ever met and understood immediately why Kalen’s mother swooned when she spoke about him. When he looked taken back by an early rush and I offered to help, he looked relieved.

  Then Kalen had come in like a summer storm, all beautiful and deadly. It had taken all my gumption to ignore his turmoil and advances. He wanted me and didn’t at the same time. No girl wanted that. So I’d fled. What else was there to be done?

  The faint hum of a motor came from the distance. I didn’t turn around. I feared Kalen had been forced after me. I balled my fist in preparation to tell him exactly where he could shove his ride when an open window pulled beside me.

  Ennis. I stopped. His gentle smile was all the no
nverbal words I needed.

  On our way back to Moria’s he said, “Aye sweet lass, my son,” he began.

  I glanced over at him with my brows knitted in confusion.

  “He’s not my son by blood. But he’ll always be like a son to me, eh.” He waited a beat. I gave him a tiny smile, letting him know I understood. “That boyo, I’ve never seen him behave that way with any woman.”

  Figuring I had nothing to lose because both his parents seemed to want to give me a pep talk, I said, “He hates me.”

  His laugh was brusque. “Lass, that’s love causing all his confusion.”

  “I don’t think so. I think he just doesn’t want me here.” My words were as final as they sounded. I wouldn’t believe anything else. “Besides, he and Keely are making up for lost time.”

  “Keely,” he said, and it was with humor that made the name sound preposterous. “That lass has been following Kalen for the last decade. He puts up with her as a sister, nothing more.”

  “It didn’t look that way,” I rebuked. We pulled up in the driveway. I turned in my seat, thinking I’d better do this before we got inside and I was talked out of it. “Is there an inn nearby?”

  “Aye, lass,” he said, sounding weary. “Don’t leave. The lad will come to his senses.”

  I gave him my biggest doe eyes. “I can’t stay here.”

  Defeated, he sighed. It was a moment or two in hopes I suspected that I would change my mind before he said, “Let me make a call inside.”

  When I opened the car door, Moria was already standing there. “Is everything okay?”

  I just nodded and headed for the stairs. I could hear Ennis explaining before he switched to what Moria had told me was Gaelic. It didn’t take long for me to get my things together. I hadn’t unpacked because I planned to stay somewhere else with Turner anyway. Neither man deserved the uncomfortable tension that would surround us if we were all in the same place.

  By the time I got downstairs, Moria seemed beside herself. However, she only asked me to stay once. After I gave her a definite no, Ennis said that there was one inn nearby. It was located near the private airport I’d flown into. The owner of the airport also owned the inn. His wife operated it. However, with no guest, she’d gone to stay with her sister for the night. Ennis would drop me by the airport. The owner was waiting for one more arrival before he shut down for the night. Then he would walk me over to the inn and get me settled.

  I hugged Moria because she’d been nothing but nice. I hated to leave her hospitality. But I would have left by tomorrow with Turner anyway.

  As much as I felt bad about taking Ennis away from his bar, I was grateful for the ride. On top of that, when we arrived at the small airport, he walked me inside the tiny building that must have been the brains of the operation. I barely remembered the place from arriving a day or so ago. My head had been so messed up, I’d barely paid any attention to my surroundings. The darkness that filled the spaces now didn’t help my memory.

  Ennis held the door as I stepped inside. An older man with a wisp of brown hair was talking to another man with a crop of red hair on his head.

  Both men turned in our direction when a jingle above the door alerted them to our presence.

  “Ennis,” the man behind the counter began.

  “Fergus, this is the young lass needing a room,” Ennis said.

  Fergus nodded in my direction before switching into what I thought was more Gaelic. The other man gave me a smile before he was drawn into the conversation. I think they’d switched to English, but their brogue was so thick I still didn’t understand. I knew they were talking about me, when they all looked at me.

  The conversation died and Ennis said, “I’ll be on my way.”

  I thanked him for everything and sent more thanks to Moria before he left. When I turned back from the closing door, Fergus said, “I’ll only be a few more minutes.”

  I nodded and took in the stark interior of the building. The front of it was made of a wall of glass. All I could think before chuckling to myself was the better to see you with my dear. There were a couple of metal chairs in the corner opposite the side door we entered in otherwise it wasn’t very inviting.

  “Are you headed back to Dublin, Angus?” Fergus asked. The other guy nodded. “Is this your last run of the week, or should I expect you back?”

  My eyes found the guy behind the counter waiting for Angus to answer.

  “No more runs this week. I’ll have to take Ennis up on his dinner offer another time.” They traded some more banter before he added, “Do you have my invoice for the month?”

  “Aye. Let me go get it in the back.”

  A plan began to form inside my head. I walked over to the counter.

  “Angus,” I said, getting the guy’s attention.

  “What can I help you with?” His accent was clearly Irish.

  “Are you taking on any passengers back to Dublin?”

  “No,” he answered hesitantly.

  I gave him my best smile. I knew the moment I’d won. “Can I catch a ride with you?”

  One of his fingers pointed at me as a grin spread over his face. “I usually don’t take on passengers I don’t know. I have a small plane…”

  I appreciated his honesty. He probably didn’t want to feel weird or forced to make small take with a stranger he didn’t know. I was desperate.

  “I’ll pay,” I said confidently. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any currency other than U.S. on me. But I had debit and credit cards. It might not have been wise for me to use them, but it was a price I was willing to pay.

  He looked around, for what I didn’t know. There wasn’t much to see. “How do you know Ennis?”

  There were complicated ways to explain that. I took the easy way. “I’m a friend of the family.” It was roughly the truth.

  He nodded. “For Ennis, I’ll only charge you for the extra fuel I’ll have to use in order to take you.”

  We shook on it. The innkeeper and private airpark owner walked back in with something in his hand. He looked between me and Angus before Angus strolled up to take the proffered invoice.

  “I’m going to go get my plane ready for takeoff.”

  I wasn’t sure who Angus was speaking to and didn’t try to find out.

  “Can I bother you for a piece of paper?”

  “Sure.” He grabbed a notebook from behind the counter where he stood.

  Thinking ahead of me, he also offered me a pen. Gratefully, I took it. Hastily, I wrote a note. I tore the paper and folded it in thirds. Then I scribbled a name on the front.

  I handed the notebook and pen back before handing the note. “Tomorrow, a plane is scheduled to arrive.”

  Fergus nodded. “Mr. Brinner’s plane.”

  “Yes,” I agreed. “A man named Turner is arriving on it. Can you give him this note?”

  His brows furrowed. “You can’t give it to him?”

  I shook my head. “No, I won’t be here.” There was an awkward pause that filled the room. “I thank you for offering to give me a room at the inn. But I’ve made other plans.”

  My hand held out the note.

  “Turner?”

  “Yes,” I answered. “Please make sure he gets it.”

  He nodded. And before he could ask me anymore questions, I darted out of the building.

  The trip almost scared me to death. The plane was small with only had six seats. It wasn’t luxurious like Kalen’s plane. I was almost pleased that it was night. Angus, who’d seemed nervous before about awkward conversation, talked non-stop. He asked a lot of questions and I gave him answers that didn’t give too much information without being impolite. After we landed I had to show my passport to the customs official. Afterwards, I gave Angus the news that I needed to get to an ATM to get his payment.

  He was kind enough to drop me off at a nearby major hotel chain. I used my card to pay for one night. Kalen and maybe the people who were after me would find me. But I figured no one would
come tonight. And in the morning I would get lost in Ireland or head somewhere else. I closed my eyes, exhausted after not having slept the night before. I prayed for no nightmares and hoped I’d made the right decision.

  Kalen would be furious I’d left. He would have found me at that inn. We couldn’t be alone together. No matter how angry he was at me, there was an undeniable attraction between us. He demonstrated that early. If he found me, we would act on our desires, which would only bring more heartache to me. Because Kalen had not forgiven me. That was one thing I knew for sure.

  NINETEEN

  My jaw was set and even Griff hadn’t bothered to test me at the moment. Ennis stopped me from following after the lass. Keely avoided me like I stank of shite. And all I wanted to do was to throw something.

  “So, you going to tell me then?” Griff asked cautiously.

  “I thought maybe she was the one,” I answered cryptically because there was no way in hell I was going to say the L word.

  “You love her,” he retorted, not giving me the easy way out.

  “Loved,” I admitted.

  A snort preceded his next words. “No, love. Boyo. I never thought a bonnie lass would ever get the best of you.” He chuckled, but it was more to himself.

  I slapped down the mug I’d been holding and stared into it like more ale would appear. We hadn’t yet left the pub despite his earlier idea.

  “Doesn’t matter. She chose another.” It was easier to get this part over. If he had to press it out of me, I’d never hear the end of it. Admitting it, he may show me some mercy.

  Loud guffaws followed, adding to my humiliation. I suffered in silence, drowning my shame into too many fingers of scotch to count after I signaled for more.

  Barely able to stop laughing to speak, Griff said, “Let’s go out, my friend.”

  That was code for going out and giving some lucky women our time. I nodded and handed Griff my keys. He’d been drinking too. However, I was toast and knew I shouldn’t be behind the wheel.

  Hours later when the sky began to change from nearly black to a midnight blue, we stumbled in the house I’d built for my mother.