Dublin Nights Series Box Set: On the Edge & On the Line

by Brittney Sahin

  “Um. So, where to next?” I tried to cut through the awkwardness, to pretend nothing was wrong. I was enjoying our stroll through the city, and I wasn’t ready for it to end.

  “Do you like reading?” he asked over his shoulder, walking again. With two long strides, I caught up.

  “Of course. Why do you ask?” I smiled at him.

  “Come on then.” We stepped off the edge of the bridge, crossed the road, and started past a row of colorful five-story buildings.

  He didn’t speak for the next few blocks, and I wondered if he was too afraid after the hand-holding incident.

  A couple minutes later we stopped outside a pair of black metal gates, which led to a massive stone arched entryway. Adam opened his arms wide. “Welcome to my beloved Trinity College.” His accent seemed thicker and even more Irish as he spoke.

  I hated that I loved the sound of his voice so much.

  We passed by two statues and stepped through the gates. I felt as if I were stepping into a whole new world. Massive stone structures with domed roofs surrounded me on both sides, and many of the buildings had Romanesque columns. It was stunning.

  As we passed through the courtyard, I looked over at the large blue clock on one of the buildings, surprised at how late it already was.

  “You coming, love?”

  I blinked a few times as my gaze landed back on him. I hadn’t even realized I’d stopped walking.

  “This place is beautiful.” He smiled at me as I quick-stepped to catch up with him.

  “I thought you’d appreciate it.”

  “This is where you went to school?” My boots slapped loud against the pavement as we moved through the campus.

  “Aye. All of my family has gone here. It’s a tradition.”

  Oh, how nice. I hurried after him and up the steps that he’d climbed leading to the entrance of a nearby building.

  Once inside I spun around and looked . . . well, everywhere. The arched ceilings had beautiful strips of dark wood running across them. The impressive height and design were like a dream. Had I stepped into an 18th-century library?

  Slicing straight through the center of the long room were rows of display cases featuring ancient books and pages, and on each side of the aisle were shelves of books and the busts of famous people. The rows of books were roped off. That was too bad—I’d love to run my fingers across the spines.

  As I moved down the aisle, trying not to bump into other people, I couldn’t help but smile at the rolling ladders propped against the shelves. “I wish I could climb one of those ladders.” I giggled. “I always wanted to be Belle in Beauty and the Beast.”

  Adam smiled. “So why don’t you?”

  “No! Are you crazy?”

  He looked to the left, and then to the right. “Come on.” He grabbed my hand, and the warmth of his touch had my spine tingling yet again.

  “What are we doing?” I chuckled nervously as we sped through the crowd, worried we’d get yelled at by a librarian.

  “I know a place. Spent a lot of time here, after all.”

  He hurried us down a hall filled with shelves of books and no people in sight. “Duck under.” He held up a green velvet rope that guarded a long wall of books, and I bit my lip, not sure what to do. “You only live once, Anna.” He shook the rope a little, egging me on with his smile.

  My heart pounded furiously as I moved beneath the rope and Adam slid under right after. “I knew you had a little naughty in ya,” he teased, placing a hand on the rolling ladder.

  “Not even close,” I replied. “And no looking at my ‘arse’ while I climb.”

  “Now that I can’t promise!” He smirked.

  My hands shook as I held onto the sides of the ladder and began to climb the few narrow steps. “I’ve never seen so many books in all my life.” I stretched my arm out as Adam slid the ladder down the row. I shut my eyes, feeling totally goofy, but also young and carefree. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so free.

  “You like it, then?”

  When he stopped, the ladder stopped with him. I opened my eyes and looked down, my chest tightening with emotion. “I love it. I used to dream that someday I’d go and visit places like this, like I’d read about in books.”

  “Like Ireland?” His voice was deeper than normal as I climbed back down. One hand secured around my hip to steady me on my last step down.

  I faced him and our eyes met. “Yes,” I whispered. His hand was over my jeans, but it might as well have lain on my flesh. I could feel the heat radiating from his fingers.

  “I’m glad that your dreams are coming true.”

  I wondered if he’d kiss me again—he was so close. But then we heard the sound of voices growing closer.

  “We’d better get out of here,” I whispered, and we escaped the roped-off area before the librarian turned the corner.

  “Ma worked here at the college,” he said a few moments later as we reentered the long room, which was actually known by that name. “She was a professor of literature. I remember her bringing Sean and me here all the time. We’d run around the library playing pirates and getting in loads of trouble.”

  I could definitely picture a young and feisty Adam—smaller, but with the same mischievous smirk on his face. “I can’t believe you didn’t inherit her passion for books.”

  He laughed and faced me. “No. I’m a great disappointment to her.”

  “I hardly think so.”

  He cupped the back of his neck but didn’t say anything. His eyes darkened, and he looked away.

  “It’s impressive your mother worked here. I mean, she’s married to a billionaire businessman. I’m betting a lot of women wouldn’t work.” I blew out a breath as my eyes greedily took in the library again, absorbing every visible inch as I stood in the middle of the main walkway. “I’d probably do the same. I’d go nuts without something to keep me busy.”

  He nodded at me and said, “She retired a few years ago, and now she dedicates most of her time to our foundation.”

  “Oh, yes. Delivering food to those in need.”

  “It’s become a lot more than that now. But yes.” His eyes fixed on mine as a group of tourists brushed past me, maneuvering around us, chatting in what I thought to be German or some other language. But honestly, I could barely notice anything when he was around. And that made me nervous. “Did you always know you wanted to work at the family company?”

  “Why don’t we save that story for another day? You shouldn’t be out too late, with work and all in the morning. And there’s one more stop I’d like to make.”

  “Oh. Okay. Where to?”

  His eyes glinted. “You’ll see.”

  “You like surprising me, huh?” I asked as we walked side by side out of the library, down the steps, and into the courtyard again.

  He moved in front of me and faced me, opening his arms wide. “Now, what gave you that impression?”

  “Ha. Ha.”

  He winked at me before turning around, guiding me back out to the streets.

  “You should hit up the Guinness Storehouse at some point,” he mentioned as we strode down the sidewalk.

  “Yeah, definitely,” I answered as a horse-drawn carriage pulled up alongside us. I studied the black-haired, short-shinned powerhouse of an Irish Draught horse that pulled the dark green carriage.

  “Care for a ride?” the driver called down to us.

  “Beautiful,” I said to the driver.

  The driver slapped a hand to his chest. “Why, I know I am. Thank you, my lady,” he teased, and his whole face moved as he smiled. Even the long, white hairs of his mustache curled up at the ends.

  “We’re almost there, but thanks, mate.” Adam nodded at the driver. “Next time.”

  “I miss my horse,” I said under my breath as we turned away, not sure if I wanted him to hear me.

  “Good thing we’re riding this weekend.” He stopped at a building with white-painted bricks. It was at least three or four sto
ries tall and slanted into a pyramid at the top.

  He pulled open the door and stepped back, allowing me entrance. “Guinness has one of the best panoramic views of the city, but this place is more secluded.”

  “Let me guess. Less touristy?”

  “Aye.”

  I entered the pub and looked around. The scattered high-top tables were filled with people, and the air was filled with the sounds of Irish music, chatter, and people laughing.

  It didn’t seem all that secluded.

  Adam touched the small of my back. “Come on.” We wove through the army of tables to the back of the pub.

  “Where are we going?” I looked at the set of stairs, which appeared to spiral up several flights.

  “You’ll see.”

  Of course. What else did I expect?

  We walked up the steps and stopped outside a painted red door. Adam pushed it open, and a cool breeze greeted my skin.

  We stepped out onto an empty deck, and I glanced over at the railing, which was lined with twinkling green lights. How very Dublin.

  “There’s no bar up here, and Dubliners are too damn lazy to go down a few flights of stairs every time they need a pint. So,” he showed his palms, “the place is usually perfect for thinking.”

  “Plus, the view is spectacular.” I approached the corner of the deck where it met a brick wall and looked down at the busy street.

  When I turned around, he was inches away, surprising me. I rubbed my arms, which had his brow furrowing, his eyes darting to my hands.

  “You cold?”

  It did feel a few degrees colder up here. Plus, it was getting late, so the temperature had probably dropped. “Yeah. I guess I need to buy a thicker jacket soon.”

  “Wear mine.”

  “No.” I shook my head, but he was already trying to put it on me. “Fine,” I agreed, instantly feeling warmer from the leather that had been filled with his heat. The jacket smelled like his cologne, which had a hint of citrus and fresh pine.

  I stared at his corded forearms as he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. He was only in a T-shirt, and I felt like an ass for allowing him to go cold for me. “You have to take this back.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Then we’re out here for five minutes, and that’s it.”

  “Stubborn woman, aren’t ya?”

  I looked back out at the lights of the city, not able to look at him without focusing on his lips—remembering the kiss.

  I still had a hard time believing where I was. I’d never left Kentucky, and now I was standing next to a billionaire on a deck beneath the starlit sky in Ireland.

  Maybe dreams can come true, I thought as I stole a glimpse of Adam over my shoulder.

  He rested his forearms on the railing and looked at me over his shoulder, our eyes meeting.

  “Will you be taking the train with the group to the horse farm, or will you be coming in one of your ultra-fast toys?” I smiled at him. “Or maybe a helicopter?” It was impossible to exist in the office and not hear gossip about Adam, especially his love of shiny and fast toys.

  “Funny.” He looked away from me and out to the street. “I don’t fly choppers, though.”

  “Not yet, at least,” I joked.

  “In any case, I’ll be coming with you all on the train.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “Disappointed?”

  “Oh yeah . . . I can’t imagine being trapped on a train with you for almost ninety minutes.”

  He stood erect and gently nudged my side with his elbow. The slight touch had me snapping my eyes shut.

  Boss, billionaire, beautiful. I had to remember the three Bs to avoid. And the one D—dangerous.

  “Anna?” He looked over at me.

  I faced him straight on, my back brushing up against the brick wall. “Yeah?”

  “Can we be friends?”

  “I kind of thought we were. Or, at least, that we were becoming friends.”

  I didn’t kiss my friends, though.

  “Maybe I should rephrase that.” He took a step closer to me, and his hand slipped to my hip. “Can we start being friends in sixty seconds?”

  I would have laughed if his hand wasn’t on me, if his face wasn’t so damn close to mine. Instead, I had trouble swallowing. “What? Why?”

  “Well, there’s something I want to do again before we’re friends.” His free hand came up over my shoulder and to the brick wall. His chest moved up and down as his eyes shifted to my mouth, his breathing staggered.

  Oh. “Oh . . .”

  His mouth dropped over mine, hard and fast. A grumbling sounded from deep in his throat.

  My hands moved up to his chest and roamed over his pecs, dying to feel his hard flesh beneath my fingertips. More than anything, I wanted to slip my hands under his shirt, but I couldn’t think straight as he deepened the kiss, our tongues meeting.

  His hand on my hip tightened as he pulled me closer to him until our bodies were touching. The heat from him, from me, mingled into a thick, delicious cloud.

  His kiss was demanding—full of need. He claimed me with his mouth.

  But as quickly as it had started, it was over.

  When he pulled away, panting a little, I had to shut my eyes and try to catch my breath. The loss of his lips, his touch, cut a painful slice through my heart.

  He rubbed both hands over his head and dropped his arms to his sides. “I—”

  The tension following our Saturday-night kiss came back to haunt us. But I wasn’t feeling like my typical, shy self, so I teased, “You gonna say you’re sorry again?” I was hoping to make him laugh. To lighten the mood. “Friends now, right?”

  His warm thumb touched my bottom lip as he burned me with his stare. My hand swooped up and found his arm, quickly flipping the inside of his arm to face me. There were just lines with dashes going through them—it was like nothing I’d ever seen before. “What does it mean?”

  He yanked his arm free. “It’s ancient Gaelic.” His voice was cold. Ice. Freaking. Cold.

  He coughed. “I think—”

  “It’s late,” I cut him off, knowing he was about to send me on my way, and there was no sense in waiting for the rejection. “I should get back to the hotel.”

  His lips closed and he nodded.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Adam

  “Bloody hell.”

  I sat in my Porsche staring at my sister’s SUV, which was parked in my driveway. I lowered my head, not ready to handle another round with my family. Especially not with my little sister. Had she come armed with my brothers?

  Holly had a key to my place, so they were probably all inside, waiting to pounce. I got out of my car and went into my house through the side door.

  The lights were on in the living room, and all three of my siblings were sitting there, side by side on the couch, hands bracing their thighs.

  “We were five minutes from taking off.” Sean stood up, shoving his hands in his khaki pockets. My younger brother and sister remained seated on the couch.

  I dropped my keys on the end table. “Please, don’t let me stop you.” I waved my hand toward the hall that led to the door.

  “We’re here to help you.” Ethan’s fingers twitched against his thighs. Was he worried I’d raise my fist to him? Jesus, my brother was scared of me. What the hell had I become?

  I took off my leather jacket—noticing the smell of something sweet on it, like honey. It was the smell of Anna. What had I been thinking kissing her again? My tongue met my lips as I remembered her taste.

  I tossed my jacket next to me as I sat on the couch opposite Ethan and Holly. The living area was a massive space, but it felt too small to hold all of us and our tempers.

  “How’d you know I’d be here?” I asked.

  Sean’s eyes flashed my way. “We tracked your car.”

  “What the hell, Sean!”

  He held his hands in front of him. “Kidding. Jesus.” He came in front of me, an
d I resisted the urge to stand, to square off with him.

  “We went to your flat in the city, and the security guard mentioned you hadn’t been there in a while. And Sean figured you were staying here—ya know, because of the gym.” Holly pushed her fingers through her hair and chewed on her lip.

  “Why are you here?” But I knew. It was round two, and they were looking for a one, two knockout punch—a KO.

  Well, I wouldn’t go down so easily. Not even when it was three against one.

  “Da will be back next week from China. You know Ma will tell him what you’re doing. And he’ll lose his mind. After everything you put the family through . . . please, don’t do this again. There’s still time to back out of this all.” Holly’s lower lip quivered, and she rubbed her arms.

  Why did everyone feel that they needed to remind me of what happened five years ago? I knew what happened. I lived it.

  Holly cleared her throat and stood. She moved with slow steps to stand alongside Sean. “Either you never changed, and you fooled us all into believing it over the last five years,” her eyes captured mine, and a slow chill crawled up my spine, “or Donovan is threatening you. Or someone . . .”

  Holly didn’t know Donovan—none of my siblings did. They’d only heard city gossip and whatever tidbits of insight I’d given them about the man who had taught me to throw my first punch when I was eighteen.

  “He’s not threatening me,” I bit out, and then popped up to my feet. I couldn’t sit with them staring down at me like they were.

  “Then what is he doing to get you to fight? What is worth throwing away everything you’ve worked so hard for?” Holly’s eyes narrowed on me as she folded her arms.

  “Maybe I’ll always be a fighter. Maybe I never belonged in a suit and tie.”

  “Don’t be a tool—you enjoy what you do. I don’t see you complaining when you’re off in Rome managing the team, do I?” Ethan spoke for the first time. “You’re going to give Ma a heart attack, ya know.”

  Ethan knew how to cut me, to slice me open and make me bleed. I tipped my head back and rushed my hands to my face, holding them there as I tried to think. “It’s not so simple.” I blinked away the darkness and the tiny flecks of stars that appeared when I relieved the pressure from my eyes.