I let out a loud screech and jiggle my legs. “You know that this could be considered pretty romantic, right?”
“Calm down,” he grumbles. “It’s just another commute for me.”
Whatever. I’m flying over the Empire State Building.
As I smile in glee about my helicopter ride (Granny Deirdre is going to lose her shit), Killian unclasps my bra and latches onto my nipple.
Boobs.
What is it with guys and boobs?
I think they want what they don’t have.
I think back to my first conversation with Marcus, where I was worried about having to let some rich old billionaire suckle on my breasts.
Ha. It’s funny how things turn out.
***
“No shit, Orla, we were so close to the Empire State spike I thought it was gonna skewer us!”
Bouncing. It’s the only way I can describe how I’m traveling down Fifth Avenue to the townhouse. I’m buzzing after my bird’s-eye experience of New York.
Now I’m by myself, talking to Orla. Killian had to go back to the office.
“I’m so jealous,” she moans down the line.
“And we passed that huge apartment complex. We always wanted to know what the inside was like. Well, now I know! I took some pics for you. I’ll send them over. Killian said he owns some apartments there.”
“Next time, take me with you, for fuck’s sake.”
“I will. I didn’t even know we were doing it today.” Now I know why he was working from home-to surprise me.
“Did he say anything more about the green card?”
“No. I don’t want to press him. He said it so casually, like it was no big deal.” I blow out a breath as I reach Killian’s house. “I just don’t know. It means he has all the power. What’s worse? Killian deciding my fate or a random au pair agency? It feels weird now that I’m sleeping with him.” I pause for a moment. “Maybe I should take the nanny job.”
“Bollocks. That’s your Catholic guilt talking. When a billionaire guy wants to give you a green card, you take the green card.”
Someone clears their throat behind me.
Still holding the phone, I turn to see familiar light-blue eyes. It takes me a moment to register… The last time I saw him was that day in Central Park.
The guy I was supposed to go on a date with. Alfred.
He stands watching me with a smirk, his hands in his pockets. My female spidey-senses activate.
What are the chances of him walking past here?
“Orla, I gotta go. Someone I know is here.”
My pulse quickens as he smiles at me, waiting for me to get off the phone. In hindsight, I should have kept Orla on the phone.
Relax, Clodagh, you’re being ridiculous. This is Fifth Avenue.
He smiles. “Fancy seeing you here.”
I swallow and give a tight smile in response. “Hi. How are you?”
“Great.”
An uncomfortable silence hangs between us.
“Er, what are you doing in the area?” I finally ask.
He gestures up the steps. “This is where you live, right? I figured I’d come and see how you were doing.”
What the fuck? Who does that?
My spidey-sense radar goes off the charts. I climb another step of the townhouse, my heart pounding. “That’s not cool. How did you find out where I live?”
I think over our text conversations. I told him I worked for Killian.
“What’s the matter?” he says with an irritated edge to his tone. “You seemed interested. Why the change of heart?” He takes a step up the steps to the townhouse. Too close, jackass. “Aren’t you going to let me in?”
“No.” Fear creeps up my spine. This guy is nuts. It’s time to end this conversation. “I’m not interested. I’m seeing someone. And it’s downright creepy to come to my address.”
Do I go in the house or make a mad dash down the street?
He knows I live here, and I’m not sure I could outrun him.
Plus, I can always press the panic button if I’m in the house.
My heart pounds as I quickly move toward the retina scanner at the door.
In the reflection, I make out his face directly behind me.
Jesus Christ, this is actually happening. I’m going to end up in someone’s attic.
The door buzzes open, and I lunge at it.
Killian
Now I understand what “rose-tinted glasses” are. I’ve seen New York a hundred times from a helicopter, but not through Clodagh’s eyes. Her squeals of delight were so distracting I worried we were going to careen into one of the skyscrapers.
It was the most excited I’ve seen anyone since Teagan met the pop star runt.
I look forward to making more items on her bucket list happen. I want her to have all the experiences she’s dreamed of. And I’d like to be there to see at least some of them. Except for the Sex and the City tour.
“What are you smiling about?” Connor interrupts my thoughts.
I snap my eyes from the skyscrapers outside the boardroom window to Connor and raise a brow. I’m now back in the office for a late afternoon meeting. “Am I not allowed to smile?”
“It’s a little weird when we’re discussing the mayor filing a lawsuit against you for an alleged physical altercation. Especially when you’re doing the smiling, Killian.”
I roll my eyes in disgust. “It was a gentle scuffle. I’ve seen worse at a Red Sox game.”
“Yeah, well, he’s pissed, and he wants to have something over you,” JP grates over the video link. “And our application fee to the state is in danger of going from one mil to two because of this.”
“He can go to h-” The shrill tone of my phone cuts through my chest like a knife. Jesus Christ.
Code red. It’s the sound I only expect to hear during a drill test.
I snatch my phone up from the table as Connor looks at me, alarmed. “Yes?” I ask sharply.
“Sir,” Angus, one of the security team, says on the other side of the line. “An intruder attempted to break into the property. The police have been informed. He tried to tailgate behind Clodagh.”
I instantly freeze. “Is she okay?”
“Yes, sir. She took a tumble down the steps, but she’s fine. Her wrist is swollen, so we’re on our way to the hospital to check if it’s broken or sprained. The property has been checked and remains secure. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fucking fine!” I roar. This can’t be fucking happening again. “Where is she?”
“Mount Sinai hospital on 5th, sir. She didn’t want to go, but we insisted. She kept talking about a magic, hmm, some magic show she wants to go to this evening.”
“Magic Mike.” I heave a sigh of relief. If she’s arguing with the security team about what’s next on her bucket list, she can’t be severely hurt.
“Who’s the guy?” I ask in a lower, calmer tone. “What was he after?”
I’ve had a few nutcases attempt to break into my townhouse over the years.
“The guy’s name is Alfred Marek. Sam said he was linked to the family causing trouble with your casino in Brooklyn.”
Every hair on my body stands on end, and I’m on my feet in an instant.
“Killian?” Connor asks, worry lines creasing his brow.
“A guy in his twenties?” I bark into the phone.
“That’s correct, sir.”
My jaw clenches in anger. “Where is Marek now?”
“He’s with the police being questioned. It’s doubtful we’ll get anything to stick. We got there before anything could escalate.”
“See you at the hospital. Make sure Clodagh has people with her until I’m there.”
I buzz Mandy on the intercom, my heart pounding in my chest. “Mandy, have a car waiting downstairs. I’m going to the hospital.”
I don’t even stop to acknowledge Connor and JP. Standing up, I stride out the door, the smile well and truly wiped from my face.
***
I hear her before I see her. My stride quickens. She’s laughing. Her distinct Irish lilt provides a welcome respite from the suffocating dread that had built up within me on the way to the hospital. It echoes down the hospital hallway, leading me to the room where Clodagh is.