A Date with Desire (The O'Hallorans #4)

1. Prologue

Prologue

Marissa

The bonfire crackled in the distance. Laughter and off-key singing drifted behind Marissa and Shane.

Moonlight shimmered over the ripples of the waves as they rolled toward shore, chilling their bare toes as they walked hand in hand along the sand in search of privacy.

Marissa Sousa pulled her cardigan tighter around herself and tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear.

Summer had not officially arrived, and the chill breeze still lingered in those first nights of June along the coast.

“Cold?” Shane O’Halloran asked, causing her heart to do its ridiculous little flutter at the sound of his voice. Even after nearly two years together, Shane still did that to her.

“Only a little.” She blinked up at him with a smile.

One dark eyebrow lifted. “You’re a terrible liar.”

She blushed, her cheeks burning bright crimson.

If she admitted to being cold, she worried he’d suggest they turn around and head home.

And she did not want the night to end. You only get to celebrate your high school graduation once.

Besides, the next three months would go by fast enough.

Marissa intended to spend as much time with Shane as possible.

Before she could protest, he shrugged out of his leather jacket. “Now you’re going to freeze.”

“Nah. I’m alright,” he said, draping it around her shoulders. “I know of another way we could keep warm if you don’t want to wear it.”

Marissa rolled her eyes. Warmth instantly surrounded her, but not because of the jacket. Because it smelled like him—cedar, soap, and something undeniably masculine. Tall and broad- shouldered, Shane towered over her, making her feel like a woman.

They were an unlikely couple. She, with her conservative, oversized clothing and no-nonsense hairstyle, and he, with mussed, dark hair falling over his forehead and tattoos disappearing beneath the sleeves of his worn black Henley.

When Marissa volunteered to become a math tutor in their junior year, she hadn’t been prepared to be matched with the handsome teen wearing a brooding expression.

At first, she found him intimidating, as he carried himself very differently from the other high school boys around them.

Thanks to her tutoring, Shane earned a B in the class, and she surprised everyone by becoming his girlfriend.

When she slipped her hands into the pockets, her fingers brushed against something hard. Her smile faded into a frown as she pulled out a tiny glass bottle. Amber liquid sloshed inside. Her stomach twisted with dread.

He’d promised.

Marissa looked up. “What’s this?”

For a second, Shane’s entire body went still. The air between them strained. Then he reached over and plucked it from her hand. “Nothing.” Shane shrugged, but she knew better. “My father slipped it to me earlier.” He shoved it back into his pocket. “Said it would keep me warm.”

Marissa wrinkled her nose. “You’re drinking whiskey now?”

His mouth tilted slightly. “Not exactly.” He looked away toward the ocean, then back at her with his hand extended in invitation. “Come here.”

A lump had formed in her throat. Would he continue to lie to her about his drinking when she was away at college in the fall? Marissa shook her head, too hurt by his betrayal to speak. What other secrets lurked beneath his dark eyes?

Shane dropped his arm to his side and released a long-drawn-out sigh, tipping his neck back to gaze up at the heavens before he spoke. “Marissa, my family owns an Irish pub. Don’t you think I should know what we’re serving?”

Reluctantly, she moved toward him. It was a fair point.

For his entire life, Shane had been groomed to help run O’Halloran’s Pub.

Without hesitation, Shane pulled her against his chest, wrapping one strong arm around her shoulders.

He was so strong, and she loved him so much.

She didn’t want to fight even though she wasn’t convinced he was telling her the truth.

She rested her cheek against him and listened to his heartbeat beneath his shirt. She could stay like this forever.

“Someday, I’ll build you a house,” he said, smoothing a palm down the length of her spine.

She lifted her head in disbelief. “A house?”

He nodded, staring out at the ocean.

“A big one?” A huge grin broke out across her face.

Finally, he looked down at her, and there was that small smile Shane saved only for her. The one nobody else ever saw.

“No.” He brushed his fingers against her cheek. Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Just enough room for us.”

Her heart squeezed so hard it almost hurt. She nuzzled closer to him. “Everyone always says high school relationships don’t last.”

“Fuck ’em,” he said. “We’re not in high school anymore.”