Chapter 7
Kerry
Ican’t keep from smiling around her. This is perfect. We’re meeting on neutral ground, and it’s casual, but I was still able to pay for her and show her that I can provide for her—whether she wants it or not.
And it was good timing that she came to this coffee shop, too.
After seeing her around the hotel, and then coming in closer contact at the pool…
I was dying to speak to her. I practically rubbed my cock raw in my suite last night, thinking of that sweet, nervous little smile she gave me.
It had taken all of the self-control in me not to march over and talk to her right then and there, but I didn’t want to scare her off.
So seeing her leave the hotel felt like a gift from the gods.
I’ve been keeping track of her since I arrived, which was days ago.
She arrived in the afternoon, and I arrived at three a.m the same day.
I wanted to observe her before allowing her or her grandparents to know I was here.
She’s a nervous little thing. I knew beforehand she had a fire and a boldness from the phone call, but she certainly doesn’t exhibit those traits now. Not even before she was aware of me. Her eyes had darted around the whole coffee shop, and her voice had been so meek and shaky when she ordered.
But her eyes…those sweet brown eyes had widened when she heard my voice.
For a moment, I wondered if she was going to rip me a new one, but my girl is smart.
She recognized me from the hotel, which was a boost to my ego.
Then she heard my accent, and immediately knew what was going on.
I could see it in her eyes. Clever girl.
Despite knowing who I am and my reputation, she remained polite, thanking me for the coffee. It made me chuckle, how sweet and kind she was, even under pressure.
I study her now as she sits across from me.
I’m aware of all of the people coming and going in this coffee shop, scanning it out of the corner of my eye.
Both Liam and Jack are nearby. I can see Liam across the street from where I sit, having a cig.
I haven’t climbed my way to this level of power without being cautious.
The sweet little mouse across from me is shifting in her seat, nervous from under my scrutiny. “You’re…him, I suppose?”
A warmth spreads across my chest at the slight sass in her words. I’m not sure if she actually intended it to be received with snark, but I like it either way. Either she’s sassing me, or she’s direct and to the point. I like it. “Yes. I’m Kerry Alasdair. And you’re Amy Astero, my fiancée.”
She nods, sitting back in her seat, and pursing her lips. They’re very pretty lips. I’ll enjoy kissing them. “I thought so. I doubted you’d send in one of your…workers.”
Her discomfort and lack of familiarity with my world make me chuckle. “I know your grandparents kept you from our line of business, but are you really so uncomfortable with it? Surely you were raised with some understanding of it.”
She furrows her brow and gives a small shake of her head. “No. There were signs, but I didn’t put them together until a few years ago, when I was already an adult. It was a shocking realization.”
I nod, and a rare pang of empathy creeps up and throughout my chest, something I usually don’t allow myself to feel. “I imagine so. I bet you realized your life was nothing like you thought it was. An alarming thing to come to understand about yourself.”
She mirrors my nod, and the barista calls out our order, placing our coffees on the counter.
I get up, holding up my hand to stop her from standing. “Allow me.”
The barista beams at me as I collect our orders. Seeing as I tipped her over one hundred U.S. dollars, I should think so.
I return with our coffees, setting Amy’s drink in front of her before sitting back down with a sigh. “Ah, so where were we? Yes, your shock and lack of familiarity with the industry.”
I fold my hands together, smiling at her. The sweet thing doesn’t even know how rare it is for the world to see me smile, but seeing her across from me, looking at me like a sweet little doe, is more than enough to make me smile.
“Were you very put off by this…arrangement of ours?” I ask, my critical eyes wandering over her face.
Her voice is quiet, and she pulls her shoulders in, as if she’s trying to make herself small. “Yes. I’m still adjusting to the idea.”
I nod, drinking some of my flat white before speaking. I enjoy making her wait, making anyone wait for that matter. It’s a small display of power, but power nonetheless. “Yes, it may take some time. And that’s okay.”
If any of my men saw me being this soft, this gentle, making her feel safe rather than just taking what I want, they’d give me grief.
Probably wouldn’t believe it unless they saw it for themselves.
But this isn’t just a business deal, this isn’t managing my men, this isn’t pulling on the strings of the mafia.
It’s far more than that, and thus, it’s far more complex.
Sweet Amy is going to require a gentle hand, I can tell that much.
And I find myself more than happy to give it to her, even to my own surprise.
I know that, in time, her tiny spark will feel safe to come out and spread its flames around me, as long as I tread carefully.
And a woman who feels safe to be fiery? Well, that’s a loyal, happy woman.
And that’s exactly what I want for Amy, to feel happy, safe, and at peace, even if there’ll be no real emotional connection between us, not like a normal couple.
Her eyes widen. It seems she wasn’t expecting a gentle hand from me, either. “Yes, well…thank you.”
My grin grows again. “You don’t have to thank me, Amy. If I may call you that.” My smile grows when she nods. “Wonderful. As I said, you don’t have to thank me. It’s basic human decency, don’t you think?”
Her brow arches slightly, and I know what she’s thinking.
I wasn’t expecting basic human decency from a man called the Irish Demon.
And she’s not wrong. It’s not like I prioritized people’s boundaries and preferences for the majority of my dealings.
It’s just not the way things work in my world.
But things are different with Amy. She’s different from the dopes I have to deal with most of the time.
She takes a deep breath, as if buying time to come up with a reply. Take all the time you need, love. “Yes, I suppose so. Still, I like to show my gratitude.”
I flash her a smile. “I’ve noticed that. Very sweet of you.”
Her cheeks turn a bit pink, making my chest warm and my grin to grow. She clears her throat. “Is it sweet? Or just polite?”
I chuckle. I knew her feisty fire would come out soon enough.
It’s nice to see it happening so quickly, though, even if she does look nervous about it, like I’m going to scold her for her little quip, or perhaps worse.
“A bit of both, I think. And I appreciate it either way.” I lean forward in my chair, leaning on the table. “So, Amy, tell me about yourself.”
She flushes and takes a sip of her coffee instead of answering me.
Her eyes dart around nervously, and I realize she hasn’t really looked me in the eye once yet.
She’s only come close enough to pass as eye contact and not be considered rude.
Interesting. “I would’ve thought my grandfather would’ve filled you in on all of the details when this arrangement was made?
” A less perceptive man would’ve taken this as a dismissal or even a passive-aggressive remark.
But her tone is light and soft, and I can tell she’s genuinely asking.
“Yes. And I’ve done some research of my own, but it’s not quite the same thing as getting to know you for myself in person, now is it? I know you on paper, but I’d like to know you in the flesh.” I grin, wondering if she’d catch the suggestive double meaning.
She doesn’t. At least, I don’t think she does.
Which is a tad disappointing. She nods, her face showing no sign of any more blushing or fidgeting, like I assume she would if she caught the meaning.
I would’ve liked to see her blush as her imagination took over, picturing her skin against mine.
“I guess that makes sense. Well, I’m in school, I’m going for a Communications degree.
I work the front desk of a vet clinic currently, but um…
maybe not anymore since I had to tell them I couldn’t come into work for an indefinite amount of time when my grandmother told me about this arrangement.
They’re holding the position for me for a couple of weeks, but if they don’t hear from me by then, they’re hiring someone else. ”
“Hm. I’m sorry, did you enjoy your job?”
Yet again, she seems taken aback by my question and sympathy. Her eyes widen and she blinks several times, those luscious lips part ever so slightly. “Yes. I like animals. I’ve worked there for three years.”
She cares for things and enjoys consistency. Understood.
I nod. Despite learning things about her from what she said, the information is rather clinical.
I’m able to glean things more from what she isn’t saying than from what she is.
“Yes, but these are all things I already know on paper.” I lean forward again, analyzing her, poking at her metaphorical walls.
“Why don’t you tell me things that a report on you couldn’t tell me?
Like why you’re getting that degree. Tell me what your dreams are, about your hobbies… those kind of things.”
Now she blushes. I sit back in my chair, surprised by her reaction. She seems embarrassed, but why? She hadn’t done anything wrong. So why did she seem to think so?