Chapter 15 Ronan
RONAN
The wrench slipped from my grip, skinning my knuckle against the pipe. I swore under my breath and wiped the blood on my jeans, catching sight of the time on my watch.
Ten p.m. I’d been working on this damned bathroom for twelve hours straight.
Had to if I wanted to meet Maeve’s three-month deadline.
I couldn’t afford to lose time. I’d already lost a week thanks to the snow, and more mental energy than I could afford thanks to the mental gymnastics it took to keep Bree off my mind.
Every day counted.
I packed my tools and surveyed the new fixtures and pipes I’d replaced. The bigger space did exactly what I’d intended.
Bree would be pleased.
The thought of her sent heat spreading through my chest in a delicious wave. I had to stop thinking about her. We’d had our one night and I didn’t get any more.
Work. Right.
I grabbed my toolbox and stepped into the hallway. Noise from the main room faded to a dull hum with only a few voices carrying this far into the building. It wouldn't be long before Bree would close up and head to her apartment.
Movement in the shadows caught my attention.
Bree stood pressed into the wall near the storage closet, her chest rising and falling too fast. Fuck. Swollen lips. Wild hair. And Finn’s broad shoulders disappearing around the corner into the main room.
My stomach dropped straight through the floor.
Setting the toolbox down, I crossed to her. “Bree?”
“I’m fine.” Her head snapped away from Finn’s retreating form and over to me. She patted her chest. “Ronan. Sorry. I thought you’d left already.”
“No need to apologize. I wanted to finish the fixtures before I left. You okay?”
Color flooded her cheeks, and she dropped her hand from her chest. “Yeah. Fine.”
My jaw tightened. “Anyone could’ve seen the two of you alone together.”
“I know. I worried about the same thing. But…” She motioned in the direction Finn had gone.
Right. I should walk away. If I had any sense at all, I’d pick up my toolbox and let her handle her own business. My feet refused to move, and instead of bending to pick up the toolbox, I reached for her, skimming my knuckle along her jaw. “What happened?”
She hesitated just long enough to make my pulse race. “Finn kissed me.”
I’d known it was coming, but the confession hit me square in the chest. Hearing it out loud gutted me, even though I’d seen the evidence in her face.
“With my permission.” She clarified like that made a difference.
That cold stillness my wife used to call annoying as shit locked me in place.
I couldn’t have moved if my life depended on it.
Even my breathing slowed to a mere flutter of my lungs.
I’d had my chance at happiness. Years of love and partnership.
Maybe that was all anyone deserved in one lifetime.
Which meant I didn’t deserve a second chance at whatever this was, especially not with Shayla’s daughter.
I should take a giant fucking step back and be happy for Finn.
Step aside.
Better yet, turn around and walk away.
“Does that mean you and Finn are seeing each other now?”
Confusion flickered in her expression, tightening tiny lines around her eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe.” She shivered and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “I’m finding it hard to stay away from any of you. Not just Finn.”
The stuck feeling lifted. “What do you mean?”
“Finn said he’d keep it a secret if I wanted. He thinks we can continue seeing each other if we’re careful.” She lifted her chin to meet my eyes, and the want I saw there nearly brought me to my knees. “I’d like that with you too, if you’re willing.”
Every rational thought screamed that this was a mistake.
There was no such thing as a secret in a town like ours, but damn it all if I wasn’t willing to try.
Nothing good could come of being involved with Bree.
My common sense prodded me to decline the invitation,but when I opened my mouth, all my wants came out. “I’m willing.”
Bree brightened, her cheeks going that gorgeous rosy shade I loved. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I fisted my hands to keep from reaching for her. Not here where anyone could see.
Noise from the main room reminded me what was at stake.
Bree peered past me, nibbling on her bottom lip. “I have an idea. I could say I need you to look at something upstairs, then you could hide up there until everyone leaves.”
“Smart.” It gave us a reason to be upstairs together that wouldn’t raise suspicion.
Giggling, she wiggled in a little dance. “I’ve always wanted to do this. Follow my lead.”
I’d follow her anywhere. I tried not to let that thought grab hold as I picked up my toolbox and followed her down the hall toward the stairs. She stopped in the space where the pub started, leaving us in between the business and her personal space.
She pointed toward the apartment over us and lifted her voice. “I’m sorry to ask, Ronan, but while you’re here, I have something I need fixed upstairs. If you have a minute, I’ll show you.” Her voice carried across the room.
A few patrons glanced our way, mainly Tom Finnegan and a couple of his buddies, but no one gave us a second look and no one picked up on the subtle flirtation in her body language.
“Sure.” I kept my usual bored tone and carried my toolbox up the stairs.
We walked toward the stairs together, and I slowed to let her go ahead of me.
Partly because I loved to watch her ass sway going up the stairs and partly because it’s what I would’ve done for anyone else.
Bree’s fingers trailed along the banister.
I imagined those same hands on me and hardened to the point of pain.
Thank fuck we’d ascended far enough no one below could see more than my calves and feet.
Bree unlocked the apartment door and stepped inside. Her hair fell over her shoulder, and she rested one hand on the curve of her waist. “Welcome back.”
The instant I stepped over the threshold, she closed and locked the door.
The second the lock clicked, something inside me snapped. I dropped my toolbox as quietly as possible and framed her face in my hands. God I loved the feel of her. So soft and smooth. So willing.
“Ron–”
I kissed her before she finished saying my name. Before I talked myself out of it.
Her lips parted on a gasp, and I took full advantage of the chance to taste her. I claimed her lips with mine, guiding the kiss while turning her so her back pressed against the wall.
A quiet whimper rattled in her throat, and she wrapped her arms around my waist.
Gods I’d missed this. A week without the feel of her melting into me was a damned tragedy. The small sounds she made when I changed the angle brought up a possessive growl.
Mine. I slid my hands to her waist, then beneath the hem of her shirt to stroke her ribs and spine. She arched to fit tighter against me. I’d swear on my life she’d been made for me. For us.
My own audacity shocked me, but I didn’t care. Especially when she twisted her fingers in my shirt and held on like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
All the restraint I’d been holding onto this week evaporated. I wanted her now. Right here. No more wasting time.
I tugged her shirt up and cupped her breasts.
Bree gasped and broke the kiss. “Ronan. I should…” She moaned when I flicked my thumbs over her nipples. “I need to go back downstairs before someone notices how long I’ve been gone.”
“Not yet.” I’d never have asked if I wasn’t so desperate. I’d always been the voice of reason, but with Bree, all that flew out the fucking window.
She giggled when I kissed her again. “I’ll be back. I promise.”
“Tell me to stop.” I kissed my way up her neck to her ear. “Tell me and I will.”
She hummed and raised her chin, exposing her neck while threading her fingers through my hair.
I took that as permission to let my hands wander down her sides and over the curve of her hips, then along her thighs.
So soft. So fucking soft and perfect.
A scraping sound came from across the room.
I lifted my head, body tensing at the strange sound. The window at the far end of the apartment slid open. A leg appeared, then another, followed by a very familiar blond head.
Finn climbed through the window with practiced ease, grinning like he’d just won the lottery. The fucker had climbed the fire escape outside Bree’s window. He closed the window and brushed off his pants. “Starting without me?”
“Did you just climb the fucking fire escape to sneak into Bree’s apartment?”
Finn shrugged. “Easier than waiting downstairs. Plus I got to watch you two through the window for a few minutes. Pretty entertaining stuff.”
Heat crawled up my neck. “You were watching?”
“Don’t sweat it man. Not like I didn’t watch you fuck her senseless a week ago.” His grin widened. “What I saw looked promising. Anyone ever wants a little stalker role-playing, I’m game.”
Bree snorted a laugh. “Yeah, I think I’ll pass on that.”
My grip tightened on her waist, pressed into me in that perfect way, right where I needed her.
Finn stopped a few feet away. “So. Are we doing this?”