Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Two melters, the pair of them. Jesus, Mary, Joseph—what’s so hard to understand about not saying a word?
CHAPTER 3
Friends
Deja
Three years later …
“Jesus, Mary, Joseph, they’re back. I swear, if Kate quits the team, I’m drowning her, I am. So it is,” Aisling gasps.
“Ya don’t tell a fib. How do they get hotter every year? Is it the water in America?”
“Quit yer drooling,” I snicker and roll my eyes.
I already know they’re talking about Logan and Cole O’Brien. They and their sister Connie attend school in the States while staying with their granda. However, most summers they return to Ireland to be with the rest of their family.
Their youngest sister Kate, is my best friend. I’ve grown up around the O’Briens nearly all my life. I’m immune to their looks. Do I know that they are handsome? Of course, no one can deny that, but they’re more like my big brothers.
Besides, I’m six years younger than Logan and four years younger than Cole. Neither of them is worried about me. I’m sure the girls in America have secured their hearts already.
However, I do look forward to the summers when they return. It’s been three years since they were last here. Granda Ian had been sick for a while before they lost him. For the last year, they have been busy with university and taking over the business in America for their granda.
I may not have set eyes on them in three years, but I do talk to Cole a lot by phone since I’m always with his sister. Although I’ve missed having them around for a good laugh. The O’Brien home is still lively, but not as lively as when the guys are home.
They have probably changed a lot since I last saw them. I know I look nothing like I did the summer I was fifteen. A lot has changed with me.
I turn around to set eyes on my friends. Kate has a huge smile on her face as she walks between her two older brothers with her arms looped through theirs. They are both looking down at her as they talk.
I smile. It looks like both brothers have gotten taller. They were over six feet tall the last time I saw them. I’ll give each of them a few more inches in height.
Suddenly, the sun seems to begin to shine directly on Cole as he turns his head in my direction. My breath is stolen right from my lungs. He’s even more handsome than I remember.
His green eyes seem to sparkle as they roll over me. The crooked smile he gives me makes my belly flip and do all types of things it shouldn’t be doing at the sight of an O’Brien brother. I allow my gaze to roll over him to take him in.
He has on a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. The black pants he’s wearing cling to his thick thighs. His black shoes look too expensive for a day at the softball field with his little sister.
However, what has me captivated is the ease of his walk and his presence. He moves as if everything around him should answer to him and his whims.
My mouth runs dry. Quickly, I snap my eyes back to his face as my cheeks heat. My heart is racing like crazy, and I feel insane for reacting this way.
A glance at Logan tells me this is a Cole-related response. While Logan has gotten broader and is more handsome than ever, I’m still not blushing and ready to run into his arms the way I’m ready to jump into Cole’s.
“Deja? Look at ya,” Logan says with a smile. “I thought Kate looked all grown up. Looks like ya went and turned into a little woman on us too. Aye, Cole, we have been away for too long.”
Logan pulls me into a bear hug and spins me around. I laugh and give him a tight hug. I’m relieved as his embrace feels like that of an older brother just come home.
He places me on my feet, and I look up at him with a smile. He reaches to tug at my ponytail and winks at me, still only the feeling of an older brother showing affection.
“Are you going to ignore me? Haven’t you missed me too?” Cole croons, causing me to look at him.
He pulls me into the same type of hug as the one Logan gave me. However, his hug causes butterflies to fill my stomach and I can’t help but take a deep breath. That’s the wrong move.
My lungs fill with his delicious scent, and I want to moan into his neck. Instead, I bite down on my lip to stifle the response as he spins me in a circle. When he places me back on my feet, I can’t force myself to look up at him.