Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Walking us to the putting green in the center of the roof, I pull my phone and turn on the sound system. “Dive” by Ed Sheeran begins to float through the speakers. Ciara smiles brightly at me as I tug her into my embrace and begin to sway with her in my arms.
“You didn’t answer my question, Dyl.”
I close my eyes as she calls me by the nickname she used when we were little. I still can’t believe she’s here. I have her in my arms, finally.
When I open my eyes, her green ones are locked on me. I cup her face in my palm and run my thumb across her full lower lip. She was a pretty little girl, but she’s grown into a gorgeous woman.
“Everything I have is yours from my heart to all the land and property in my name. There isn’t a thing I have that doesn’t belong to you.
“I know you’re still figuring things out for yourself, but you can move in whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to want for something that’s already yours,” I finally answer.
“What if I’m not what you expect? What if I’ve become someone you don’t like?”
“I doubt that,” I say and take her lips.
Sparks fly and my skin hums from her nearness. I devour her mouth and hold her close. Her mouth tastes of the sauce from dinner. It’s sweet and salty.
I groan and dive deeper into her mouth. She lifts onto her toes to get closer to me. I wrap both arms around her and lift her from her feet without breaking the kiss.
“Shit,” I bite out as my phone goes off.
I place her back on her feet. Taking my phone out, I find a text from Taegan. I’ve been so wrapped up in Ciara, I almost forgot about them.
Taegan: Ciarán has eaten and opened his gift. I need to go. Call you later.
“We should get downstairs. Taegan is leaving.”
“Oh my God. What was I thinking? It’s Ciarán’s birthday. I should be with him.”
“Relax, we’ll spend the rest of the night with him.”
She palms her forehead. “This is crazy.”
“Ciara, stop freaking out, baby. It’s going to be fine.”
She huffs and turns to rush downstairs. I push my hands into my hair and tug. I don’t think Ciarán has thought about us at all.
Taegan has my credit card, and she used it to get the kid anything he wanted. She’s been texting to let me know how much fun Ciarán has been having the whole time we’ve been up here.
I sigh and shut everything down before I head downstairs after Ciara. This is going to be harder than I thought.
CHAPTER 20
Birthday Wish
Ciara
“Ciarán, Ciarán,” I call as I get downstairs.
The sound of a TV blaring leads me to a room up the glass stairs on the second floor. I get to the room to find my little brother lying on a bed with his shoes off and PJs on as he watches the huge TV mounted on the wall.
“What are you doing? Where are your clothes?”
“I was fading. Taegan told me this is my room. I took a shower and got ready for bed.” He gives me a huge, sleepy smile. “I had so much fun. This was the best birthday ever.
“The arcade was so cool, and I got a ton of clothes at the mall. I even got that tablet I was looking at. Where’s Dylan? I want to thank him for the boxing gloves and all the other cool stuff.”
My head is reeling. I thought Taegan was taking him for ice cream. The arcade? The mall?
“He’s um … I don’t know. You should get dressed so we can go home.”
“Aw, man. Come on, this bed is so comfortable. Come sit, see for yourself. I don’t want to leave,” he whines.
“Ciarán, we can’t stay here,” I huff, but walk over to the bed to sit on the edge.
I roll my eyes because the mattress is comfortable. Ciarán gives me a smile as if to say I told you so. I reach to pinch him.
“Is he your boyfriend?” he whispers, glancing at the doorway.
“Would that make you mad?”
“Absolutely not. You take such good care of me. You always have, but you don’t do things other sisters do.
“I want to see you happy. I want to see you go on dates and get pretty to go hang with friends. Sometimes, I feel like you’re not living the way you should and it’s all my fault.
“I appreciate everything you do for me, but you’re an adult. You should do normal adult things. Please, Cee. My birthday wish is for you to be happy.
“Dylan seems to really like you. It’s okay to let him be your boyfriend. Look at all he’s done for me for my birthday. I think he’ll be good to you. And if he’s not, I’ll kick his butt,” he says and gives me that smile I love so much.