Intractable Souls : Book 1 of the Bound for Ireland Series (60 page)

Olivia tenses again and breathes in and out,
calming herself and trying to remember if bitch slapping was on the
list of things that would be frowned on. Ethan rounds everyone up
and steers them through the bar towards the pool tables. On the way
past he stops. “The boys are going to play a game of pool, as they
call it, and the girls are going to watch.” He says to Olivia.

She makes a face, unsure what his intentions
are for stopping to share that information with her. At the moment
she doesn’t really care, she has had just about enough of him and
way too much tequila. “Awww. The girls are going to watch? How cute
is that?” She says sarcastically. “I suppose the poor things are
too delicate to play.” She keeps her eyes focused on Ethan, her
stare sassy and unwavering. “It’s such a shame because I’m sure
everyone in the bar would love the view of camel toe when they lean
over to shoot.”

Carter bursts out laughing and Shannon
chokes on her wine, quickly holding a cocktail napkin over her
mouth. With a boldness already fueled by tequila she picks up her
shot glass and tosses its contents deep into the back of her
throat, letting it wash down effortlessly and then slams the glass
down hard on the bar giving him a smile that impolitely says PISS
OFF !

Ethan stares at her, his jaw clenched and
his lips pressed in a hard line. Turning to his right, he
establishes eye contact with Shannon, knowing that it’s a far
better idea to let her deal with her. “Shannon. Please take Olivia
down to the pool tables so Carter and I can have a talk.”

Olivia raises her eyebrows. “You can’t be
serious? You’re dismissing me?” She laughs at his nerve.

Shannon nods and takes Olivia by the arm,
knowing this is not the time to defy him.

“Come on, sweetie. The boys need to talk. We
can wait for them down there.” Olivia protests but Shannon is a lot
stronger than she looks and Olivia’s legs are weak, compliments of
her good friend Jose Cuervo.

Carter sits on the bar stool and waits until
the girls are out of earshot. “What’s up, boss?” Knowing full well
the conversation that’s going to take place.

“Keep your hands off my girl, Carter.” Ethan
says harshly.

Carter gets defensive and his brow furrows.
“Don’t chuck a spaz, Ethan. I haven’t had my hands on your girl.
She was firmly attached to your dick all through dinner. Find it
hard to believe you didn’t notice, mate. ” He speaks with much more
casual Aussie slang around his old friend.

“I’m talking about Olivia.” Ethan says, his
anger building.

“Olivia? Huh, it’s not like you to be so
greedy. Since when do you play two girls at the same time?”

“I’m not playing Stacey.” He insists, his
muscles starting to tense and tighten with anxiety.

“Could have fooled me. And let me tell you,
you most certainly haven’t fooled Olivia. I have to say mate, I’m a
little shocked.”

“At what exactly?” Ethan crosses his arms in
front of him and widens his stance.

“Making a sheila, who is obviously in love
with you, watch another girl man handle your junk at the dinner
table. That’s a little cruel don’t you think? I don’t want to judge
you, mate; but it was a dick thing to do. I’ve only just met
Olivia, but I already know that she’s the kind of sheila that
deserves a lot more respect than that.”

Ethan stops for a moment. Horrified at what
Carter has just said. He looks over to the pool tables and catches
Olivia watching him, and then quickly looking away when she
realizes she’s been caught. He rakes his hands through his hair in
frustration. Carter is right. He should have put a stop to it
immediately when it happened. How did he let things get so messed
up? Ethan’s face looks tortured, physically pained; and Carter
knows right away. “Oh shit. You’re serious about Olivia?”

Ethan nods. “Yes, I think I’m in love with
her.” He corrects himself. “I know… I know I’m in love with
her.”

“Then what’s going on with Stacey? Don’t
tell me nothing. I have eyes.”

Ethan closes his eyes and shakes his head.
“She’s just a client who has made it very clear about the only way
I’m going to get her approval on our proposal.” He curses at the
thought.

The bartender looks up at the cursing and
Ethan orders another Scotch. Lifting himself on to the stool beside
Carter, he looks at his friend and frowns. “Jessica is pregnant.”
He confesses, loosening up with the booze. “She says it’s mine. I
just found out today.”

Carter is shocked. “Fuck, that’s rough. I’m
sorry.”

Ethan takes a mouthful of Scotch and sets
his glass down. “I’m pretty sure it’s not mine. But she’s contacted
my lawyers saying it is and is looking for financial support during
the pregnancy and after.”

“I always hated that bitch!” Carter
confesses.

Ethan gets angry. “Jesus Christ… apparently,
John did as well. Why the fuck didn’t anybody say anything to me at
the time?

Carter shrugs. “Would you have
listened?”

Ethan answers into his glass as another
mouthful flows smoothly over his tongue. “Probably not, she had
magnificent tits.” They both chuckle a little and clink glasses in
recognition of that fact.

“What are you going to do now?” Carter asks,
ordering a beer.

“Paternity test, first and foremost.”

“Good plan. Does Olivia know?”

“She knows about the pregnancy, but she
doesn’t know about the other stuff.”

“It’s none of my business Ethan, but since
you just bitched me out for not speaking up about Jessica, I’m
going to tell you that I think you need to tell Olivia
everything.”

“I want to.” Ethan says swirling what’s left
of his Scotch in the bottom of his glass. “But her last boyfriend
was abusive Carter. I’m afraid if I tell her that I’m being accused
of hitting my Ex, she’ll leave me.”

“Ah, but you know you can’t keep it a secret
for long. Better you come clean now and find out if your
relationship is strong enough to withstand it. Yeah? Jess is going
to fight you tooth and nail. Eventually, Olivia is going to find
out. It should come from you, before that happens.”

He nods. “You’re right, but not just yet.
I’ll find the right time after the grand opening.” He stops and
puts his hands over his face. “If she’s even talking to me still.
Christ Carter... what I’ve put her through today, it’s really
fucked up.”

“Only you can fix it O’Connell. Get your
shit sorted.”

Ethan rubs his tired eyes, heavy under the
affects of alcohol. “You’re right. John just hauled my ass outside
and told me the exact same thing.”

“Smart man, that John. So what’s the plan
for the evening?”

Ethan looks over at the crowd of guests at
the pool tables. “It looks like they’re all getting along really
well so I’m hoping I can send everyone off to the club and I can
take Olivia home and try to set things right.”

“All right then, mate.” He says sliding off
his stool. “Let’s make that happen.”

Ethan stands. There’s just one more thing on
his mind. “Carter.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not joking. If you so much as get close
enough to breathe on her I’ll kill you.”

“Ok, boss. I’ve got it.”

“And Carter… don’t buy her anymore shots.
She’s pretty feisty when she’s sober but from what I’ve just seen,
if she keeps drinking tequila, she’ll have my balls by the end of
the night.”

Carter laughs. “Yeah, I think you’re right
about that. But she’s fucking brilliant!”

Ethan grins. “That’s why I love her. But,
I’m rather fond of my balls as well.”

Carter stops and gives his friend some
serious advice. “Ethan, fuck the business, mate. It’s not worth it
if you lose her.”

“Ethan raises an eyebrow. “Who are you and
what have you done with the real Carter Brant?”

Carter chuckles. “I know, I know… old age is
starting to mellow me out. I’m getting tired of the jet setting
playboy routine. Sometimes I wish I had a beautiful woman who loves
me, to settle down with and make babies and share the rest of my
life with.”

Ethan shakes his head and expels a breath of
air. “Thank God it isn’t just me. I felt that way the moment I saw
Olivia.”

“No, it’s not just you, mate. Amazing what
the promise of love from a beautiful woman does to a man.”

“No kidding. She’s brought me to my knee’s
several times, and yet I don’t think she even realizes how much I
love her.”

“Well you need to change that, before she
gets away.”

Ethan nods, watching her from across the
room. Talking to Shannon and John, she looks up at him every few
moments and looks away when he catches her. Starting to make his
way towards her like a man on a mission, he doesn’t take his eyes
off her for a second. Stacey watches him approach and rushes
towards him trying to intercept. Ignoring her, he focuses on
Olivia, who gets nervous when she sees him advancing at such a
rapid pace.

Just a few feet from where they’re chatting
there is a door to a small room that provides a little privacy.
When he finally reaches her, he grabs her hand. “Come with me.” He
tugs her away without waiting for a response, not wanting to give
her the chance to refuse. Pushing open the door, he pulls her
inside, spinning her around while he closes and locks it.

“Ethan? You’re starting to freak me out a
little bit.” She feels a little shaky.

“I know you’re pissed at me.”

“No I’m not.” She begins to argue.

“Don’t lie to me. You’re pissed about
Stacey. I don’t blame you. I asked for your trust and then I let
you down.”

Olivia gets nervous and her natural defenses
start to surface. “Why would I be upset Ethan? I’m JUST YOUR
FRIEND… remember?”

Ethan sighs. “I’m sorry I said that. I’m not
sure why I did.” He’s amazed how one mistake can fuck up
everything. He’s desperately trying to gain back control of this
day.

“Well… it’s true. We’re NOT dating.” She
quickly retorts.

“NO?” Then what do you call it?”

She chooses her words very carefully. “An
agreement.”

“I see. Still insistent on that ridiculous
fucking agreement?”

“Yes.” She’s resolute in her defense.

“We spend almost all of our time together,
going to dinner, hanging out at home watching TV…. making love.
Often I might add.” He raises an eyebrow, the deep rumble of anger
in his voice. “Baby, in any country around the world, that’s
dating.” He makes his point and it infuriates her.

Smelling the strong smell of alcohol on his
breath, she’s wary of antagonizing him further. “Ok.” She
concedes.

“Ok?” He’s surprised that she’s given in
that easy, and looks at her with cautious eyes.

“I guess we’re dating.” She shrugs. “But not
exclusive.”

“What the hell does that mean?” He yells,
not aware of how loudly his voice is getting.

Her stomach bottoms out with nervousness at
his harsh tone. That Irish temper is making an appearance and she
assumes that the fact that he’s been drinking is going to make it a
whole lot worse.

“Well it means that we go out on dates and
all those other things you mentioned. HOWEVER, it’s not a committed
relationship. You’re free to see other people if you want to. It
was what we agreed to, Ethan.”

“What if it’s not what I want?” He
challenges.

She shrugs. It’s not what she wants either,
but she’s giving him an out.

“Things are different between us now,
neither of us wants to see anybody else.” He says in a dangerously
low tone.

She laughs once aloud, mockingly. “Says the
man who just allowed a business client to feel him up before he
even bought her dinner. Tell me, how far would this have gone if I
WASN’T here tonight? Would you have slept with her? Maybe snuck her
into this room and fucked her right here? It would have been easy
since she isn’t wearing any underwear!”

Ethan doesn’t react surprised by the
news.

“Oh my God, you know that she isn’t wearing
any?” She gasps as her pulse becomes explosive, rushing so angrily
through her ears she can barely hear herself think. “You discovered
that for yourself at the table, didn’t you?”

Ethan doesn’t answer, but it’s obvious by
the flare of his nostrils and the rise and fall of his taut chest.
She lifts her hands to her face for a moment and then dropping them
to her side, she shakes her head. “You know what, by all means if
that’s what you want… you can have her! I’ll get Carter to take me
home.”

His cold look becomes glacial, a sign that
he is seriously pissed off.

“What are you doing?” She asks nervously, as
she’s pinned against the door by 6 feet of very edgy, extremely
angry, Irish male. His muscles are like hard slabs of steel against
her. “Kiss me.” It’s a sharp command she shouldn’t ignore.

“NO!” In complete contradiction to her
words, she stares at his lips in anticipation, her leg jiggling
anxiously. Ignoring her refusal, he lowers his mouth and claims
her. She hates that she wants him to kiss her right now. She
doesn’t want to want it, but she desperately needs his
reassurance.

Despite the anger that vibrates through his
body, his approach is tender and gentle. Raising his hands to hold
the side of her cheeks, his lips brush softly against hers,
inciting a flash of heat that rushes through her body. Pulling her
forward to meet him, his mouth moves with desire and pressing
against her with growing passion, he makes her moan against his
lips. Grabbing her hands and pulling them over her head he holds
them there, pressing them firmly against the wall and making her
body respond to the promise of his possession. Parting his lips, he
slips inside her for a soft meeting of tongues. She tastes the
lingering fruity taste of the Scotch as he licks, and teases,
deepening his kiss until she's so lost in it, she can think of
nothing else. This is what she’s been longing for all night. A
long, sensual kiss, the soothing caress of his tongue, his exchange
of breath.