Intractable Souls : Book 1 of the Bound for Ireland Series (75 page)

“That bad huh? Did you two break up?” She
glances over at the table where her boss is sitting with another
woman.

Olivia laughs once. Apparently everybody
considered them a couple anyways. She wasn’t even doing a good job
of fooling herself. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“So what’s all the excitement tonight?”

Olivia cringes as she says it. “Revenge
dates. Old Crush versus Office Whore death match. In the same
restaurant.”

“Oh No! Are you kidding me? That chick comes
in on a regular basis to see if he’s here. If he’s not here, she
orders a water and then leaves.“

“That doesn’t surprise me at all.”

“EW! She works with him?” Cindy suddenly
realizes that’s what Olivia said. “What is he thinking taking her
on a date?”

Olivia jumps as Noah’s voice approaches from
behind. “Olivia? Is everything ok?”

“Noah. Yes, I’m sorry I was on my way back
to the table but then I got side tracked by these two tequilas…
and,” Realizing that she’s rambling, she stops herself and then
looks up to find him chuckling at her.

“It’s ok. Parker’s wife came through there
like a bat out of hell, grabbed O’Connell by the ear and was
dragging him out of the booth by the time Parker got to her. He had
to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder to take her outside
to cool off. It was the funniest damn thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t
know what happened so when you didn’t come back right away I was
concerned.”

“Oh my God, Noah! That bitch cornered us in
the bathroom and if you knew the things she said, you would
understand why Rachel was so angry.”

“I could hear some of it when I was serving
drinks over at the pool tables. It wasn’t very nice at all.” Cindy
adds. Noah glances over at Cindy and smiles, making her blush.
Olivia narrows her eyes at the reaction.

“I’m sorry, have you two met? Noah this is
Cindy, Cindy this is my friend Noah Thompson.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” He extends his hand
and gives her an appreciative look.

Cindy dries her hands on her apron, takes
his hand in hers, and holds it. “Likewise.”

She blushes again and looks between Noah and
Olivia. “So you two are just friends?”

Noah chuckles and his eyes sparkle a little.
“Yes, Olivia and I are completely head over heels in friendship
with each other. Have been for years.”

Cindy glances over at Olivia who nods her
head in agreement. “He’s only here with me tonight on a date, to
drive your boss nuts. They hate each other.”

“Hate’s a strong word, Olivia.” Noah doesn’t
want to give Cindy the wrong idea.

Olivia puts her hands on her hips and scowls
at him.

Noah laughs. “OK, you’re right. I hate him.
But do you know what I do like? Dessert! And I ordered us some.” He
grins like a young child. “After you, my beautiful friend.”

Olivia chuckles and rolls her eyes as she
starts to walk towards the table. Noah hesitates for a minute and
then turns back towards Cindy with a very charming smile. “So
tonight, I’m a little busy torturing your boss in hopes that his
head will explode in a jealous rage, but maybe another night you
and I could have dessert together?”

Cindy blushes again and smiles. “Sure, that
would be nice.”

He grins from ear to ear. “Awesome, I know
where to find you when I’m done, but for now I have to get back to
my evil plan.” He rubs his hands together like an cartoon villain
and when he turns around to walk away, Olivia is standing, looking
unimpressed with her arms crossed and her eyebrows raised. “I can
let you out of this gig right now if you want.”

“Ah! Well that’s very kind of you, but as
much as I’d like to spend time with the lovely Cindy tonight, I’m
not quite finished fucking with O’Connell.” He glances at Cindy
over his shoulder and winks, leaving her smiling.

As they return to the table, their waitress
arrives with their dessert. A warm brownie right out of the oven,
smelling absolutely sinful. There is a dollop of vanilla ice cream
slowly melting on top. Placing it in front Olivia, she hands her
two spoons. Noah wiggles his way over beside her and puts his arm
around her. Taking one of the spoons out of her hand, he scoops up
a small piece of brownie and directs it towards her mouth. He
stares at her lips, waiting for her to open them so he can feed
her, and smirking at her hesitation. “Come on, baby.”

She rolls her eyes and opens her mouth,
letting him gently place the spoon on her tongue. Closing her lips
around it, she moans when he slowly slides the spoon out of her
mouth leaving the chocolate treasure behind. She licks the
chocolate off her lips in a very seductive way. Running the pad of
his finger across her lip, Noah collects the chocolate that she
missed and then holds his finger to her closed lips.

Olivia talks really low. “Are you sure you
wouldn’t rather eat more of your brownie first because if I lick
your finger… you’re going to get punched.”

Noah shrugs. “Bring it on.”

Olivia parts her lips, opening just enough
for him to push his finger in so she can lick the rest of the
chocolate off it with her tongue.

Rachel’s mouth is hanging open as she
watches. “What?” Scott isn’t sure he wants to know.

“Oh, this is not a good thing. Ethan is
barely keeping his shit together over there and Noah just turned
the heat up a notch.”

When Olivia looks over at Ethan, he’s
staring right at them and he’s livid. She can feel the anger
vibrating off his body from across the room. Hannah is trying
desperately to re-gain his attention but it’s a lost cause. She
flashes a look at Rachel who makes a face at her. More than a few
minutes pass and Ethan has not broken his stare nor has he
acknowledged Hannah even once.

In utter frustration, she moves to the edge
of the bench and picks up her purse. “Well, thank you for dinner,
Ethan. But I need to go now.” Standing, she moves around the table
and leaves. “Don’t bother seeing me out.” She says in a snarky
voice. “And don’t bother calling me again.”

Noah and Olivia both watch as Hannah stomps
to the front of the restaurant and leaves.

“I can’t believe she just left.” Olivia
whispers, looking over at Rachel who is grinning from ear to
ear.

“I can’t believe he hasn’t seemed to notice
she’s gone.” Noah chuckles, then his face takes on a very serious
look. “I think things just got very REAL for Mr. O’Connell. Are you
ready?”

“For what?” She’s curious about his change
of expression

“He’s on his way over here.”

Olivia tenses and turns slightly in her
seat, focusing on Noah and resisting the urge to look over her
shoulder as Ethan walks over to their table and stops. She knows
that he’s there. She can feel his energy. It’s been that way since
the first day they met. Noah acknowledges him with a nod.
“Ethan.”

The DJ starts up a song and Noah wipes his
mouth with a napkin and tosses it on the table. Grabbing Olivia’s
hand, he slides out of the booth taking her with him. “Excuse us,
my date has promised me a dance.” Bumping him purposely as he
passes, Ethan clenches his fist readying himself for a fight.
Brushing past him lightly, as Noah drags her by her hand, Olivia
looks Ethan straight in the eye and whispers. “Don’t.”

“What are you doing with this guy?” He asks
angrily, his eyes dark and intense. Clenching his jaw tightly, the
nerve at his temple starts to jump with an angry tick and his Irish
temper boils very close to the surface.

Noah keeps moving, still holding her hand,
as he pulls her behind him and directing her towards the dance
floor. Turning, she looks at Ethan who is standing motionless in
the same spot, fists still clenched. Finding a spot on the floor,
Noah spins her around until she’s facing him, and wraps his arms
around, starting to move with the rhythm of the music. At first,
there’s an appropriate amount of space between them, but as they
turn and move with the music, Noah smoothly reels her in closer and
closer until their bodies are touching.

Olivia can’t help but watch for Ethan, her
eyes darting across the room. She finally sees him taking a seat at
the bar between Rachel and Scott. Anxious feelings wind tight
inside her when the bartender hands him a shot glass and a bottle
of Scotch. Apparently, Johnnie Walker Black is the mind numbing
booze of choice for Ethan O’Connell.

When the music slows, she relaxes a little
in Noah’s arms now that she knows where Ethan is. Noah is a good
dancer, not quite as good as Ethan. Her body certainly doesn’t
react with the same molten heat as when she’s close to Ireland.
Noah’s hands move from her hips to her back pulling her closer so
that his cheek is against hers. “You smell very nice.” He
whispers.

“Thank you, it’s Ethan’s favorite…” Stopping
her thoughts, she groans. “Why did I say that? He drives me nuts
that man.”

“Olivia, please forgive me for saying so,
and I can’t believe that I am going to say this… but it seems to me
that you love the guy.”

Shocked, Olivia pulls back so she can see
his face. “WHAT?”

Smoothing her hair behind her ear, he moves
his lips to press against her forehead. “Don’t get me wrong, I
absolutely despise the bastard, but he’s changed something in you.
You glow when you look at him. Even tonight, I can tell when you’re
thinking about him, I can see it in your eyes. Question is… why are
you fighting it?”

“I guess I just don’t understand what a man
like him would see in a girl like me.” She shrugs. “Then Hannah
said that a girl like me would never be able to make him happy in
the end… and I know she’s probably right. So why put myself through
that only to have him break my heart.”

“Sweetheart, if that happened, and I’m not
saying that it would… it couldn’t possibly be as painful as what
you two are putting each other through right now.”

She’s a little shocked. “It almost sounds
like you’re trying to sell me on him.”

“No! Don’t get me wrong, I still think you
should kick him to the curb and date me instead.”

Olivia leans back and raises her eyebrows.
“You’re not going to try and convince me that we should give it a
try after you just asked out another girl during our date?”

Noah tilts his head to the side, and then a
charming grin starts to curl at the sides of his mouth. “That’s a
NO then?”

Olivia laughs and shakes her head. “That’s a
HELL NO!”

Spinning her around so that she’s facing the
bar, he continues to sway with her from behind. “Look at him. He’s
absolutely miserable. THAT… is a man in love. Why wouldn’t he be?
You are the most amazing, brilliant and beautiful woman. The kind
of woman EVERY man fantasizes about.”

Olivia blushes. “You have been very nice to
me tonight.”

“It’s easy to be nice to you, Olivia.
Really, it is.” He smiles as he continues to sway her with the
music then gently spins her back around so they are dancing chest
to chest.

“Noah… Ethan is getting really angry.” She
warns him, watching over his shoulder as Ethan downs another shot
and then bangs the shot glass down so hard it breaks. Rachel and
Scott exchange tense looks.

Olivia frowns. “I’m sorry Noah, but I think
we should leave before he loses it.”

“I can handle Ethan.” He assures her. When
he starts to lower his mouth to hers, she faintly hears Rachel
scream out Scott’s name. As Noah brushes the smallest of kisses
across her lips, she feels him being abruptly ripped away. Opening
her eyes, she sees Ethan standing nose to nose with Noah, engaging
him in a standoff in the middle of the dance floor. His hands are
twisted in the material of Noah’s shirt holding him. Noah grins at
him, which only stokes his fire.

“Something wrong, O’Connell?” His ghost of a
grin taunting Ethan into something that closely resembles rage.

“I’ve told you before to stay away from her
Thompson.”

“Ok guys, let’s just calm down.” Scott tries
to diffuse the situation but he fears he’s a few warriors short for
this battle. Where the fuck are Brant and McCabe? “Ethan, you need
to walk away.”

Olivia is starting to get a little freaked
out. When has Ethan warned Noah to stay away from her? “Ethan!” She
tries to get his attention, knowing that he’s a few Scotches past
being rational.

“I hope veterinarians have good dental
plans, because I’m going to knock out all of your teeth.” Ethan
growls as he pushes against Noah’s chest. Scott grabs him by the
shoulder and tries to pull him away but he shakes him off and takes
another step towards Noah. Instead of backing up Noah holds his
ground making Ethan bump hard against his chest. The restaurant
security team has joined them but when they see that it’s the boss
causing all the ruckus they hold back and wait.

Watching the aggressive pushing and shoving
take place between these two uber alpha males is threatening to
coax poor Olivia right into another anxiety attack. Rachel has made
it to her side and rubbing her back gently she tries to soothe her
while they watch helplessly. “Scott, just put an end to this!” She
snarls.

“I’m trying to, honey.” Scott’s voice is
strained as he physically tries to pry them apart. Looking over at
the burly security detail, he scowls. “A little help here,
fellas?”

Olivia holds her palms to her forehead and
tries to take in long slow breaths. Struggling to hold back the
tears that are forming in her eyes she takes a step forward,
pressing herself against Ethan’s side. “Ethan.” She says calmly.
When he doesn’t respond she tries again a little louder.
“ETHAN!”

Glancing over at her, nostrils flaring, he
establishes eye contact. He lets go of Noah’s shirt when he sees
the tears in her eyes. The fear on her face, makes him feel much
more concerned for her, than anger for Noah. “Are you okay?”