“Jesus,” Lachlan says under his breath. “Goddamn lucky we’re on a feckin’ college campus. Are we almost done here?”
I turn to him, and I don’t care who sees me or what they think. I lean in and kiss his scruff cheek.
“Aye. You know what? I am done. I’ve no interest in the rest of this. Let’s go.” With every minute that passes I feel less and less like I belong here and more like I need to be back home. I dismiss the feelings as homesickness. I need to be brave. I need to go out on my own. I can’t let my fears hold me back.
“Good girl,” he says approvingly. His Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows hard, and it takes me a second to realize I’m the one that affected him like that. Me. Fiona Hurston, barely over the cusp of womanhood, has the power to affect Lachlan.
Tiernan stays with Aisling for a while when the two of us head back to the hotel room.
“Lachlan, I have a dorm room here on campus, though.”
“Not anymore you don’t.”
I open my mouth to protest, then slam it shut. Is he saying what I think he is?
“Don’t ask, Fiona,” he says. “I have no fucking idea what we’re doing, but I do know a few things. First, I’m not allowed in your dorm. Second, if you think I’m sharing space with Aisling…” he shudders.
“Isn’t Keenan expecting you back, though?”
“The only way I go back to Ireland is if you’re with me. And since you’re here… my answer’s clear. Keenan’s put me as primary guard over you.”
Though I’m pleased to hear he won’t be leaving me, I can’t help but wonder. What does this mean for us? For him? Men of the Clan don’t casually date. I don’t know everything about their rules and bylaws and code, but I do know when they claim a woman, it’s for life.
“We have a lot to talk about, Lachlan.” I can’t stay in this place of uncertainty. I can’t keep wondering what will happen next or if I mean anything to him. Is it just a schoolgirl crush that has me hoping for more? Or is he really as devoted to me as I’ve dreamed he would be?Chapter 10LachlanI felt every eye of every man on campus when we were there. She has no idea how radiant she is, how beautiful. Everything about her radiates goodness and beauty, but she doesn’t see it. “Just a girl,” she says. And I know in my heart that she struggles with more than that. She isn’t just a girl. She’s not “just a girl from Stone City.”
It will take a long time for her to believe that she’s worthy of something, to see how beautiful she is. But I will help her see the truth for what it is.
I’m glad I followed my intuition and got my head out of my arse. I’m glad I came here. That I found her. That she’s safe, by my side.
But bloody hell, I’m only one man against God knows how many.
What next? What will they try?
Keenan calls when we’re walking back to the hotel.
“Find anything?” he asks.
I fill him in. He curses, and I can see him in my mind, sitting at his desk, his head buried in his hand. He takes the safety and wellbeing of every single member of the McCarthy Clan as his personal duty.
“So, the two boys they spent time with last night weren’t able to be traced? No one knows who they were or where they came from. And one asked Fiona about us?”
“Aye,” I say with a sigh. Goddammit it, she’s so innocent.
“Take her back to the hotel,” he says. “Keep her fucking safe.”
The irony of his words strikes me. How can I keep her safe when she’s locked within the walls of a hotel, this far away from family, and I want to own every inch of her body?
“Aye, of course. You have my word.”
You have my word.
The McCarthy family promise. When we tell someone they have our word, we bloody well mean it.
“How’s everyone at home?” I wonder if anything that’s gone on here correlates to danger at home.
“Alright,” he says. “Mam isn’t feeling that well, but I think it could be a minor case of something we ate is all. Maybe a sickness, I don’t know. Sebastian is looking after her, and I bet she’ll be fine soon.”
“Fair enough. Fiona’s done well. Finished up with orientation, begins classes tomorrow.”
“Well done. Let me know if you need anything, Lach, will you?”
“Of course.”
Besides a fucking bubble for me to lock Fiona in and ensure her safety? I’m good.
“Tonight, I want you and Tiernan meeting up with Calum. Good people, leaders of the Boston contingent. Tiernan’s worked hard to ensure this alliance. Normally I wouldn’t ask you to bring Fiona, but I think given the circumstances you have no choice.”