Fionn Read Free

“One drink.”
    His grin deepened into a satisfied smirk. “Lady’s choice.” He signaled the bartender.
    LeeAnn tried to think of something she could down quickly and get this over with. Her usual Captain and Coke would be too much volume. A shot of whiskey would be too much burn. “A…shot of peach Schnapps?”
    The bartender nodded, turning to get her order. LeeAnn looked back at the crowd, wanting to be away from the intense male beside her. God, she wished she were braver! By the wicked gleam in his eyes, LeeAnn knew he’d be able to show her a few carnal delights she’d never even dreamed of. And she’d dreamed of quite a lot. When he gave her that grin—the one she was sure had landed many women in his bed—she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like. What did he know that she didn’t?
    “Enjoy,” the bartender said with a smile as he placed the shot glass in front of her while handing the man what she presumed was his whiskey.
    He raised his glass to her, nodding to her own. LeeAnn took hers, sipped from it. When he held her gaze and downed his drink, she did the same. The sweet liquor burned with a slightly bitter tang but she only grimaced a little.
    “Come on,” he growled, taking her hand and pulling her into a corner. The music played, but he didn’t move to the beat, instead pulling her close. His warm, masculine scent enveloped her the same as his strong arms. Through his leather jacket, she felt the powerful muscles of his biceps. For some reason, his warmth and strength made her feel safe, like she was wrapped in a fuzzy blanket of protection. As they swayed back and forth, not really dancing, she found her head spinning slightly from the alcohol.
    Except she hadn’t really drunk that much. LeeAnn stiffened, trying to bring herself out of the slight buzz she was feeling. The second she quit being receptive, he started moving her through the bar. Oh God!
    “Did you…drug me?” The bartender must have put something in her drink. LeeAnn’s mind tried to skitter to that panicked state where she could fight her way free, or at least make enough of a scene to draw people to her, but she couldn’t seem to get her mind and body to work in tandem. She found herself going with him as he easily led her from the main bar out the back, one arm securely around her as if they were just another couple.
    “Yes.” His only response. No explanation. No regret.
    “Who are you?” Her heart was pounding, her mind unable to process everything, the dissociation frightening as it built. “What are you going to do to me?”
    He put her in his car, fastening her seatbelt before he got in and started the engine. “My name is Fionn O’Shea, and I have no intention of hurting you. The easiest thing for you would be to simply close your eyes and sleep this off.”
    O’Shea!
    “No! Oh God, no!” Hadn’t her father warned her about this very family? Wasn’t this why she hadn’t been supposed to go to Irish in the first place?
    “I’m afraid so. Your father has pissed in the wrong bowl of cornflakes and I’m sorry to say you’re the collateral damage.”

Chapter Three
     
     
    For the first time in his brutal life, Fionn found himself warring with his conscience. The small, curvy woman in the car next to him looked so frightened and confused it made his chest ache. From the second her friend, Benita, had pointed him in her direction, Fionn had been snared.
    After leaving his home three days earlier, he’d staked out her home, done some research on her. The woman was about as disconnected to her father’s activities as a person could be. Stupid or willfully ignorant he’d have to see, but considering she was a graduate student at MIT, he didn’t think she was stupid. Naive maybe, but not completely stupid.
    As he looked at her, all eyes and fear in the seat next to him, that stupid pang speared his chest again. Why did it bother him that she was so obviously frightened? He’d seen that