Juice: The O'Malleys Book 1, contemporary Adult Romance (13 page)

“Don’t be an idiot, Cass. This guy is a freaking millionaire for heaven’s sake. You are a slightly chunky artist who has very little cash, boobs that are too big for her body and should stick to masturbating rather than trying to flirt with mister ridiculously hot. Totally out of your league.”

She turned to walk out of the bathroom and stopped herself. Marching back towards the mirror she pointed her finger angrily at her own reflection. She ranted.

“Listen to me you fool. Cassidy Rose Jessica Byron Evans! You are a shit hot ginger ninja and mister hot stuff fuckablefaced O’Malley should be bloody grateful, if you decide to let him put his cock in or anywhere near your fabulous hooha! You are a fantastic and sexy woman who may have a big arse, but can move it like a bloody blender! You are worthwhile and talented and a damn good fuck to boot.” Cassidy nodded at herself in the mirror.

“Right!” Her reflection seemed to agree.

The toilet cubicle behind her opened slowly and a small petite grey haired old dear walked out gingerly, trying not to look Cassidy in the eye.

“Oh,” said Cassidy making a production out of fixing her dress.

“So many lines to learn for this play. This play I am practicing for…yup. Wow strong stuff, artistic. Hhhmmmm.”

The lady ignored her and quickly washed and dried her hands, took her lipstick out of her purse, then obviously thought better of it and put it back into her bag. Cassidy winced as the woman opened the door and looked back at Cass with a look that stunk of pity, or maybe fear for her own safety. Cassidy held her head high and followed the lady back towards her seat. She glanced back at the woman’s companion, who was now listening intently to the old biddy and eyeing Cassidy up and down in a not too subtle manner.

Rory looked up to see Cassidy coming from the bathroom. Jesus, but she is beautiful, he thought. Way out of his league for sure.
You look like you are thinking of something dirty.
What kind of an idiot says that to a woman like her? She had probably gone into the bathroom to phone one of her friends to get her the hell away from him. She probably thought he was a total prick.
Millionaire? No billionaire in training.
Ah God. Who even said shit like that? Her green eyes had lit up talking about her brother and he had to admit to himself that he had felt an uncharacteristic twinge of jealousy.
Wow, O’Malley. Jealous of a dead guy. Not one of your finer moments. You feckin' eejit.
He felt an adolescent need to impress her and wasn’t exactly sure where it had come from.
Your dick probably!
It seemed to be the only organ functioning properly when he was in close proximity to Cassidy. His brain was obviously taking a well-deserved break and his cock had taken over as supreme leader. And just like that on cue, he felt the tug and rise in his trousers. He shifted in his seat; she was coming over to the table.
Goddammit!!!
He really should stand and push in her chair. How the hell could he do that with a bloody great hard on under the table? She would think he was a complete fiend and sexual deviant. He stayed put and plastered what he hoped was a non-sexual deviant looking smile on his face. He aimed for normal and figured it came out somewhere between crazy and constipated.

“Hey, just in time” he said, gesturing wildly. “Here’s Carlo with the food.”

Carlo approached the table with a huge silver platter heaped with food, trays of sides and two cokes. Cassidy smiled at him as he put the plates in front of them in silence, nodded at them and left.

“Okay, that looks amazing! Seriously, this is fantastic. Exactly what I needed, Rory.”

“I know, right? Who needs haute cuisine when you can eat good old-fashioned fare, here’s to you and me,” he said. He picked up his wine glass and raised it to her beaming
. Damn his teeth are clean, and straight. Clean straight teeth
. He was ticking every box she had. And completely ticking her
box
too.

Cass winked at him and raised her glass in salute.

“To you and me, to good art, good business and good food.”

They ate in companionable silence, one of them making grunting and hmmm noises every few minutes. Rory decided then and there that he loved to watch her eat. He was used to watch his mama cooking up huge dinners for the family, or his dad having a pot of Guinness stew bubbling softly on the stove at home. They were a family of foodies who spent more time around the huge kitchen table eating and talking, than anywhere else in the house. Their two hundred acre farmland home was impressive, but it still felt cosy. He suddenly longed for his mothers’ embrace and his fathers’ warm strong hand on his shoulder. He should go home soon. Show them that he was still there for them. They had done so much for him, for all of them. Always a constant force of support and understanding in their lives.

Cass mused that any chance of convincing Rory O’Malley that she was a refined lady, was firmly out the window. Dipping her last home fry into ketchup, she washed it down with a mouthful of soft red cabernet sauvignon and stretched her head back.

“That was a feast. I won’t be able to move for a week after it. Thank you so much for bringing me here, I absolutely loved it.”

Rory smiled at her and grazed his top teeth off his bottom lip. He couldn’t stop smiling. Having fine dined his ex-girlfriend Abigail all over the world, he couldn’t ever remember her thanking him for a meal. Never mind finishing one! Abigail had been more of a starter salad as a main course, kind of girl. Forever worrying about her tiny figure and what carbs would do to it. It was a refreshing change to be in the company of a woman who loved her food and wasn’t afraid to eat it in front of him. Pleasure is such a gift, he thought. Whether food or sex, it should be enjoyed with abandon.

“So tell me about your childhood Rory. What was it like growing up both Italy and Ireland?”

“My mama Louisa is a home bird, every day after school we would come home to a fire burning and fresh scones or pies on the table. My father, Gearóid worked hard but always made time for us. A pretty idyllic childhood, to be honest.”

“Are you still a close family, Rory?”

“Yeah we are pretty tight, all completely different personalities and we definitely have our differences, but it works. What about you?”

“My dad is the curator at the Liben Gallery in Devon and also lectures at a college there. He specialises in renaissance painters and their muses. My mum is a psychotherapist. We’re close. We were always close.”

“And Harry? What was he like? If you don’t mind me asking. If it’s too personal just say so.”

“No, it’s fine. I like to talk about him. Harry was the sweetest, kindest person I have ever known. He was the exact opposite of me, looks wise I mean. He was blond, blue eyed and blessed with the most infectious laugh ever, much louder than mine too,” she said as she leaned in towards Rory and grinned.

“He was a really great guy. Just one of the good ones, you know? Everyone loved Harry. He didn’t have a bad bone in his body. He was a funny drunk and a damn fine painter too. Oh, and he loved to sing, anytime anywhere. Much more talented than I could ever hope to be. A very gifted person. I loved him more than I have ever loved anyone, to be honest. He really got me, you know. We really understood each other. I think about him every day and miss him more as time goes on. On the other hand, I am so grateful that I had even one day with Harry, never mind twenty one years.”

Rory tried to imagine what life would be like without his sisters or brothers. He was especially close to Darragh and Aoife and didn’t know what he would do if he couldn’t talk to them every few days. If he lost a sibling he would be devastated. But, no doubt he would have the others to lean on. To have lost your twin, your only sibling, it twisted at his heart
. Then tell her. Tell her why you found her
. He couldn’t. He had already come this far, another few weeks wouldn’t change things.

“I’m so sorry you went through that, Cass. I wish I could have met him. People like that are special. They shape us into better people.”

Cassidy smiled and nodded. “Yes. Yes he was very special.”

Cass wondered why the heck she was telling him all this. Usually she kept her emotions close to her chest. She had learned the hard way that opening up to a person makes you vulnerable to attack. She had learned her lesson well and her issues with trust made her stronger. Or weaker? 
Where had that come from?

“You want dessert? Or would you prefer to head somewhere else for a quiet drink.”

Rory wanted to leave. He could feel Darragh glaring at him from the table in the back of the restaurant, where he was pretending to do his tax books. Rory knew he would bend his ear about Cass tomorrow. He had every intention of having some fun tonight before the showdown tomorrow. Cass dropped her serviette on the table.

“Rory, do you know what? I could do with a stiff drink, let’s go.” Rory pulled out her chair and stood in front of her staring into her eyes. He tenderly pushed a wayward curl back from her face. She blushed but held his gaze, marvelling at how his pupils dilated when he looked at her. He wanted her and he didn’t hide it. It turned her on, she wanted him too. She felt eyes on her and turned to see Darragh staring at them both intently. Cassidy was getting creeped out and instinctively knew that something was definitely off.

She stiffened her back and pushed it to the back of her mind. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Besides she was looking for a bit of fun tonight. What was the harm in letting her hair down just this once?

Cassidy felt her heart skip a beat as Rory took her hand in his and nodded a goodbye towards Darragh. Cassidy waved in Darragh’s direction, but he stood staring at Rory and virtually ignored her. Cass was mortified and hid behind her hair. What the hell was his problem? Why would he be annoyed that Rory was out with her?

They walked out the door and suddenly it dawned on Cass. Darragh was upset because Rory was flirting with her. The only reason Cass could think of hit her like a bolt of lightning.

“Jesus Christ! Are you married?”

Rory stopped outside the restaurant and swung around.

“Why? Why would you think that?”

“If you think I am some kind of easy lay, you are very much mistaken mister.” Cass was livid and poked her index finger at his chest. She despised men like that and would never be
that
girl.

“I’m not married. Jesus Christ, what the hell are you talking about? Calm yourself.”

“I’ll give you calm yourself, you oaf! If you think I am going to sleep with you because you flirt with me and bat those bedroom eyes, you have another thing coming!”

“Cassidy.”

“I knew this was too good to be true. Oh Cass, you idiot.”

She put her hands on her head lacing them together and then when his eyes followed her boobs rising up she snapped them back down to her sides.

“Cassidy.”

“Do you honestly think I am that desperate for a commission that I would sleep with someone else’s man? Not on your life, Irish. That is not how this girl rolls.”

Rory started roaring with laughter.

“CASS!”

“What!”

“I. Am. Not. Married.”

“Ohhhhhhhhhh, you’re not? Okay, now I feel like an idiot.” She grimaced at him.

“I like idiot Cass,” he said smiling and held her hand in his.