Between Love and Loyalty Page 24

“You make me happy.” She rose up and nipped his ear, followed by running her tongue on the sensitive spot just behind it.

  “Not nearly as happy as you make me.” Having her here in his house, in his arms was much more than he’d expected.

  She suddenly shifted in his arms. Something on the small TV in the corner of the room snagged her attention. Without letting her go, he turned as well. The screen was filled with an image of Brady and Sheila Cavanagh. Fiona didn’t stiffen like she used to.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and pulled away to grab the remote. She turned up the volume and wrapped her arms around herself.

  A voiceover said, “Alderman Brady Cavanagh was in court today in an attempt to get the charges against him dismissed. His lawyers argued that the evidence against him was gotten illegally.”

  Fiona snorted. Connor pulled her against his chest. “He has to put up a fight. He wouldn’t be Brady Cavanagh if he didn’t.”

  “I know.” She waved a hand at the screen. “Look at the smug expression on his face. He really thinks he’s going to get away with this.”

  Of course, Brady stopped in front of the cameras. The man never missed an opportunity. He straightened his jacket and took Sheila’s hand. “I have every confidence that the court will rule in my favor. These charges are fabricated. I’ve done nothing but serve this city for my entire career.”

  Reporters lobbed questions, but Brady shook his head and waved. Something on Cavanagh’s face caught Connor’s attention. Fear. The man was afraid. Good.

  Even better was the fact that Connor didn’t really care anymore. The usual rage that surged whenever he saw a Cavanagh no longer existed. He’d finally been able to put that chapter of his life behind him thanks to the woman in his arms.

  “I think I need to call my mom.”

  “Okay.” Her declaration wasn’t much of a surprise to him.

  Fiona turned. “Are you?”

  “What?”

  “Okay with that.”

  He ran his hands down her arms. “They’re your family, Fiona. It’s completely up to you to decide what your relationship is with them.”

  “I know, but I don’t want them to come between us.”

  “I’ll never be friends with your parents, especially your father. But I would never keep you from them. I don’t expect you to walk away from a relationship with them in order to have one with me.” He smiled. “I’ve been putting up with Aiden just fine, haven’t I?”

  Her lips curved, but it wasn’t quite a smile. She laid her head on his chest, her wild curls springing up and tickling his chin.

  “It’ll probably get uglier long before this is over, you know that, right? If the case moves forward, the reporters will be back, looking for me and Aiden to comment. I’ll have to hide out like I did last fall.”

  “So we’ll go away.”

  “What?” she asked as she pulled away again.

  “We’ll pack our shit and move.” He’d made the offer months ago, when she’d first distanced herself from her family.

  “Like I said before, our lives are here.” Her eyes hardened. “And I’m not about to run away.”

  He’d come to expect no less from her, but she’d forgiven him for so much, he’d do anything for her.

  She tugged on the waistband of his jeans. “But it makes me all hot to know that you’d leave everything for me.”

  He threaded his fingers through her wild curls and brought her lips to his. He didn’t care if she remained loyal to her family as long as he continued to get all of her love. “I think the best part about you moving in here is having you whenever I want.”

  About the Author

  Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series and the For Your Love Series - contemporary romances centered around large Irish-American families in Chicago. She also authors the Hot & Nerdy series about nerdy friends finding love. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.

  To connect with Shannyn,

  @SSchroeder_

  shannyn.schroeder

  www.shannynschroeder.com

  Also by Shannyn Schroeder

  For Your Love

  In Your Arms (For Your Love #2)

  Under Your Skin (For Your Love #1)

  O’Learys

  Hold Me Close (O’Learys #6)

  Just a Taste (O’Learys #5)

  Catch Your Breath (O’Learys #4)

  Something to Prove (O’Learys #3)

  A Good Time (O’Learys #2)

  More Than This (O’Learys #1)

  Hot & Nerdy

  Hot @nd Nerdy

  Hot and Nerdy 2

  Keep reading for an excerpt from In Your Arms

  In Your Arms (For Your Love #2)

  A KNIGHT IN SHINING LEATHER…

  Sean O'Malley has never tried to hide who he is. He shows it in the motorcycle thrumming between the legs of his tight jeans…the shaggy hair that falls in his gorgeous eyes…the wicked gleam in his smile when he asks Emma out for a drink. Sean is a rebel, a bad boy, and a ton of fun: exactly the kind of guy she's sworn off forever.

  Emma isn't just the prim kindergarten teacher she appears to be. And somehow Sean can tell. As soon as he pulls up to her overheated car he knows that a fast bike and a cold beer will fix her rotten day better than compliments or a bubble bath. Her straitlaced exterior and her wild heart light him up. But Emma wants to escape her past and settle down—and if her desk jockey dates don't understand where she comes from, at least she doesn't worry about them bringing her back.

  One weekend of intense connection can't change the paths Sean and Emma have chosen. But with a little space to be themselves together, maybe the rest of the world can wait...

  In Your Arms - excerpt

  Sean took the quickest shower possible and ran his hands through his hair. Back in his bedroom, Emma sat in the same spot on his bed, scrolling through her phone.

  “Telling all your Facebook friends about the great guy you met?”

  She looked up and around the room. “Who would that be?”

  He grabbed his chest. “You wound me.” He keeled over on the mattress.

  She poked him with her foot. “Seriously, as great as you are—and compared to some guys I’ve known, you’re ranked near the top—but I don’t do Facebook.”

  Sean let her words sink in. She hadn’t talked much about herself last night; neither of them had. Hearing how he compared to her past boyfriends or hookups, or whatever, helped. “Near the top, huh? I’ll have to see what I can do about that.”

  She smiled.

  “You’re really not on Facebook? I’ve never met a girl who wasn’t.” Hell, most girls couldn’t wait to log on and change their status. They went straight from meeting to “in a relationship” within a night.

  She shrugged. “I used to be. Then a couple of years ago, my college adviser pointed out that principals and eventually parents would be looking up my social media.”

  “So?”

  “My mom has a habit of posting some inappropriate stuff. Stuff I wouldn’t want my boss to see. Or the parents of my kids.”

  “If you’re not on Facebook, what are you doing? Sending out messages for a rescue?” He sincerely hoped not. He didn’t think he’d done anything to warrant a rescue call.

  “I was on Pinterest.”

  “Huh?”

  She turned her phone to face him. “It’s a virtual bulletin board. I collect recipes of stuff I want to try. Sometimes books.”

  He took the phone and scrolled. “Yeah, shirtless dudes are really recipes. Aren’t you worried about your boss seeing that?”

  She reached for her phone, but he pulled it away.

  Emma slumped back, not engaging in his game. “I guess you didn’t notice the words ‘secret board’ above that one. No one can see that board or what I have pinned to it except me.”

  He handed her the phone. When she took it, he whipped off his shirt. />
  “Want a picture for your secret board?” He flexed and posed, and Emma doubled over laughing. “What are you saying? That even though I’m better than the losers you know, I can’t compete with your eye candy?”

  She laughed harder, and Sean felt like he’d accomplished something. If he got nothing else done for the day, this would be enough. He’d seen her smile, which was pretty great, and she’d snarked at him jokingly, but her laugh was fantastic.

  With a hand on her chest, she inhaled deeply. Then she raised her phone. “Hold still.” And she snapped a picture of him.

  “Wait. I can do better than a sneak shot.” He crawled closer, straddling her outstretched legs as he did. He lifted an eyebrow. “How about a smolder?”

  Another peal of laughter had him joining in and almost falling on top of her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so hard with a girl, especially in bed. It was a good feeling. Sean rolled next to her and they caught their breath, sides touching, and even though they were both fully clothed, something sparked between them. God, he loved it when the chemistry was hot.

  He bumped her thigh with the back of his hand. “Ready to go?”

  “Yeah.” She sat up and put her phone in her bag. “Any idea when I can get my car?”

  He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat next to her. “I haven’t called yet. I’m sure it’ll be ready by the end of the day. Let’s just take my bike around and I’ll get you to the garage before it closes.”

  She bit her lip. “Are you sure it’ll be ready? I need my car. I have to go home at some point.”

  “But for now, you’re good. Let’s go have some fun.” He pointed at her bag. “You got room in there for a few bottles of water for us?”

  “Sure.” They stood and went upstairs for the water. As he came through the kitchen, Sean saw Norah at the sink.

  She spun to face him. “You know, it’s bad enough you ate all of the breakfast so I couldn’t bring any to Kai, but you could’ve done your dishes.”

  “I was gonna get to the dishes, but thanks for taking care of it, squirt.” He felt Emma at his back, but even if he hadn’t, the look on Norah’s face would’ve told him she was there.

  Norah quickly dried her hands on a towel and stuck one out to Emma. “Hi, I’m Norah.”

  They shook. “Emma.”

  Sean had no idea what that was about. Norah never introduced herself to any of the girls he’d brought home. Of course, part of that was because they usually came and went through the basement door.

  Norah pointed at Sean. “It would’ve been nice for you to save some crêpes for Kai.”

  “Why? He doesn’t live here. In fact, when are you moving out? You’ve been dating that big lug for a year. Shouldn’t you be living together or something by now?”

  “What’s the rush?”

  “If you move out, I get the sweet apartment upstairs Jimmy made. I still don’t think it’s fair he gave you his place.”

  “Of course he gave me his place when he moved out. First, I’m the only girl. There’s no way I’m sharing space with either you or Tommy. Second, I’m the baby. It’s his job to protect me from the debauchery in the basement.” She peered around Sean and looked at Emma. “No offense.” Coming back to Sean, she said, “And third, he loves me best.”

  Emma chuckled behind him.

  “Whatever. So what’s your timeline here?”

  “I’m not moving in with Kai until after I graduate. Next summer. Is that soon enough?”

  Sean opened his mouth to respond, but Emma cut in. “I know it’s none of my business, but good for you. Finish your education and you can always take care of yourself. You’ll never need to rely on a man. It’s a smart move.”

  Norah practically beamed. “Thank you.”

  Chicks. He’d never suggested she not finish school. Or that she should rely on Kai, although he was a good guy who clearly loved his baby sister. He moved past Norah and opened the fridge. Emma wasn’t much of a talker, but when she opened her mouth, her words meant something. She was independent. He liked that. A woman who could take care of herself. She might be the perfect woman. Someone who wouldn’t expect anything from him but fun.

  He handed her a few bottles of water. “See you later, squirt. Coming to practice tonight?”

  Norah had the water running in the sink again. “Probably,” she said over her shoulder.

  He led Emma through the living room to leave. As usual, his dad was in the same spot on the couch. Sean was sure there were permanent ass imprints from his dad. The man had done nothing since retirement, other than drive them all a little crazy. “Hey, Dad.”

  Dad grunted back. Sean paused and considered introducing Emma but decided not to. Seamus O’Malley wasn’t exactly a pleasant guy. Sean had managed to keep Emma’s interest this long. He didn’t need his dad to screw anything up.

  Sean paused at the front hall closet and grabbed his spare helmet. He handed it to Emma and headed out the front door. It was near noon and the sun blazed. Humidity weighed heavily in the air. It would be a great day for a long ride.