When Annie finally let go of Ronan. he turned to address Sean one last time. “You can come to dinner, but if I get even a hint of your usual bullshit I’ll kick you out of the restaurant so fast your head will spin.”

Sean only smiled. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Why didn’t I believe that?

Ronan frowned at him as though trying to figure out his game. In the end he let out a low, irritable grunt and stalked off to use the bathroom.

An hour later, I sat in the back of a taxi with Ronan and Annie while Sean and Bryan shared one that followed behind us. I really wished I’d gotten the chance to pull Sean aside and warn him of all the things he wasn’t to do at dinner, but the shoot had been a crazy rush and there had been no way of cornering him. As well, I didn’t want to listen to him detail his exploits from the previous night.

Irrationally, I felt like any orgasms he’d dished out belonged to me. He was giving away my orgasms. Some strange, possessive part of me felt ownership of him and his new abilities.

In other words, I was completely loony.

When we arrived at Tom’s, I saw him emerging from his cab with Bryan just a little distance away. He caught me staring and his expression turned intense. I closed my eyes, remembering his mouth on me, how good it felt when we touched, and a shiver of longing pulsed through me.

I wanted him again.

The realization had my skin prickling and my belly coiling tight with need.

But how stupid was I? He’d likely spent last night testing out his skills on someone else. Perhaps even several . . .

Opening my eyes, I steeled my reserve and determined to get through dinner without any mortifying revelations coming to light. Then I’d say goodbye and never have to speak to him again.

Good plan.

The second we stepped through the door, Tom was there to greet us. He was tall, auburn-haired, and stocky in a way that said he worked out but still ate his fill. Basically, he looked a bit like Josh Homme. He was also my brother’s best friend from school, who had since become one of New York’s most successful head chefs. He pulled Ronan into a man hug, then turned to embrace Annie, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. Smiling wide when he saw me, he stepped forward and hugged me, too.

“Little Lucy Fitzpatrick. Look how big you’ve gotten,” he exclaimed. “I hear you’ve been living in New York for six months and have never taken the time to grace my doors.” Tut-tutting.

I laughed. “Hey, I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“Yes, and I insist you come again soon. Take advantage of my kindness,” he said, kissing me on the cheek the same as he’d done to Annie.

Suddenly, I felt a cool gust of air sweep in as the door opened behind me, and I knew it was Sean and Bryan without even having to look. Chancing a quick glance over my shoulder, I found Sean glaring daggers at Tom while Bryan stood beside him, smiling obliviously.

“Bryan,” said Tom. “Long time no see, mate.”

The men exchanged pleasantries while Sean came to stand by me, his silence disconcerting.

“And you must be Mr. Cassidy,” Tom went on somewhat dubiously.

“It’s a pleasure,” said Sean in his usual refined manner. They briefly shook hands, but needless to say, Tom knew exactly who Sean was and there was certainly no love lost between them.

A few minutes later, all six of us were seated at a table. Ronan, Annie and Bryan sat on one side, while I was sandwiched between Tom and Sean on the other. I also didn’t fail to notice how Sean quickly took the seat on the other side of me when he saw Tom politely pulling out my chair. I cast him a searching look, trying to ask what he was up to, but he only stared back with no answers. Maybe he didn’t even know himself.

Tom had arranged for his best sous chef to cook for us, and for a starter we were served the most delicious catfish cakes with a tangy lemon dipping sauce. Sean was being decidedly quiet as the men chatted about the upcoming rugby season. Thankfully, Annie was directly across from me, so we could chat about plans for the blog.

“Does all this sport talk bore you as much as it bores me?” Tom leaned in to ask, somewhere in between the starter and the main course.

I chuckled and gave him a friendly smile. “Pretty much. I’m far more interested in the food we’re eating.”

Tom grinned widely, his hand going to his chest. “Ah, a woman after my own heart.”

Right at that moment, I froze as I felt a warm hand grip my thigh beneath the table. I’d just lifted my glass of white wine to take a sip and almost spat it out. My heart raced as Sean’s thumb drew circles on my knee before his palm slid slowly upward.

Lifting a foot, I made sure no one was paying attention when I stamped it down hard on his. He only smiled in return, like my attempt to hurt him was adorable. While Annie was momentarily distracted talking to Ronan, and Tom was focused on Bryan, I turned my head discreetly to Sean and whispered, “Stop it.”

His knuckles brushed lightly over my crotch and I trembled as he lifted his wine glass to his mouth to disguise his response. “No.”

Why was he being like this?

I frowned, both angry and aroused, and decided I’d had enough when his thumb dipped beneath the hem of my top and smoothed over the lower part of my belly.

Swiftly rising from my seat, I told Annie I was going to use the bathroom before the main course was served. Once I’d flicked the lock over and was cocooned safely in the privacy of a cubicle, I felt like I could breathe again. My hands were shaking, and for the first time in my life I felt like stealing for a reason completely unconnected to my mother. The little complementary hand towels and soaps by the sink were in serious danger of being shoved inside my handbag.