His Wicked Celtic Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page A

gorgeous as he is, isn’t as handsome as Lorcan. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who is!”
    Julie groaned. “Oh, thanks. That really helped. Now, I’m a pity date!”
    “Julie, I haven’t known Lorcan very long, but I give him credit to see deeper than the exterior. I mean, you’re attracted to him for more than his stunning looks, right?” Ronnie asked.
    Julie remained silent.
    Ronnie laughed. “Okay then, maybe not.”
    “I don’t
know
him. Yes, damn it, his looks caught my attention. So flip that coin over, what in hell does he see in me, if anything?” Julie waved her arms in agitation.
    The buzzer dinged.
    “Cake’s done!” Ronnie called out. She pulled Julie from her stool and dragged her toward the bathroom. “That’s why you’re going out to dinner with him, to find out. You’ll be able to tell if he’s attracted to you, believe me.” Ronnie pushed Julie to her knees by the side of the tub and reached for the shower hose. Turning on the taps, she held her hand under the water to gauge the temperature. Speaking more loudly, she said, “It’s like it says in that old song—it’s in his kiss. You’ll be able to tell. And he’ll kiss you, I know it.”
    “He’s already kissed me,” Julie mumbled.
    “What?” Ronnie yelled. “When? Where?”
    “Don’t go batshit, Ronnie. Only my hand.”
    Ronnie rinsed Julie’s hair, and then rubbed conditioner through the strands coating the ends. “How chivalrous, how—white knight-ish. How did it feel?”
    “Like he shoved my hand into a roaring fireplace,” Julie replied.
    Ronnie laughed. “Well, there’s no mistaking how you feel about his touch. And hey, I saw the way he stared at you at the White Owl. He’s intrigued.”
    No way. Really?
She gazed up at Ronnie in disbelief. How could he be intrigued? She had acted like a nervous Nellie on the double date, one who had no control over her emotions. They ran rampant. Kinda like now. She swallowed deeply.
    “Look, Julie, be yourself. He’s just a man with all his own faults and baggage. And this dinner will tell you if you want to be his baggage handler.” She gave Julie’s hair a last squeeze and turned the water off. “Three minutes for the conditioner.”
    Julie straightened, then sputtered as water ran into her mouth. She sat on the edge of the tub. “He’s not the only one with baggage—wait, how do you know he has ‘baggage’?” Julie made little air quotes with her fingers.
    “Everyone does. Nick had a luggage carousel full. But it turns out we share the load. Anyway, my point is—be yourself. You’re funny and sweet. You could be just what he’s looking for.”
    Ronnie glanced at her watch and pulled Julie to her knees again. Her friend could never work in a beauty salon; too used to handling dough, her touch was not gentle. As her head went under the hose again, Julie reflected on Ronnie’s sage advice.
Be yourself.
    Easier said than done.

Chapter Three
    Lorcan drove toward Waterloo Street in the car of his dreams, and thought the night couldn’t be more perfect. A Mercedes dealer in Baltimore had happened to have an AMG S65 on the lot, the exact color and features he desired.
Feckin’ karma.
How long had he yearned for this automobile? Part sports car and part limousine, the vehicle brought luxury and blinding speed together in a seductive package. The engine purred at idle and snarled at a slight push of the accelerator petal. The auto cornered, moved, and braked like a dream. He couldn’t help but smile.
    So he was in a good mood when he pulled into the parking lot of Titus Bakery. Julie stood in the window glancing up the street. He put the car in park and turned off the engine. The look on her face was almost expectant and maybe a little nervous. How adorable. A thought struck him. She’d be looking for the Lincoln Navigator. A slow smile curved his mouth. In fact, she looked ready to bolt the moment she saw the Navigator, he’d bet money on it.
    He’d