Sitting here, staring into her eyes, I feel anchored. The thought of seeing Mellie’s eyes is all that got me through what happened down in the basement. Letting go of her wrist, I snatch up my whiskey.
“Is everything okay, Niall?” she whispers, looking worried. I knock back the whiskey, keeping my eyes locked on hers the whole time.
“As long as ye keep looking at me,amhuirnín, everything’s grand,” I tell her truthfully. She swallows, reaching out tentatively and placing her fingers on the back of my hand where it lies on the bar.
I lay my hand over hers, stroking her fingers. I’m unsure how long we stay like this, holding hands while I stare into her eyes, but some of the tension drains from my body.
Eventually, Mellie clears her throat, tugging her hand from beneath mine. Blinking, the spell broken, I let her go, shooting the rest of my whiskey. Standing, I rap my knuckles on the bar.
“I can’t drop ye home tonight,amhuirnín.” I have to get out of here right now. “But I want ye to take my SUV.”
Pulling the keys out of my pocket, I lay them on the bar. The lass opens her mouth to argue, but I glare at her until she closes it again, nodding her acquiescence.
Chapter Sixteen
Mellie
I’m not sure what happened to Niall the other night, but it was intense, and he was wicked rattled by it. I like the idea that looking into my eyes helped calm him down. That made me feel…I don’t exactly know…. It made me feel special and powerful andneeded.
The idea that someone like Niallneedsanyone is a strange one. Not in a sexual way, but the idea that he needed me forcomfort? That made me feel things in my heart that I don’t think I’m ready even to contemplate feeling for Niall. For anyone. But especially for Niall.
Tiggy has texted me to say she needs a girl's night. So, even though it’s my night off, I’ve styled my hair, done my makeup, and dragged myself back to Oracle.
Of course, nothing goes to plan. The second I’m through the coat check, nodding to Eloise as I go, I get waylaid in the main bar by Arthur.
“Mellie! Perfect. Do you have a moment to go through some staff rostering conflicts?”
“Uh. I’m actually on my way to the VIP room. Tiggy and Fiona are waiting for me.”
Arthur waves away my protests with an airy hand. “This will only take a second. You’ll be through to them wicked quick.”
It’s not wicked quick. It takes over half an hour. I check my watch for the tenth time.
“I need to go, Arthur. TiggyFitzpatrickis waiting for me.”
He chokes off mid-sentence, looking stricken. I almost feel bad for emphasizing Tiggy’s name, except she really is waiting for me, and I want out of here.
He checks his watch too, grimacing. “Fuck. Sorry. You go.”
Nodding, I hurry through to the VIP room, stepping through the double doors, my eyes trailing across the room.
Fiona and Tiggy are seated at the bar, drinking vodkas, Fiona’s drink of choice, so I beeline for them.
They’re arguing over Ronan Murphy. Ever since he was in the room the day Fiona told Seamus about Tahlie’s evil plans, Ronan has taken note of her. She bitches about it all the time.
Poor thing. Fiona has an aversion to anyone thinking she’s anything less than unbreakable Teflon, and the Irish Saint has a tendency to collect broken people and try to fix them. He just has an interesting way of going about it.
Liam Kelly is a perfect example. Who takes an angry kid who jacks cars to pay for his father’s drug habit and “saves” him by inducting him into a life of crime in the Irish Mafia? Weirdly, it worked for Liam. Maybe Fiona should lighten up.
“You’re my friend, not my caseworker,” Fiona snaps at Tiggy. Ouch. Tiggy has the grace to look shamefaced and apologizes instantly, twice.
Yeah, Fiona definitely has issues with social workers and their brand of “help.”
Taking pity on Tiggy, who looks stricken that she’s upset Fiona, I huff a sigh, slinging myself onto the barstool beside her, resting my head on her shoulder as I sigh piteously.
“I’m sad, Mrs. Fitzpatrick,” I whine. Fiona smirks, draining her vodka. I butt my head against Tiggy’s jaw while she giggles. “You can bemycaseworker.”
Fiona definitely snorts at that, but Tiggy plays along. “And what can I help you with, Mellie?”