Intractable Souls : Book 1 of the Bound for Ireland Series (59 page)

Olivia tries to ignore the jealousy starting
to claw at her insides like a wildcat. It only makes it worse when
the waitress returns to the table and she learns that Ethan, at
some point had ordered some kind of pink frozen drink garnished
with strawberries and a little umbrella for Stacey and two fingers
of Johnny Walker Black for himself. He’s going to drink now too?
Tension starts to creep through her muscles, alerting Carter of her
anxiety and prompting him to lean over and whisper in her ear. “You
look like you need a drink yourself, is everything ok?”

It makes her sad that Carter is more
interested in looking after her needs than Ethan is tonight. In
fact, the only time Ethan even acknowledges her is when Carter is a
little too attentive. Every time he touches her or gets too close
she can feel Ethan shoot daggers at Carter with his eyes.

“Yes.” She whispers back. “Would you order
me…” She hesitates, trying to make a decision. She needs something
strong, that’s for sure. “Anything with Vodka in it.” She says,
shrugging indecisively.

“Of course.” His smile would light up even
the darkest stormy evening and she wonders if Aurora tech hires
anything but gorgeous men. She would love to be a fly on the wall
during the interview process that’s for sure. Her phone beeps and
she fumbles with the zipper on her purse trying to retrieve it.
Losing the battle her hand slips and she drops it on the floor
upside down making things spill out. Everyone looks at her as she
mutters a quiet curse and then slides her chair back so she can get
down under the table.

Crouching, she turns her purse right side up
and starts to gather up her things when something on the other side
of the table catches her attention. Looking up, she sees Stacey’s
dress hitched as high as it can go just barely covering her crotch.
Unable to contain her curiosity she takes another look, praying
that she can see some evidence that she’s wearing underwear. She’s
just about to look away in disgust when Stacey slides her hand down
Ethan’s leg, caressing it as she goes. Up and down. Then she stops
at his groin, her fingers curling around the inside of his thigh
and her thumb gently rubbing against him. Oh My God!

Carter bends down to help her and looks over
to see what’s caught her attention. Noting the look of utter
heartbreak on Olivia’s face he touches her arm trying to distract
her by passing her the lipstick that had rolled a few feet away.
She looks at him with a forced smile “Thank you.” She whispers.
Carter squeezes her hand, and gives her a sympathetic look, having
already figured out that his boss is playing both girls at the same
time. Getting to his feet, he offers her his hand and helps her to
stand. Her eyes instantly turn toward the opposite side of the
table. Ethan looks at her with a brief flash of terror and then
turns away, not able to look at her for any longer. He holds his
water glass so tightly with both hands that it looks like he could
crush it under the force but he calmly continues his conversation
with Stacey as if nothing is wrong. What an asshole!

“Excuse me for a moment.” Olivia says to
Carter. “I need to freshen up a little.” Carter nods politely and
moves her chair out of the way so she can make her way to the
ladies room. She thinks about how messed up things are right now.
Carter has stepped in as her date for the evening, when just a
short while ago Ethan had her spread wide and writhing in pleasure
in his office. Now Ethan is being fondled under the table by
another woman. Her anxiety starts to build and she has to
concentrate hard on her breathing in order to control the panic
attack that’s threatening to make an appearance. It’s her own fault
she thinks. She wanted to make sure blondie knew what the score was
the minute she saw her, but then Ethan introduced her as a friend
and put distance between them. Was this what he wanted? Was he
interested in Stacey? He said on the way over here that he was only
interested in the business. She’s so confused.

Stacey rambles on about her friends and the
clubs they want to check out later on and how much fun it’s going
to be. Just shut the hell up already! Having a clear view of what’s
going on between Stacey and Ethan from where they’re sitting, John
and Shannon glance over to see the look on Olivia’s face as she
walks away and then turns to speak. “Carter, whatever you order me,
make it a double.”

Carter grins. “My kind of girl.”

Ethan watches her leave the room with a very
stoic expression and then glances over at Carter who returns his
stare not feeling at all intimidated by him. Carter shakes his head
in disapproval and then returns to his seat.

“Is there something you wanna say to me,
Brant?” Ethan growls angrily, causing John to tense in preparation
for a showdown.

Carter pauses a brief moment, giving it
consideration and then thinking the better of it he refuses to take
the bait. “Not at the moment. No.”

Shannon hears John breathe out a relieved
breath and frowns at him. “This is getting out of hand.” She
whispers. “You need to talk to him and put an end to this. I’ll go
make sure she’s ok.”

“Good Idea.” John stands as she gets to her
feet and gives her a brief kiss.

Ethan is not sure just how much more of this
he can take. He knows that Olivia has seen where Stacey’s hand is,
and he’s most definitely certain that it was Stacey’s intention for
her to see it. Is any business worth this? Worth losing the only
woman he has ever loved? The pained looked on her face when she
stood up? And then there’s Carter… Carter fucking Brant. He’ll kill
him if he doesn’t keep his hands off Olivia.

Olivia is splashing cold water on her face
when Shannon reaches the ladies room. “You ok, sweetie?”

Olivia forces a smile. “Yes, I’m fine I
guess. I’m just not sure why I’m here.”

Shannon sighs. “Well, we all thought that if
you came with Ethan tonight, Stacey would understand that you two
were together and she would back off.”

“Well exactly how was she supposed to get
that impression when he introduces me as a friend, ignores me and
doesn’t discourage her from putting her sleazy hands all over him?”
She’s trying to remain calm but her jealousy is starting to bubble
to the surface.

Shannon puts her arms around her and gives
her a reassuring hug. “I know sweetie, we’re all a little confused
about that. I don’t know what he’s told you about what’s going on
back home but trust me when I tell you that he has had a rough year
in his personal life and today’s news certainly didn’t help any. My
guess is that he’s fearful that he’s going to mess up his business
career too and he panicked for a moment.”

Olivia shakes her head. “Seems to me that he
didn’t set the record straight because he doesn’t want to.”

“No, don’t think that. You should have seen
him after he spoke with Stacey this afternoon. John says he has
never seen him that upset about entertaining a client. John was so
worried about him that he got in touch with Carter and asked him to
join us, thinking that he might just charm her away.” Shannon lets
out a small feminine sigh. “But he seems to be more interested in
you. Things are all backwards.”

Olivia frowns. “Maybe I should just leave.”
She says with a drawn out breath.

Shannon gives her a very serious look.
“Olivia… Ethan is stressed enough tonight. If you left he would
lose it for sure. And I’d be very careful with Carter, honey. It
might not look like Ethan’s paying attention but he’s watching you
two like a hawk. I know it sucks, but let’s just try to get through
this evening without incident.”

Olivia shrugs. “I won’t make a scene.
Apparently that’s all everybody is concerned about. Heaven forbid
anybody upset the great Ethan O’Connell! And as far as Stacey is
concerned, he’s free to be with her if he wants. I don’t really
care. That’s not the kind of relationship we have.”

“Sweetie, if we were in court, you would
never be able to convince a jury of that. It’s in your eyes. You’re
in love with him.” Olivia says nothing, her face flushing pink.
Shaking her head no, she tries to deny it but Shannon just smiles
at her. “That wasn’t very convincing at all. Let’s get back to the
table.”

John and Ethan are returning from the front
of the restaurant just as the girls get back. John makes eye
contact with Shannon and nods his head once, sending her a silent
acknowledgement that he has indeed had a few words with him. They
reach the same space at the same time and as they each try to get
to their seats Ethan and Olivia end up toe to toe. Refusing to look
up at him, she waits for him to move. He discretely reaches for her
hand and gives it a squeeze. His hands are cold, as if he has been
outside for a long time; the chill of his fingers against her hot
palm is a shock that makes her nipples go taut. When electricity
passes through his touch a shiver moves through her body. How can
he still affect her so intensely?

“Everything ok?” He asks quietly.

“Yes, just fine. Excuse me.” She tries to
get to her chair, still refusing to look at him. Rubbing his hand
up and down her arm a few times, he warms it against her skin and
wishes that she knew just how much he wants to take her in his arms
and kiss her. He has nobody to blame but himself if she never
kisses him again. This has been one fucked up day.

When he steps to the side, he lets his hand
brush delicately along her back while he passes. The touch is
agony. A reminder of what’s been missing all night. She hadn’t
really noticed before just how often he usually touches her when
they’re together. Every little touch of his hands, his soft lips,
his warm body brushing against her… all taken for granted until
right now.

It’s like that feeling she gets when she
forgets to put on her favorite ring, the one that she wears
faithfully every day. The entire day feels a little skewed, like
something just isn’t right. Several times during the day she looks
down to see it missing and panics thinking that she’s lost it,
until she remembers it’s at home on the dresser. Then for the rest
of the day she’s anxious because she just won’t feel complete until
she gets home and puts it on. That’s how she feels about the lack
of Ethan’s touches tonight. Incomplete. Panicked at the loss,
hoping… praying actually, that once they get home she will find it
again. If she can just get through this dinner.

She waves off Carter as he starts to stand.
When she sits and tunes into the conversation she quickly realizes
that Stacey has engaged him on the deep and intellectually
stimulating topic of… KANGAROOS. Olivia looks over at Ethan who is
looking back at her trying to keep a straight face. Stacey turns to
him and with a very serious expression asks. “Have you ever boxed a
kangaroo?”

Olivia doesn’t hear his answer as she swipes
her hand over her face, trying to hide her snickering. She feels
Carter’s arm wrap around the back of her chair as he leans into her
ear and whispers. “Thank Christ you’re back. After only 10 minutes
of brilliant conversation I can safely say that she must have slept
her way to the top.”

Unable to control herself, Olivia snorts and
then laughs out loud. Carter chuckles and then catches Ethan’s
stare. Recognizing it as a silent warning, he straightens in his
seat and removes his arm from Olivia’s shoulder.

When dinner is finally served, eaten and
cleared, everybody gets up and mingles between the bar, the
billiards room and the dartboards. The silence is broken by a
shrill scream as Stacey runs like she’s on fire towards the front
of the restaurant to greet her friends. One by one, they file into
the restaurant wearing short skirts and stilettos with their
perfect hair and schoolgirl giggling.

Olivia watches them in horror from the bar.
“Dear God help us, the rest of the Barbie girls are here.
Bartender… 2 Tequila shots and hurry!”

Carter chuckles and takes one of the shot
glasses out of her hand. After clinking them together, they raise
them simultaneously and throw them back.

“Whew.” Olivia’s eyes slightly water from
the burn in her throat. “Hey Carter, let me ask you a question.
Would you let any of those girls join your Mile High Club?

“Hell no!”

“Not even Stacey?”

He makes a face. “Even I have standards.”
Then he leans in to whisper in her ear. “And I don’t want you to
think poorly of me… that whole story… not true. But don’t tell the
blokes that, they worship me for it.” He flashes her his best
playboy smile.

Olivia laughs. “Hey? Where’s O’Connell? I
haven’t seen him for awhile.”

Carter puts both shot glasses on the bar and
indicates to the bartender that he wants two more. “I think he’s
playing darts with John.” Passing her another shot, he laughs at
her sour face when she downs it.

“Bleh! I don’t think I can do any more of
those.” She shudders.

“One more.” Carter insists, waving at the
bartender. “And a glass of red wine.” He adds as Shannon makes her
way to join them, not at all interested in the game of darts.

Just then, she hears a familiar voice and
looks up to see the boys from Dufferin County announcing their
arrival in their normal rowdy manner.

Olivia’s face lights up. “Pete! Danny! Oh my
GOD… Brandon? I haven’t seen you in forever!” Olivia greets them
with warm friendly hugs and introduces them to Carter and Shannon.
Danny spots Stacey and her friends immediately on the other side of
the bar. “Olivia please tell me that those are the girls we’re here
to hang out with tonight.”

Rolling her eyes, she looks over at Carter
who is smiling. “Yup, they’re all yours.”

Having heard the ruckus, Ethan makes his way
to the bar. Welcoming the boys, he buys them a round of drinks and
they exchange a few rude comments about the girls, chuckling and
slapping each other on the back as if they had just won an
unexpected lottery. When Ethan takes the boys over to introduce
them, Stacey quickly positions herself at his side letting them
know that she’s already spoken for.