Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) by Bridgette O'Hare (best large ereader .TXT) 📕

I sat my empty mug out of the way, crossed my arms atop the bar, and leaned in, studying the man across from me. I was fully aware of the psychology he had just used on me. I’d used it myself countless times. So, one would think I might be able to resist posing my next question.

But one would be wrong.

“And just where did you get the idea that I might be able t’ help you with such a thing?”

A smile transformed his face, emphasizing the dimple in each cheek and making him even more appealing. I shook the thought from my mind, waited for his reply, and tried not to focus on his smile.

“Now, it wouldn’t be very smart of me to reveal my sources if ya haven’t even agreed to help me, would it?”

He had a point. And it was valid. My curiosity, however, was not so valid, and it was about to get the better of me. Again. I may be offering up another of my nine lives.

“I feel like we’re at a stand-off here, Cian.” I made sure to emphasize his name. “Considering I didn’t even know you existed before tonight, I’m at a disadvantage. Since you seem to know more about me than I do you, in order for me to entertain the idea of moving forward with this conversation I’m going to need this playing field to level itself a bit,” I pointed out.

“I can understand how you might feel that way. What do you need?”

“Well, for starters, how am I supposed to agree to help you with somethin’ as harrowing as takin’ on an ancient, deadly organization like The Saiad without even a hint as t’ whether I can trust you or not? So . . . I suppose I have two questions. Who is Cian McCallister at his core? And how is it you know so much about me but didn’t recognize me when I walked into your café tonight?”

If I didn’t have the option of judging the light—or lack of—within Cian for myself, I had no other choice but to decide the old-fashioned way—ask questions and rely on my instincts.

“You don’t mess around. No frills. Just straight t’ the point. I like that,” he stated, situating himself on his bar stool. “But I’m not so sure I have any straight t’ the point answers for ya. No matter what I say, they’re just words. Anyone can tell you what ya want t’ hear, lass. Even if I gave you resumé and list of character references, there’s no guarantee any of it wouldn’t be orchestrated to show you and tell you exactly what it is I want ya t’ hear.”

“Aye, that is true. So, what makes you so sure everything ya think you know about me isn’t an orchestration then?”

“Touché.” He narrowed his gaze and slowly his mouth tightened in a satisfied smirk. “Here’s what I know, beyond certainty, about you, Miss O’Cléirigh.”

“Ohpp,” I sounded and held up a finger. “I believe you said we had a deal.”

He nodded. “Aish.”

I felt a smile form on my lips at the familiar way he spoke my name.

His smile grew to match, and he leaned toward me once more and locked his gaze with mine. When he began to speak, his voice was different. Lower. More personal. “You see beyond what is directly in front of you. You are perceptive, yet . . .” he paused, regarding me with an intensified focus. “Yet, you’re not fully aware of your own potential. You are guarded, so very guarded, yet you live in the moment. You appreciate beauty, as I do,” he said as he leaned closer to me until his face was only inches from mine. “And you are definitely more than I expected,” he added with a softer timbre.

My skin tingled. Every cell in my body shivered. It was an unfamiliar sensation that existed just beyond the realm of my control.

“Well, that’s quite the assessment,” I replied with a tone to match his, and I inched slightly closer like gravity was pulling me in his direction without my consent. The tingling sensation increased. I felt just a bit bare, trying to fight the tension that hung in the air around us. I almost admitted it, and that’s when I realized I was holding my breath. I snapped myself from the trance and tried to change the atmosphere of the conversation. “Ya know, all I expected when I came in here tonight was a bite to eat and a decent coffee. So . . . looks like we both ended up with more than we anticipated.”

“It would seem so,” he said softly. “But the coffee was fantastic, wasn’t it?” he winked.

I chuckled. “It was.”

“Another?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” I said just above a whisper.

He hesitated, holding my stare for a moment longer, then took my mug and broke the gravitational pull between us.

I watched him curiously as he went about mixing the coffee concoction.

“So, what do you say you give me a chance t’ earn your trust?” he asked as he added the last ingredient to my freshly made Columbian Special. “I’ll offer my trust as collateral, tell you everything I know about The Saiad, and answer any questions you have.”

“Like how you knew who I was before I walked in?”

He flashed that dimple adorned smile again over his shoulder. “Aye. Like that. Any questions.”

“Well then, I do believe I’m going t’ have t’ think that over. How about we start tomorrow, though? I’ve had a long day, and you’ve kinda hijacked my first night in town.”

As much as I wanted to know all the answers ten minutes ago, if I started asking questions, it would be the wee hours of the morning before my head hit the pillow. And I needed to process, settle in, and see what information Kara had found on Super Attractive Guy, aka Cian McCallister.

“We don’t open