Say You're Mine (The Gallaghers Book 1) by Layla Hagen (comprehension books .txt) 📕

I burst out laughing, biting her neck lightly. “You rank me below fries? You sure know how to make me feel special.”

She chuckled. “No, quite the opposite. Look, I’ll even share my fries with you if you want.”

“You can have all of them.”

“I like you even more now.”

She shoved the last few in her mouth quickly, as if worrying I might change my mind.

She cleaned her hands at the sink before turning to face me with a delicious twinkle in her eyes.

“Tell me more about your siblings. Only your sister is married, right?” I said. I wanted to know everything about her.

“Yes. Josie’s a kick-ass lawyer, though she’s taking a break now after giving birth. My brothers are single. They both say they’re eternal bachelors.”

“And you don’t believe it?”

“Oh, I do. I mean, I knew Ian would be an eternal bachelor even before I learned what the word meant. But Dylan’s always been different. He was never sarcastic about relationships until recently.”

“What happened?”

“He proposed to his longtime girlfriend. She said she wasn’t sure. So she basically turned him down.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, I know. He barely told me and Ian, and I think it’s the first time he’d ever told someone about it. He’s still hurting, and I wish I could help him.”

I could feel how much she cared about her brothers, and it touched me deeply. She had this desire to help others that I hadn’t encountered before.

Her job wasn’t just a job to her. She genuinely cared about her clients as if they were her friends. It was so different from what I was used to that I could barely wrap my mind around it. She was honest and real, and so different from me. It had taken me two years to trust Sasha, and even then she’d never been over to my place. The penthouse was my private space, where I recharged, away from everyone, but I wanted Isabelle in here.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“That you’re the first person outside my parents and the guys who’s been in here.”

Isabelle’s eyes widened. She looked around, then back at me. “You don’t have people here ever?”

“No, it’s... my space.”

She snapped her focus back at me, smiling. “Why did you bring me here?”

“Because I like spending time with you, Isabelle. I want you to be part of my life.”

“Oh, you’re doing that again. Being super good at making me swoon.”

I kissed the tip of her nose, wrapping my arms around her back. All this talk about her brother’s personal life made me wonder about hers. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know, considering how damn jealous I got every time she even mentioned a guy. But curiosity won.

“We’ve talked about my dating past. How about yours?”

She pulled back, looking up in surprise. “My last long-term relationship was in Philly, but it ended about two years before I moved. I’d dated this guy Jake for almost a year before realizing he wasn’t as into me as I thought.” Her gaze clouded for a few seconds, but then she shook her head, smiling. “Anyway, ever since, it’s been just random dating. How many more details do you want?”

“Zero,” I growled. Fucking hell, how can I be this possessive?

She grinned. “Thought so.” She looked around, clearly wanting to change the subject. “So I’m one of the few you allow in your fortress, huh?”

“It’s funny, my Mom calls it that too.”

“Do they visit often?”

“Every few months. They were supposed to come next month but changed their mind. Mom’s sixty-fifth birthday is coming up, and she said planning the party is taking up a lot of time.”

“Oh, she’s going to have a big celebration, then?”

“Sounds like it. Wish I could attend.”

“Why can’t you?”

“Last time I went home, we had an incident with the press. It wasn’t pretty. I don’t want to risk ruining her birthday party.”

She looked at me for a few moments, pressing her lips together.

“Did she tell you that?”

“No, actually. She said she’d be happy if I came.”

“See? I don’t think it means she’s not aware of that risk. I just think she wants to see you despite that.”

I frowned, considering her words.

“I can feel the wheels spinning,” she said, tapping my temple. “Am I giving you dangerous ideas, Mr. Rock Star?”

“Very dangerous.”

“Oh good. Then I’m doing my job. Want to show me around?”

“Sure. Are you done eating?”

She pointed to the empty wrappers. “What do you think?”

Taking her hand, I showed her every room, starting with the empty guest room. On the way to the master bedroom, we passed my rehearsal room, which was right next to it.

Isabelle opened the door, peeking inside.

“Oh, wow. You didn’t tell me you had a piano here too.”

“Of course I do. It’s where I do most of my composing.”

Isabelle walked inside, touching the wooden frame. “It’s a bit different than the one at the cottage.”

“Yeah it is.”

I placed my hands at her sides, lifting her and seating her atop the piano. She clenched her ankles around me, tugging at my shirt to pull me closer. I tipped my mouth to hers, wanting to devour her right here on this piano. I pushed her dress up her legs. She squirmed, giving me enough space to move the fabric past her ass and to her waist.

“I’ve wanted you on the piano ever since Lars’s party.” I spoke against her lips while yanking the dress over her head.

She grinned. “Great minds think alike. I was wondering how we could bypass Lars’s rule... but you have your own piano here. So convenient.”

I captured her mouth, pulling her to the very edge of the piano. She parted her legs wider, giving me enough space to explore her all I wanted.

“I’ll have you on the piano at the cottage too. I’ll have you everywhere.” My voice was thick and rough. I wanted to claim and explore, to bury myself so deep inside her that she couldn’t even breathe past the pleasure.

She rested on her elbows, legs