Declan + Coraline by J.J. McAvoy Read Free Book Online

money.”
    He beamed as he rushed over to me and gave me a small hug. “That’s my girl.”
    “Go home, Uncle. I will have you here by the end of the week,” I whispered. And against my better judgment, I hugged him back.
    “Yeah, okay. Don’t let me down.” He let go of me and left my office.
    I felt like a child again. The only time I ever got love or affection from him or anyone else in my family was when they were taking something from me.
    But we were family.
    With a sigh, I moved back to my chair, and as I fell against it, I leaned back and closed my eyes.
    You’re okay, Coraline. You’re fine. You don’t need their affection . You’re fine.
    “Ms. Wilson?”
    Couldn’t I get a second to think?! Jeez!
    “Yes, Constanza.” I opened my eyes and kept looking up at the ceiling.
    “You know the new investor?”
    I sat up. “Kelly Laoghaire?”
    She nodded at the door. As of this morning we’d received close to eighty million dollars from the Laoghaire trust.
    “Send them in!” I said quickly as I fixed my hair, and smoothed out my dress.
    I was already moving towards the door, ready to greet them, when Declan Callahan stepped into my office, wearing a fitted suit, and a smile that spread across his face.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Wilson,” he said as he held out his hand to me.
    I stood there, too dumbfounded to move…and a little too happy to see him as well.

DECLAN
    By the time she got over her shock, I was already siting in one of the chairs in front of her desk. To say that I was impressed would’ve been an understatement. Her office was simple, classic, and elegant. The walls behind her desk displayed her degrees and awards, and I could only imagine how hard she must have worked to be able to get a corner office on the top floor.
    “Kelly Laoghaire?” she whispered as she walked to the side of her desk. Her dress was far too tempting; the golden zipper that ran from the back of her neck all the way down to her ass made my hand twitch.
    “Yes. Kelly Laoghaire. It was my mother’s name before she became Kelly Callahan.”
    “The money?” She slowly processed.
    “The money they left to me before they passed away. Once again, I’m in your hands, Ms. Wilson.”
    Her mouth parted and I wished it hadn’t because all I could think of was wanting to hear her moan.
    She shook her head at me as she took a seat in her leather chair like a queen on her throne.
    “Why are you doing this?”
    “I’ve been looking for place to invest in. Why not you?”
    “Why do I have a feeling that this is about more than just my bank?”
    She was holding herself back, I could see it the way she crossed her legs, and in the way her eyes drifted from my lips to my neck and back to my eyes again before they completed the circuit once more.
    I smirked. “Because you’re smart. In all honesty though, I came here because I couldn’t reach you on your phone.”
    “Maybe I didn’t want to be reached.”
    “Maybe you were worried I wouldn’t try to reach. Maybe you’re afraid you will like spending time with me, or maybe even love it. ”
    She paused and I knew that I was right.
    I should have come earlier. Why was I always so slow when it came to her?
    “That’s a whole lot of maybes, Mr. Callahan.”
    “Fine. Allow me to clarify then. I came to clear up any confusion between us.”
    “So this is what you meant by making your own magic?”
    I shrugged. “I do what I can with what I’ve got.”
    “Declan, I am not Cinderella.”
    “Good, because I’m not Prince Charming. I prefer black.” I was referring to my clothes, but the smile that crept onto her face proved that she had taken a dual meaning.
    “You aren’t playing by the rules.”
    “Of course not. I’m a Callahan, we make our own rules, so you might as well get used to it now.”
    “Declan, we had sex, and it was great. So why not end this on a high note and just walk away?”
    “Because I have no desire to, and I always do