His Wicked Celtic Kiss by Karyn Gerrard Read Free Book Online

instances, friendship wasn’t even on his radar. With Julie, he wished to explore the possibility of a closer, intimate connection, but one without life-altering commitments. Could it be possible?
    Plain old me
, she called herself. Granted, she wasn’t a head turner, but he thought her cute. Those magnificent eyes were her best feature. He was attracted to her on many levels and such an admission could be dangerous emotionally. Lorcan had enough of danger in his life—and heartbreak.
    He sighed and ran his hands through his long hair. After he left the military, he just let it grow since the closely cropped military cut had lost its appeal. His arse had not seen a barber’s chair in more than four years. Jaysus, it hung past his shoulders. Sully told him the long hair made him look pretty. Not exactly the look he wanted to convey. The ladies, however, seemed to like it. One woman had told him he reminded her of a medieval warrior. Lorcan had received a rare chuckle out of that one.
    The sound of a throat clearing interrupted his reverie and he looked up to see Julie had returned. “You’re deep in thought,”
    “Nothing too serious, merely debating whether I should get my hair cut. What do you think? Be honest. Hack it all off or maybe get a trim?”
    She cocked her head, as if studying the problem seriously. “I like long hair on you. Not many men can pull it off. I would get a few inches trimmed and have it layered a bit. Your hair is a little ragged, but on the other hand, it gives you a wild look that’s very appealing.”
    He took her hand. Damn, the flash of sizzling heat moved though him again. “You like the wild look on a man? On me? Should I be flattered?”
    Julie curled her fingers tightly around his, sending another flare of electricity up his arm. “You don’t need to be told you’re good-looking, Lorcan. You know you are.”
    He looked down at the small hand all but lost in his much larger one. The hand felt delicate and feminine in his. “Aye,” he said softly. “I know it, but I like hearing it from you. Means more to me than all those shallow declarations from others put together.”
    Julie gazed at him with such tenderness it took his breath away. Something—passed between them. What, he wasn’t sure. The mood dissipated as the waiter placed the paper bag holding two plastic take-away cups on the table. “Anything else, sir?”
    Lorcan glanced at Julie. “Coffee, drink?”
    She smiled. “I couldn’t possibly.”
    “Just the check.” He turned back to Julie. “Hope you don’t mind, I split the milkshake.”
    She laughed, a deep feminine trill that sent another roar of flame through him.
Jaysus.
At this rate, he would spontaneously combust. “No, please. Take the whole thing and save me the temptation,” she said.
    With the bill paid, Lorcan and Julie headed outside to the parking lot. Heavy, gray clouds smothered the moon and stars which caused the sky to appear darker than usual. Lorcan glanced at his watch, saw that the time was nine o’clock. Take her home? He opened the car door and placed the paper bag on the seat.
    Lorcan strode around the car toward her. Standing close, he savored her nearness. Julie’s fresh and enticing scent of clean soap and wildflowers filled his nostrils and he reveled in her devastating presence. Lorcan reached for her hands; the touch sizzled and aroused him further. With a quick, bold move, he pulled Julie close against the hardness of him. Intense, roiling heat passed between them. Slowly, Lorcan backed away, only a step or two, enough to gaze down into those gorgeous eyes that were filled with such confusion and need. Aye, he understood the intoxicating mixture. The pull. A connection. A purpose. Neither spoke, nor looked away. This had been building all during the dinner. The potent undercurrent of a mutual desire, mixed with her raw honesty and delicate vulnerability. And his utter and complete fascination.
    Lorcan let go of her hands and