Mermaid in a Bowl of Tears (Exit Unicorns Series) by Cindy Brandner Read Free Book Online

girlfriend. That’s what he does with people, uses them up and then throws them away. That’s the sort of man you’re protecting.”
    Casey had an uncomfortable memory of the woman, crying in the back seat of his car, makeup smeared and face anguished. She had been inadequately clad for the bitter chill of the day and pathetically grateful to him for driving her home to an area of Jamica Plain that had seen far better days. He shook his head to rid himself of the vision.
    “Maybe it’s not him I’m protectin’, maybe it’s merely self-preservation.”
    “We could protect you.”
    Casey shook his head and snorted. “Ye must think I’m terrible naïve, ye’ve no doubt had a good look at my own past. That alone ought to tell ye how likely I am to rat a man out.”
    Agent Gus shrugged. “Doesn’t make it any easier to sleep at night, though, does it? You think about it, Mr. Riordan and when you decide you’d like a conscience you can live with again, give us a call. We’ll be waiting.”
    Casey took a deep breath and walked away from the man. He got half a block before turning back to look. Agent Gus was still standing there waving cheerfully.
    Casey cursed under his breath and continued down the block. Agent Gus was even more annoying when he was right.

Chapter Four
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
    CASEY RIORDAN,” PAMELA said with a smile, “I do believe you’re nervous.”
    Casey twitched uncomfortably at his starched collar. “Damned right I am,” he said, “this is no friendly visit, ye know.”
    He stood in the middle of their bedroom, clad in gray dress pants and a stiff white shirt that had him looking as miserable as a scalded cat. Desmond, Siobhan and Patrick were due in at Logan in slightly less than three hours. Sylvie had decided against the trip to Boston, taking the opportunity of Pat’s absence to visit her family in Derry for the holidays. It couldn’t be Pat making him nervous, for the two had settled their estrangment once Casey knew Pat had accepted the invitation to come to Boston for Christmas.
    Pamela undid the top button of his shirt, smoothing the white cloth along his shoulders, more in an effort to calm him than rid him of imaginary wrinkles. “What on earth are you talking about?”
    “Just what I said, this is no friendly visit on Dez’s part, he’ll be coming to see how we’re set up over here, if I’m providin’ well for ye, an’ how I’m farin’ on the wrong side of the pond. His words,” he added apologetically, “not mine.”
    “It will all be fine,” she said, brushing an errant lock of hair behind his ear and kissing the tip of his nose. From either side of it he glared down at her.
    “I don’t know how ye can be so certain of that.”
    “Because,” she replied softly, “they love you, so whatever they think of our home, or this city, it will all be well so long as they see that you’re happy. That’s why they’re really coming, you know— to see if you’re happy.”
    “Well, that I am,” he replied, voice still a tad gruff with nerves. He narrowed his eyes at her. “Though it’d be better had ye put a bit of weight on, leastways then Dez would know I’m feedin’ ye.”
    She arched a sooty brow at him. “I’m starting to feel like the autumn sow here.”
    He looked her over with a critical eye and sighed, as if he would be much happier if she were in as full flesh as an autumn sow.
    “Ye just look a wee bit thin in yer clothes, Jewel. Now out of them,” he waggled an eyebrow at her, “it’s another matter altogether.”
    She put her hands on her hips. “Are you saying I’m fat out of my clothes?”
    “No, never,” he assured her, pulling her into his embrace, “only that ye’ve lines to ye that can only be fully appreciated when viewed in the altogether.”
    “Mmnn,” she murmured, not fully convinced.
    Casey grasped her hips and rather firmly made it clear that he was currently appreciating her lines, despite the fact