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Caoimhe’s eyes widened, “Forde, I⁠—”

“The next comment like that and you are fired. You and your mum are out of here, understood?”

“There will be no more comments like that.” An older woman appeared from behind another vehicle. She wiped grease from her hands as she shook her head in disappointment at Caoimhe. “Will there?”

I presumed this was Caoimhe’s mum. Rina, I believed her name was.

Caoimhe appeared near tears, her cheeks bright red. “No. Sorry.”

“Get back to work,” Forde bit out.

The girl skittered off into the rear of the garage, probably to cry, and I felt bad for her despite the nasty shite she just spewed. Forde turned to Rina. “You need to talk to her and get her head straight about a few things.”

Rina sighed heavily. “Understood. Sorry.” She marched off after her kid.

Forde watched her leave before turning to me, gaze searching. “I told you to call me.”

“She’s got a crush on you,” I replied.

“I’m well aware.” He bridged the distance between us. “It’s irritating.” Then he reached out, taking my chin gently in his fingers. The resultant shiver of awareness was involuntary as he tipped my face into the light. “Babe, you’ve got a bruise on your cheek.”

I frowned, trying to think why.

Then I remembered and gently pulled my chin from his touch. “I slammed into the wall on my rush down my staircase. I forgot I hit my face.”

Anger flashed in his eyes, but he tempered it quickly. “Has anyone contacted you with news?”

“I’ve got a bunch of missed calls and texts that I haven’t looked at yet.” At his questioning gaze, I shrugged, pissed off that once more my curiosity about him took priority. “I’d rather eat first. And you promised we’d talk.”

“We need to get you antibiotics and crutches, and you should answer your phone. We can talk later.”

He pricked my temper like no one did. “If you’re now deliberately avoiding the conversation, I swear I’m done, you wank⁠—”

He stepped right into my personal space, cutting me off. The smell of oil and his spicy cologne affected me even when I was exhausted and injured. “I’m going to stop you there before you call me something you might regret.”

“I won’t regret it.”

Forde’s lips twitched, dark eyes dancing with humor. “I will tell you everything. I promise. Just wait here and I’ll let Rina know I’m cutting out early.”

“I hope you have food in the house. I’m hungry.”

He flashed me that crooked smile. The one I couldn’t help reacting to even now. “I’ll make sure you’re fed, baby. We wouldn’t want you hangry for this conversation.”

“Don’t patronize me, arsehole,” I retorted without rancor.

He laughed. “Wait there. I’ll be right back.”

While I waited, I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket. Quinn and my friends had called, so I sent a group text to assure them I was fine, that I just needed some rest and I’d be in touch. Mum hadn’t called, but she’d texted to ask if I was okay, so I sent her the same message.

I tucked the phone back into my jeans pocket when Forde appeared.

My stomach swooped at the sight of him as I remembered the way he’d come charging into William and Paula’s home last night. So protective, so capable and caring as he stitched up my foot.

Damn this man.

I had a feeling he was about to screw up my carefully laid plans to be over him for good.

24. Cameron