“We can’t change the date.” I glance around quickly before remembering I didn’t bring my laptop with me. I’ve been so distracted by Keenan getting hurt that I’d let so many things slide and forgotten my laptop bag. “Damn. I wish I’d brought my laptop.”
“I’m looking, Delilah, and there’s nothing that I can find. Unless their online schedulers are all out of date.”
“Yeah. That’s not likely.” I take a deep breath and need a big glass of wine. Fix the problem first. Wine later. “You keep looking. I’m going to reach out to a few people and get back to you.”
It isn’t until I end the call that I realize Keenan’s standing so close to me.
“What happened?” His hand comes to rest on my hip.
“The perfect venue we found for the charity event is no longer usable.” I sigh, trying not to let it stress me out too bad.
“The storm?” I nod. Keenan is silent for a minute before he says, “Why don’t you use the house?”
“What house?” I can’t use his other house. It’s not exactly a venue, more like a place you throw a house party at.
Keenan cracks a smile as he walks away from me. Even his walk is off, and my concern for him is skyrocketing off the charts. His light brown hair looks like he’s been running his fingers through it, but that’s my job.
“This house.” He holds his hands up to indicate the room we’re in but also the entire place.
“This house?” Whatever he’s trying to say to me isn’t hitting the mark because I have no idea what it means.
“Yeah. Delilah. The house.” He’s moving in closer to me. “This house is big enough for anything you might need. It’s also very impressive so you could use this to replace your venue. Problem solved.”
“Uh, not problem solved.” Instead of entertaining his thought, I keep searching on my phone for any other venue. “Liam set you up here because I assume you don’t want anyone knowing where you are right now.”
He doesn’t confirm my thought or deny it.
“So how am I supposed to have a hundred people here? Everyone will know, and then whatever you’re hiding from or whoever, will find you.” I take a deep breath. “I don’t want you to be more hurt than you already are.”
Keenan’s face softens as he cups my cheeks. “You don’t need to worry about that, Delilah. We’re taking care of everything, but if it’ll make your job easier and make you feel better, I’ll stay upstairs during the event.”
“You’d do that for me?” He doesn’t have to, but I’m astonished he’d really do it.
“Of course. Though I’d rather be down here with you.”
My heart fills for him. If he’s willing to risk himself for me, that really means something to me. I’m not going to let him, of course. Keenan has become too important to me to allow even the possibility of him being injured again. Not to mention he’s still recovering.
“Thank you, Keenan. But no, I’m not going to make you stay upstairs.”
I turn my head to the side to kiss his palm before pulling away and continuing to search on the internet for some other alternative.
After twenty minutes of searching and two more calls to Cassie, it’s clear that there isn’t another suitable venue anywhere in Belfast. We’re stuck, and I’m left without a choice.
Keenan’s sitting on a comfortable-looking white couch across from me. He’s watching my every move as if he already knows what I’m going to say. As if he expected this outcome the entire time.
“Are you ready to admit that you need the house?”
I tighten my jaw. He doesn’t have to rub it in, for crying out loud, and if he wasn’t already injured, I’d sock a good punch right in the ribs. Right now, it would only be cruel.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I ask him.
“Maybe a little.” He adjusts his weight on the seat. “It’s not really surprising that I want to help you, is it, Delilah?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the big deal? Take my offer.”
After a deep breath, I nod. “I don’t have a choice. Thank you. We’ll use this place, but you better stay out of sight. I’m not going to be happy if you get shot again when you haven’t even recovered from the first one.”
