“Because he’s not going to be happy.” If I expect the truth out of Keenan, I have to give the truth. “I think he came over to take me to the event. He’s not going to be happy when he finds out I’m not home.”
“Why does that matter?” He takes a turn a little too fast, like he’s trying to put as much distance between us and my father.
“It doesn’t. Other than I’m going to have to explain it to him later.”
“Explain what?”
“Why you’re taking me instead of him.”
“He going to have a problem with that?” The car slows somewhat, but we haven’t arrived yet.
My heartbeat picks up as I go over the words in my head. Will he have a problem with it? Yes absolutely. His old ideas of who might be appropriate for me and who isn’t aren’t going away any time soon.
Do I care about his ideas? No. No, I don’t. I’m a grown woman and can make my own decisions, but my father isn’t just my father. He’s technically my boss and can make my life a living hell if he wants to. I don’t think he’ll want to, but the potential is still there.
“My father has old ideas,” is what I tell him. Explaining everything right now . . . we don’t have the time.
“Ah.” Keenan pulls into the driveway, though not out front where the others are arriving. He took us around the back part of the house near the garage. Makes sense. This is his house, after all. “So he’ll be cranky that you’re not with one of his rich, well-bred friends’ sons then?”
I bite down onto my bottom lip, not wanting to admit that he’s hit the nail on the head. But I don’t need to confirm it with him. My non-answer is enough.
His jaw tightens as he looks out onto the grounds. “That a problem for you? That I grew up poor and had to do a lot of things to make sure my siblings’ bellies were full.”
Not that I can answer easily. “Of course, it doesn’t bother me. I don’t care about any of that, Keenan. Anything that deals with upbringing or money, that’s all him.” I take a breath but make no move to leave the car. “In fact, I prefer it. The men who’ve grown up with money think they’re entitled to things. I don’t want someone who thinks they’re entitled to me. I want someone to want me, not that they want to get in good with my father.”
Keenan nods slowly. “Good. Good. Because I couldn’t give a fuck at all about your father.” Then he hops out of the car as quickly as his words came from his mouth. A huge smile forms on my face.
More than once in my teen years, boys of privilege tried to date me because they thought if they could get with me, then one day marry me, my father would bring them into his empire. It was never about me yet here with Keenan, it’s only about me.
The door to the car is pulled open, and as I try to temper my face in hopes that he won’t know exactly what I’ve been thinking, I climb out.
Keenan settles his hand on my lower back as he leads me into the house. Then he takes the small purse with the promise that he’ll put it in a safe place and gently kisses my cheek. He takes the stairs two at a time to let me get the work done that I need to do. He’ll come back, he says, and I don’t doubt him for a second.
I dread the time that I’ll have to explain things to my father, but I know it won’t be tonight. Even he wouldn’t cause a scene at a fundraiser for his own charity. That feeling gets pushed down until I almost don’t notice it.
Not even my father is going to dampen my enthusiasm for tonight.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
KEENAN
Ileft Delilah alone a bit ago so I could put her purse upstairs in my bedroom. The entire second floor is off limits to guests, as are a couple other areas of the estate. There’s no need for anyone to be snooping around or going into the private quarters, so I doubt anyone will complain, but regardless they don’t need to be in specific areas of the house.
Delilah’s obviously been running amuck down here, smiling and chatting with the donors. She’s planning on squeezing everyone’s pockets, and it makes me damn proud of her. She truly prides herself in the work she does for the charity, and their mission means a lot to her. Many women in her position would’ve tried to ride their parents’ coattails through life, relying on their parents to support their lifestyle, but not Delilah. She’s never been the type. She’s always been doing something. Ever since we were kids, she’s been this way. I remember when we went to church as children and they’d try to involve us kids in fundraising, they wanted our ideas. Delilah would pitch bake sales or dinners we could prepare. Little did any of us know that was only the beginning of it all.
Staring across the room, Delilah smiles brightly at a woman dressed in a neon pink dress. I don’t know what they’re discussing, but Delilah’s lips are moving at an alarming rate, which means the woman is working. I smile to myself, and Delaney comes over to me. Her hair is naturally curly, though I can tell she tamed her curls down a bit for the event. They bounce as she approaches, and I haven’t seen this little girl smile like this in years. Well, woman. She’s not a little girl anymore. As her older brother, I think I’ll always imagine Delaney playing with dolls on the living room floor.
“Well, you look rather sharp this evening,” Delaney comments, looking over my entire ensemble.
“And you look beautiful, baby sister,” I comment as I pull her in for a hug and kiss on the cheek.
As I release her, Delaney does a bit of a spin and giggles. “We’re so lucky to have a cousin for a fashion designer. I feel like a princess at a ball,”
We were able to get clothing from our cousin’s collection, which still shocks me. Since discovering we’re related, the entire Mackenzie family has been nothing but kind to us. Most people in these situations would be worried we’d try to make some sort of claim for power, but not Liam. If you ask me, anyone who wants to be the head of a crime family is insane. Then again, this is all so new to me. I don’t know where to even start with how my life has changed since meeting him.
“You do look as pretty as a princess, that’s for sure.” I can’t help but compliment her. Delaney has never been able to dress up like this, so to see her having so much fun is an absolute delight.
“I’d have to agree.” Eamon comes up beside me, and Delaney wraps her arms around Eamon. They’ve always had a great connection, ever since she was a toddler. Delaney isn’t a very vocal woman, and she wasn’t as a child either. She’d be the one with her head in a book or outside reading a magazine. Keeva’s the social butterfly of the family, but when Delaney is outgoing, it’s typically with members of the family.
