God, what a question. I look right into Keenan’s arctic blue eyes. “I’m praying I’m wrong, but I don’t know if I’m going to be. I hired a friend who’s an accountant to go through the books. She works with other charities, as well as major corporations. If anyone can get down to the bottom of it, I’m sure it’ll be her, and I trust her. If something shady has happened in Knitted Hearts, I want to know about it, and I want to know about it soon.”
“It’s understandable, and I’m sure you will get the answers you seek. Do you want to talk about this a bit more, or do you want to relax for a while?”
“I don’t think I want to talk about it anymore. It’ll absorb our entire night if I let it.”
“Okay, so how about we take this bottle with us and head upstairs? Since tomorrow’s Saturday, I’m assuming you’re not working.”
“You’d be correct.”
“Perfect. We’ll finish this bottle while we enjoy a movie of your choice. I’ll hold you close while we snack on some food, and we’ll wake up in the morning and have breakfast. But after breakfast, I’m going to take you somewhere special, some place I think you’ll absolutely adore.”
“Keenan.” He knows I hate surprises.
“I promise it’ll be a good surprise. It’ll take your mind off everything, and you need that more than anything right now.”
CHAPTERTWENTY
KEENAN
Ididn’t tell her this last night, but I’m not shocked. Not in the slightest. If anything shady is going on at Knitted Hearts, I’m confident her father knows everything about it. I don’t want to be so blunt in front of Delilah because this man is her father. I know she holds some sort of love for him, even if he’s the world’s biggest arse. I won’t ever like him, but I don’t have to. The only thing that matters to me is if he’s good to her. My father wasn’t active in my life. I never thought it affected me much, but the reality is it did. If I could go back to my childhood, I wish I would’ve had a father that was there for me somewhat. I bet it would’ve been better, but I can’t change this type of shite now. So, I’ll encourage her to keep a relationship with a man I don’t like in the least bit, because I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the road. It’s not a bridge she should burn yet, not unless she has to.
We’re both in bed, and Delilah’s head lays against my chest. I have an arm wrapped around her, and sheets cover both of our bodies. Her breathing is relaxed, which is a change. For most of the night, she was talking in her sleep, showing me how her stress sticks with her. I wish I could force her to relax, but things aren’t that easy. After breakfast, I’ll take her somewhere special, a place I only recently discovered and one I plan on spending quite a bit of time at.
I run my hand over her shoulder and slowly scoot out of bed. I need a shower to wake myself up, so I rise from bed and head for the bathroom. I go over to the hamper and take off every item of clothing, dropping them inside. I head over to the shower and turn on the hot water. There’s a washcloth and a towel on a bar outside of the shower, so I step inside and let the hot water wash against my skin.
I shut my eyes and breathe in and out slowly. It’s a morning ritual for me, to take my time and wake up. Only, as a pair of hands wrap around me, I know this won’t be quite the same. I turn around and look into Delilah’s hazel eyes. They’re a gorgeous mixture of the deep brown color of her hair and a granny apple green.
“Good morning,mo stöirin. Did you sleep well?”
Delilah licks her lips and nods, but I notice a bit of red spread across her cheeks. “Better than ever, but I was with you.”
“Awe, aren’t you being sweet, and before coffee too.” I cackle.
Delilah shoves me, but the smile spreading across her face makes it all worth it. “It was nice to be snuggled up with you all night long.”
“I agree. We need to do it more often.” She’s stayed over a few times, but nothing consistent. I’d love for Delilah to be in my bed a few nights a week at least. Whenever she’s near, I feel complete.
“That would be nice,” Delilah comments with a sweet smile.
“Perfect, so stay tonight too?”
“Keenan, I haven’t even left yet.”
“So? I don’t want you to. Go back home on Monday. I’ll need to give you a ride to work on Monday anyway, considering your car’s at the office.” It’ll be a plus for me if her father happens to be there. I want him to watch me bring her into the building. Hell, I want him to see me kiss her as I walk her into her office.
“I don’t have enough clothes,” Delilah murmurs.
“So, we’ll go get you some today.” I’ve never been in the position to go out and buy a girlfriend some clothes. Luckily, I’m not in the same position I was a year ago, which is a bonus. I don’t have to budget paying electric, or buying Delaney school supplies. If this were a year ago, I would’ve had to do that already. Now I can just take my girlfriend out on a shopping spree if I feel the need.
“Keenan, you don’t have to do that. I—”
“I’m very well aware that I don’t have to do anything. But I want to. So, we’ll go out and grab you some clothes. Maybe you can even keep them here for the nights you stay, if you want?”
Delilah parts her lips, and I think I’ve rendered her speechless.
“I want you to be with me more, Delilah. I was thinking about it earlier this morning.”
“You’re not asking me to move in with you, right? ‘Cause that might be a little too soon for me.” She nervously laughs, and a smirk tugs at my lips.
