"I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt."
"I figured as much." He ran his fingertip down my nose. "Don't feel you can't send her packing if she isn't sincere after all."
"Burke," Logan said warningly.
Burke turned his fierce eyes on Logan. "I dare you to say what you're thinking."
After several beats of tense silence, Logan put his hands up and backed out of the room. Jesus, Burke's raw command left me needy.
"Who wants more coffee?" Caden offered.
I turned to him gratefully. "Me, please."
"Kinsley, we'll discuss your ideas further at dinner this evening." Burke gave me another kiss to the forehead before leaving the room.
Caden didn't stick around for long, leaving me with my thoughts and the sound of Finn's swing moving back and forth.
Burke had shown me he could be a guard dog when he thought I might be threatened, even by his sister. I would give almost anything to be in the office to see if Logan had anything else to say about their exchange. Burke had a right to be mad at Anna, but I understood Logan had to defend her, too.
If we were to move forward with me by his side, would the four of us get along? I knew Caden had no problems with me, but that wasn't the same as having me work with him. I wasn't sure if Logan even liked me, or if he was respectful because of my status as his boss' wife.
I shivered at the memory of Burke's expression. So angry, but so controlled. Unmoving when it came to protecting what was his. Sexy. Feral. Hot.
He'd made it clear I belonged to him, but at what cost?
29
Kinsley
I changed my clothes before Anna was due to arrive, which felt a lot like putting on armor to prepare for battle. I also invited Maddie to come thirty minutes after Anna did, in case I felt too awkward to ask her to leave. Partly, I felt cowardly for needing backup, but I figured everyone needed a little help now and then.
Wearing slacks and my only cashmere sweater, I waited in the living room with Finn in my lap. If anything, he provided a much-needed buffer. Despite what I'd told Burke, Finn was sleeping less and was alert more during the day. I knew I would have to leave him in the care of Maddie for hours at a time if I was serious about working side by side with Burke. Added to my online classes, I wondered if I'd bitten off more than I could chew.
Interrupting my thoughts, Noah appeared in the doorway. "Excuse me, Mrs. Gallagher, but Mrs. Keller has arrived."
"Thank you, Noah. Please show her in."
Anna wore a skirt suit in a deep plum with a ruffled blouse a few shades lighter, and thinly heeled ankle boots on her feet. I had a moment to wonder if Anna even knew how to dress down before I plastered a smile on my face.
"Anna," I said, rising from the couch with my arms full of my baby. He gurgled, tugging on a strand of my hair. Finn kept me from having to decide if a handshake was acceptable or insulting.
"Kinsley." Anna paused just inside the doorway, expression uncertain.
"Have a seat." I sat back down on the couch, watching Anna perch on the very edge of an antique parlor chair.
"How's he doing?" Anna asked, nodding toward Finn.
I looked down at the round face of my angel. "He's healthy and happy."
"Good. That's good."
The air was stifled with awkwardness, but I made no attempt to change that. After all, it was up to Anna to fix what was wrong.
"So." Anna uncrossed her legs, shifting in the tiny chair before recrossing them. "I need to say a few things, but I'm not very good at eating crow."
"Okay."
"Burke made it clear he wouldn't allow me to come to the house until I made things right with you. At first, I didn't think he was sincere. I mean, who are you compared to me?"
