“You’re being so ridiculous.”
“Am I? Am I the one being ridiculous, or is it you? Sheesh, I never knew I had to prepare myself for the fact that my dad might come to town and steal my girl away from me.”
Now, I couldn’t help but laugh. “I literally just told you he wasn’t going to steal me.”
“You did, which makes me worry he just might. You wouldn’t have said it if the option wasn’t there.”
I reached over the center console and set my hand on his arm. “Kieran, you’re the one who kept me safe. You opened my eyes. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Nothing and no one will take me away from you.” I rubbed his arm a bit, then sighed.
Kieran sighed too, but his sigh was mostly a groan. “I have the feeling this isn’t going to be the end of it, is it?”
Pulling my hand off his arm, I sounded way too innocent when I asked, “Whatever do you mean?”
The look he sent me after that told me it all. He knew this thing between his dad and me wasn’t finished—it wouldn’t be finished until this whole thing was over and Jason had nothing left keeping him here. Then he’d leave and never look back.
It was a long, quiet drive to my house. We pulled up the driveway, and Kieran shut off his vehicle, angling his body toward mine. “Listen, I know I fucked up by not telling you right away who he was to me.”
“It’s all right. You were probably just in shock or something—”
“Yeah, but… there are no secrets between us anymore,” he said, emphasizing that last bit. “I should’ve told you. I should’ve been as open about who he was as much as you were about finding him attractive.” He made a face, but plowed on regardless. “Let me make it up to you Friday night. Just you and me. I found a nice, deserted place where we could… have a little chase, if you wanted.”
As he said it, I couldn’t believe it. I knew he mentioned being out of town the other night looking for said places, but he didn’t say he actually had found one. The possibility of a hunt, of a chase, of him donning his devil mask again, filled me with a level of excitement nothing else could.
“I would love that,” I said, my full heart behind it. Maybe someday all my guys could give chase, not just Kieran—but I wouldn’t mention that idea to him just yet. Telling him I thought his dad was hot was probably enough emotional trauma to inflict upon the poor guy for the day.
“Great. Then I’ll pick you up at seven. Make sure to wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.” He gave me a lazy wink and then leaned over the car to get to me, his mouth finding mine.
I brought my hands to his face, holding onto him, making the embrace last. I kissed him hard, let his tongue push past my lips and meet mine, igniting a fire deep within me. We both had something to prove: me that I still loved him even though I found Jason sexy as hell, and he wanted to remind me I didn’t need another dick in my life.
To which, logically, I’d say he was right. Three boyfriends was already a lot. But then, when you thought about it like that, would four really be so different?
I didn’t know how long we kissed. It probably bordered on a make-out session. We were both out of breath by the time he pulled his mouth off mine, and I expected him to make a witty comment or something, but he went and said something totally off-brand for him: “Shit.” His dark eyes widened somewhat, and it took me a few moments to realize he was staring at something behind me.
Or, rather, someone standing just outside the car.
I turned away from Kieran to see who it was.
My dad.Shitwas right.
“I guess it’s time to break the news to the poor man,” he deadpanned. “Or you get out of the car and play it off like nothing happened and he didn’t see a thing. I don’t think it’ll work, but weirder things have happened today.”
I tossed him a look as I unbuckled. I hoped that look said it all. As I got out of the car, I forced out a smile as I met my dad’s frowning face. He stood a few feet away from the car, wearing a tan suit with a light blue tie. The look he was currently giving me said it all, and my “Hey, Dad” came out super flat and guilty.
“Laina,” he started, only breaking eye contact with me when Kieran got out of his car. “And Kieran. Is there anything you two want to tell me? Anything that might’ve slipped your mind before?”
“Vance,” Kieran greeted him as he walked around the car and stood at my side. “Good to see you again. How’s things? Hear my sister’s back. That sucks—”
“Cut it,” he hissed out. “Let’s take this inside. You two have a lot of explaining to do, and I suddenly need a drink.” Without another word, my dad turned around and led us to the front door, which hung open.
I discreetly checked the time as Kieran and I trailed after him. It was early enough that he should still be at work, so I had to assume he’d gotten off a bit early to check in on me, make sure I was settling in well enough—to which I’d say, I hadn’t been gone that long. The house was the exact same, minus all of Tessa’s crap.
Man, my luck was just awful lately, huh?
Kieran and I joined my dad in the lounge, where he poured himself a glass of something strong. He did not offer anything to Kieran, not that I thought he would. He drank that short glass in two sips and then poured himself another, as if he had to numb himself before we told him what was going on.
He wasn’t stupid. He saw us kissing. He already knew. That liquor was just a bandage that ultimately wouldn’t make him feel better.
“So,” my dad started, moving to collapse in the nearest lounge chair. “How long has this been going on? Tell me it wasn’t happening when you were living under this roof.” That was thrown at Kieran.
