"I'm not bloody spoiled."
He was seriously nettled.
"You are."
She persisted.
"And not accustomed to women saying no to you. I refused to go out with you on principle."
"I see. You were merely trying to prove a point."
"That too. Oh, come on Oscar, it was a year ago, you cannot still be cut up about it."
"Can't I?"
He gave her a haughty look that had her biting back a smile.
"You led me on a merry chase. I wanted to wring your pretty little neck when I finally caught up with you."
Shifting so that she was on top of him, she cupped his face between her palms.
"You've learned to appreciate the hell out of me."
He struggled to remain aloof but failed. Her body was pressing on his and had desire shooting through him again.
"I'll be mad with you later on."
He promised. Dragging her head down, he closed his mouth on hers.
Chapter 4
It was a military burial site. One dedicated to those who had spent time in active services. Keith Landan had been an Army captain for eight years. Had left straight from high school to go into the service. It was during that time he had achieved his library degree.
It wasn't his birthday or the anniversary of his death. She had just felt the urge to come and pay him a visit. The summer air was brisk on her skin. The scent of pine and oak trees lingered. The patches of grass had been recently cut.
Kiara passed a couple kneeling in front of a tombstone, clasping hands and thought fleetingly that she should have asked Oscar to accompany her. He would have too. And if he heard she had come by herself, he would be hurt that she hadn't included him.
She paused briefly to the sounds of weeping. Looking across to the left, she witnessed a woman in her mid-fifties clutching some posies and sitting on the side of the grave, her face washed with tears.
It occurred to her then as it had done so many times after her father's death, that the living are expected to go on without their loved ones as if it were business as usual. Not wanting to intrude, she hurried on, not stopping until she reached her father's grave.
'Loving husband, father & friend.' Sorely missed.'
The words had come from her of course. Her mother had not cared one whit about the sentiment or what should be written on the headstone. Lowering herself, she used a handkerchief she had brought with her to get rid of the dirt and placed the bouquet of red and pale pink roses she had brought with her.
Lifting a hand, she trailed a finger over the letters that spelt out his name. Keith Anthony Landan. Loving dad indeed. Memories of him lifting her high over his head and spinning her, made her heart ache.
He would have been thrilled at the prospect of becoming a granddad.
She could just hear him now in that soft voice of his, well suited to a librarian. "Honey, now you're going to have to eat properly, mostly vegetables and fruits. Be sure to get in your protein."
Moving over, she rested her head on the cold stone and felt her eyes burning.
"Daddy. I'm pregnant with twins." She sniffed. "Can you believe it? I can't. I'm involved. That's something I cannot believe either.He's a wonderful man. It took me a while to figure it out. He's the real deal, even though he's dripping with money."
She smiled as she imagined what Oscar would have to say about that. "He's warm and attentive and he loves me. A man like him and I know what you would say, that I'm beautiful and he's fortunate to be with me. But it's true. He's tall, dark and handsome. Irish handsome."
"With dense black hair and winter green eyes. His laugh is free and full. He can afford to be like that because he was brought up into a loving home. His parents still hold hands." Her breath hitched. "Daddy, I'm sorry your love was not returned."
