“I want us hot, sweaty, and naked in bed,” he said. He picked me up and carried me from the sauna. I shivered when the cool air hit my skin and clasped my arms tighter around his neck, resting my heated cheek against his shoulder.
I heard my phone ring from where we’d left them outside the sauna, and I tensed. I knew who that was: my father. His attempts to contact me had ramped up. I hadn’t told Cormac how often my father was calling and texting, not wanting anything to ruin our pleasant day-to-day existence.
“What is it?” Cormac asked, slowing his stride.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” I tangled my fingers in the short hair at the nape of his neck as I pressed kisses to his collarbone. “Take me upstairs.”
He switched directions and settled on one of his barstools. “I will, but first, you need to talk to me.” I remained wrapped in his arms, safe.
I clenched my eyes shut. “It may be nothing…”
“Keelie.”
I sighed. “My father’s been calling and texting. A lot.”
Cormac raised an eyebrow. “You said it wasn’t bad.”
I had said that. Twisting my hands together, I said, “I’m…I’m managing him.”
Cormac lifted me and plopped me in the seat next to him. I bit back a whimper. I needed him right now. Rising from his chair, he walked to the fridge. He poured us both some of his freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice and divided a can of lime seltzer between the two glasses. He brought them over and set one in front of me.
“I don’t want you to deal with him alone,” Cormac said, his tone steady. “I want to help you sort this out.”
I took a long swig of my drink. “He’s still embarrassed that we’re related. I don’t want you to hear what he says.”
Cormac’s jaw clenched. “Well, now I’m even more determined to talk to him.” He rose and stepped in closer, towering over me. “Especially if he’s belittling you.”
“It’s my problem.”
“It’sourproblem.”
I shrank smaller. Cormac eased his arms on either side of me and nuzzled into my hair. “Let me in, Keelie. Dammit. I need you to let me in.”
Flinging my head back, I met his gaze. “I have. Idid. I told you I love you—I practically live here—”
“Make it official,” he said.
“W-what?”
“Move in with me. Live here. You and Slippers.”
I gawked.
“I don’t think you get how much it comforts me to know you’re here, sleeping in my bed. That you’re safe, especially now that I know your father’s harassing you.” His jaw flexed.
He wouldn’t let that go. I sucked in a breath, my heart pounding. The sauna might have left me lightheaded, but the turn this conversation had taken caused my confusion.Move in? Hand over my problems?
Then I’d become my mother. She’d never learned how to live on her own. To this day, she was still bitter and poor. I’d found pictures of her before my dad left, and she was a completely different woman—her hair and eyes shone and her smile was wide.
When my dad betrayed her, divorced her, he took away her security and her happiness. I shuddered. I remembered what he’d said then, and it wasn’t much different from what he told me now. If Cormac heard those horrible things, he might believe them, and then…
I’dbemy mother. Heartbroken. Alone.
“I…” I sucked in a breath and lifted my chin. “I’ll deal with my father.”
Cormac slammed his hand against the counter, causing me to yelp. “Dammit! Why won’t you let me help you?”
“Be-because then I’m like her,” I replied.
