“Then that’s all I need.”
He ended the call as Sean pulled away from the curb. When he opened his eyes again, Reagan held up her phone, the three giant red zeroes blinking at him, tempting him. “Do I call Tiernan?”
There was some part of him, that dark, monstrous part he’d warned Lorenzo about that wanted to tell her no. To let his cousins do what they did best. Knowing that the DeLucas had so easily tried to take out his woman, his child…
It would serve them right.
But he could clearly see Aria, staring at him with those wide, disappointed eyes, and he knew that no matter how pissed she might be right now, she’d never forgive him if he did this in her name.
“Make the call.”
And as he listened to his sister assuring their cousin that everything was fine and they could pack up and go home, he could only pray he wasn’t letting love blind him to what needed to be done.
Chapter Thirty-One
Aria
“Really, I’m fine.”
Glancing up from the tablet in her hand where she’d been entering what Aria considered to be far too many notes for the given situation, Dr. Naomi Winters smiled. Not a cold, professional smile or even one meant to reassure, but rather a smile that said she knew something Aria didn’t.
“Aria, I’ve been the O’Rourke family’s personal physician for five years. Trust me when I tell you that I know better than anyone what happens when you get on their bad side. So if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to do my job, and I’m going to do it thoroughly, so that your boyfriend doesn’t have any reason to be pissed at me.”
Okay, she could admit that was probably fair. But still. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the door to the exam room flew open and Killian stormed inside, looking every bit like some dark angel set on revenge. His eyes locked on hers, and her heart stopped in her chest at the fury blazing in the brilliant green.
Without so much as a word or a look for anyone else in the room, he strode forward, cupping Aria’s face in his hands as his lips crashed down on hers. And then she was drowning in him, in want and need and something else too terrifyingly large to name.
“Right,” Dr. Winters mumbled. “Clearly not your boyfriend.”
Ignoring her, Killian lifted his head, his gaze still burning as his thumbs stroked along her cheekbones. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he murmured.
The need to soothe, to comfort rose up in her and she laid a hand over his, not taking her eyes from his. “You couldn’t have known.”
“I should have been more careful with you.”
“Killian, you had me kidnapped so you could lock me in your house and keep me under a twenty-four-seven guard. You’ve been more than careful.”
From the other side of the room came a loud snort. “And you told me my books were bullshit.”
Suddenly remembering their audience consisted of more than just Dr. Winters, Aria cleared her throat as she pulled free of Killian’s grasp. “Ah, Killian, meet Goldie Quinn, the author I went to meet today.”
To his credit, Killian simply smiled at the woman standing in the corner beside Brody, a smug smile on her face. “It’s lovely to meet you, Ms. Quinn.”
“Goldie, please. And it’s very… interesting to meet you, Mr. O’Rourke.”
“Killian.”
Goldie’s smile brightened several watts. “Killian.”
“Not to seem rude, but why, exactly, are you here?” Killian asked, an edge to his tone that had Aria jabbing a finger in his side. Not that he paid any attention to her, the jerk.
Despite being in a room with two very powerful, very dangerous men, Goldie just continued to smile. “Aria was at my signing when she was attacked, which makes her my responsibility. I wanted to come along and ensure she’s unharmed.”
“Translation, she’s a nosy brat who doesn’t take no for an answer,” Brody growled, his scowl deepening.
Seemingly unperturbed by Brody’s observation, or his dark mood, Goldie lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “That, too.”
