Page 38 of Unexpected Complication

I dropped my head into my hands.

What had I just done?

I slunk into the kitchen, silent. Sean glared at me. “What did you do?”

I shook my head.

“What. Did. You. Do.”

“I kissed her.”

He slammed down the plate he was holding. “She’s not one of your one-night stands, Cian.”

“I know that.”

“What is she?”

I looked at him, bewildered. That was the million-dollar question.

“She’s more.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“I don’t know, Sean. I just don’t know.”

“You’d better fucking figure it out. This is a dangerous game you’re playing.”

We were nose to nose, neither of us willing to give an inch. Skylar walked into the room, stopping when she saw us.

“Wow, testosterone overload in here. Break it up, boys.”

I stepped back and eyed her warily. She looked calm. Normal. Her hair was now swept up in a ponytail, and her face glowed, her skin slightly damp from being washed. She sniffed the air delicately. “Do I smell steak?”

Sean threw me one last glance and then smiled at her. “Yep.”

“Excellent. I need to get fueled up.”

“Oh?” he chuckled.

“I have to prove to this fuckwit I can take him in backgammon after dinner,” she teased as she walked past me, checking me with her hip.

“If you’re going to eat the checkers, I’m not playing with you,” I retorted, grateful she’d made the atmosphere lighter.

“Sean said he had jujubes. We can use red and black. I hate the black ones.”

I sat down with my plate and shot her a look. “So I get the red.”

She nodded.

Relieved she wasn’t acting strangely, I smiled. “Okay, you’re on.”

“Cian, may I have a drink of water?” Skylar asked as she studied the board.

We were tied—two games each—and this was the tiebreaker. She had actually behaved and was a good opponent. I hadn’t tried to talk to her or be affectionate with her. I let her set the tone and discovered she was in a teasing mood, calling me out often and talking trash, which made me laugh.

We were alone. After dinner, Sean had shoveled more snow then went to his room. I was pretty sure he had a call set up with Julia on his untraceable cell, and he was, no doubt, complaining to her about my behavior.

I grabbed a glass and filled it, placing it beside her. She took a sip silently. I hunched back over the board, already knowing my next move—the last one—and I would be the victor. I frowned. Something had changed. I looked again, then mentally counted the checkers. My move was missing.