“Oh, I’m doing very well, thank you. And you?”
“I’m fit as a fiddle,” Fiona replies. Since they’ve been in town, she and Tom have worked at the pub almost every day, Tom pulling taps and Fiona in the kitchen. They said it’s like old times. “What can I get you?”
I read her the order, then clip the paper to the little metal stand so she can reference it if she needs to before turning to leave.
But then I turn back to her. “Fiona?”
“Yes, dear.”
I want to ask some questions about Keegan. I want to ask what he was like as a child and so much more.
But at the end of the day, it’s none of my business.
So, I shake my head. “It’s nothing. I’ll be back in a few.”
Fiona waves me off, and I return to the bar. I’ve just approached a table to take their order, when I hear my name being called from across the room.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
No.
My fears are realized when I turn around and see my mother standing by the bar. And next to her is Troy’s mother.
Both glare daggers at me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as I approach them.
“We’re here to collect you,” Mom replies. “Get your things. Let’s go.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I see Keegan approach out of the corner of my eye, but I hold my hand up to stop him. He has no idea the wrath these women would rain down on him if he dared to interrupt.
“Oh, yes you are,” Mom says. “You’re coming home. You’ve had your little vacation. Now it’s time for you to get back to your life. You need to ask Troy to take you back and make things right, Izzy.”
“No.”
“He’ll forgive you,” Lita insists. “My son isn’t unreasonable. Just explain to him that you got nervous, and that you’re better now. He’ll be fine.”
“Absolutely not.”
I turn to walk away, but my mother grabs my arm and spins me back around.
“That’s exactly what you’ll do. You’re finished embarrassing this family. We will plan a new wedding, and you’ll marry Troy.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t plan the first wedding. I didn’t even pick out my dress. I hated that thing. In fact, until I walked out of that wedding, I’d never done what I wanted a day in my life.”
“So, what? You’re just going to leave? Your father will unfreeze your assets and move a million dollars into your account tonight. You’ll have your lifestyle back. You and Troy can move into the beautiful home he’s having built.”
“I don’t want any money. I’m making my own money. And I don’t care about the lifestyle. I certainly don’t want Troy.”
“You listen to me.” Mom gets in my face, her breaths coming fast with anger. “You get your pathetic little ass in that car and go home with us, or you’ll never see me again. Troy is the best man you could ever hope to marry.”
“He hit me!” I yell at her, right in her face. “He fucking hit me, Mother. And now I’ve learned he’s most likely been fucking anything with two legs for a long damn time. I’m not a punching bag—literally or otherwise.”
“That’s just how men are,” Mom says, pure pity in her expression. “They cheat, and they’ll smack you around if you step out of line. But the lifestyle and the perks are worth it.”
“No. Not to me. I don’t want to be you, Mom. I won’t be you. Ever.”
“You ungrateful little bitch.”
“Whoa, now.” Fiona steps in, all five feet of her, her face red with fury. “We don’t speak to our children that way where I come from. Izzy has said her piece. She’s a grown woman, with the choice to stay or go.”
Mom doesn’t even spare Fiona a glance before she spins and marches out of the bar.
Lita’s face is white as she crosses to me.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t raise my boy to be like that. And neither did his father. Your dad might act like that, and your mother is numb to it, and callous about it, but we don’t behave that way in our family. I’m sorry that happened to you. And I’m so glad you’ve moved on. Good luck to you, Izzy.”
Lita leaves, and I turn around to find the pub perfectly quiet, all eyes on me.
Without thinking, I turn and run through the bar and up the back staircase to Keegan’s apartment. I can’t believe that just happened, and in front of all those people. People I’ve come to care about and even love.
Keegan charges in right behind me, and I spin around when the door closes.
“I’m so sorry. I know I don’t live here anymore, and that this isn’t appropriate, but I had to get out of there. I’m just so embarrassed.”
He shakes his head. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Isabella. That was the strongest, sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”
He immediately crosses to me, frames my face in his hands, and lowers his mouth to mine. This isn’t a gentle or comforting kiss.
It’s lust-filled and possessive and knocks me back on my heels. I have to hold onto his arms so I don’t fall on my ass.
Keegan’s lips are soft but confident as they roam over mine. His hands glide down my arms and snake around to my ass, holding on tightly.
I hear myself moan against his mouth as I lean into him and plunge my fingers into his thick, dark hair.
Finally, after a few long moments of being locked together, Keegan pulls back so we can both catch our breath.
“I’m not sorry about that.”
“Good. It would suck if you were.”
“I’ve wanted to kiss you for weeks.” He swallows hard and tips his forehead to mine. “It’s been hell keeping my hands to myself.”
“Why did you?”
“You were a stranger. What if you decided to go back home and get married? What if you were a con artist? What if you sued me for sexual harassment?” His accent is driving me wild.
“None of those things will happen.”
“And thank Christ for it.”
Chapter 5
~Keegan~
Now that I’ve started kissing her, I never want to stop. I didn’t lie before. It was hell staying away from her all these weeks, telling myself that helping her out was enough.
But it wasn’t nearly enough.
Listening to her laugh, watching her silly dance when she’s eating something delicious, and being near her all the time, day in and day out, slowly killed me inside. I thought it would be easier on me when she moved in with Maggie. That I might start to lose interest. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.
I was wrong. I’ve missed having her in the flat, and I still see her almost every day. There is no out of sight, out of mind.
And tonight, when she stood in my pub and was strong enough to stand up to her mother, it only intensified my attraction to her.
No, she has nothing at all to be embarrassed about.
“I guess we should go back to work,” she murmurs. For the first time in as long as I can remember, work is the last thing on my mind.