Page 43 of Broken Blood Ties

“He’s not going to like this.”

A cough, then. “Well, he’s not due back for two days.”

“You coming?” Aoife’s voice sounds from the top of the stairs, and I jump, moving up them.

Family portraits line the wall, but I stomp out the curiosity to look at them until I reach the top where there’s a portrait of Kieran holding a beautiful baby. Aoife. Just the two of them.

He’s younger looking, but I don’t miss the tired lines around his eyes, through his smile. I linger, gazing into those deep forest-green eyes. Was it always just the two of them? Does he want something more? A family? Someone to share his life with …

Thoughts I shouldn’t have invade my mind, and I shake my head. He’s one of the most handsome men I’ve met. I’m sure he has his choice of woman. If there isn’t anyone in the picture, it’s because he wants it that way.

At the top of the stairs there’s a closed door to my left, and I pause wondering if that’s his room. After that there’s a hallway with several rooms to the right, and Aoife bounds down it with fresh pajamas in her hand.

She shows me her bathroom, where I help her brush her teeth at the double sinks. There are two antique mirrors that hang above each one, and my heart almost bursts when I catch our reflection as I brush out her tangled hair.

Changed, and ready for bed, Aoife grabs her two books and hops under her blankets. Sitting on her bed, I read both to her, twice, before her little lashes close with the heaviness of sleep. I turn on her dancing star light next to her bed, then on my way to the door, I switch off the main light.

Before I can shut the door, she whispers, “Can you stay?”

I smile at her as she sits back up in bed. I shouldn’t. I’ve overstayed as it is and who knows what Kieran will do when he finds out I’ve played house with his nanny and daughter for half a day.

But Aoife’s subsequent pouty, “Please!” does me in, and I walk back over to sit on her bed, back against the headboard while Aoife lies back down on her pillow next to me.

“Good night, Miss Smith.”

“Miss Summer is fine, Aoife,” I say, and she giggles.

“Does Cormac always call you little bug?”

“Uh-huh. Nanny Allie calls me that.” She yawns, and I smooth down her hair and wrap my arms around her little body.

“My nanny used to call me a nickname, too,” I say.

“You had a nanny?”

“I did. I’m not sure I appreciated her as much as I should’ve. Butyournanny, Allie, seems like such a great nanny. You’re a lucky one.”

Aoife nods, and I sit there listening to each of her breaths slow and even out into a restful sleep. But instead of moving, I lean my head back, watching the dancing stars floating across the walls and ceiling.

Memories of my nanny taking care of me while I was sick lull me to sleep, and the last words playing in my head are hers.

It’s okay, sweet girl.

Chapter14

Kieran

The drive back to Boston is slick, snowy roads glistening under the streetlights, and I fight my car as it pulls toward several snowdrifts. My hands tightly grip the wheel of my Audi, eyes straining to see through the flurries falling on the icy pavement.

I hadn’t planned on coming back to Boston for another two days, but when Allie messaged me saying Aoife was sick and that she, too, was coming down with something, I knew I had to leave.

Meeting with Luka was necessary, but that still doesn’t stop the guilt gnawing at my insides.

When I pull into the driveway, I notice all three security men on patrol, and I nod at them as the black gate glides open and I pull my car in and around to park. Then, I jog to the back door, leaving my duffel in the car.

The door’s unlocked which is odd, but I plow through it anyway, halting at Cormac eating a piece of pie at the island.

“Hey, Boss.”