Page 59 of Broken Blood Ties

“I’m all right,” she responds quickly. Too quickly.

I tilt my head, watching a glistening bead of sweat pool at her hairline. She’s hiding something. There’s something wrong, and I’ll be damned if I don’t do something.

Releasing her, she twists at the spot my hand was, and backpedals over to where Aoife is sitting.

“Well, I don’t want to keep you from your big boat day with your dad. I was just on my way to … I’m headed out, too.” Summer chews on the inside of her cheek.

“Come with us!” Aoife shouts, and the cat hisses when Aoife jumps up.

“Oh! Um, no I don’t think?—”

“Ye should,” I blurt out.

Summer’s expression morphs. “Really. I’m sorry, but I have to go.” She reaches for her backpack.

“Please, Miss Summer. I promise you’ll have fun.” Aoife begs, her lower lip covering her top in a pout.

Summer looks like she’s ready to burst into tears.

“Aoife, can ye go stand with Finn for a minute. Let me speak with Miss Smith.”

Aoife nods, whispering “Please, oh, please” over and over to herself as she walks to Finn.

“I’m not sure what ye’re trying to get away from, but ye’d be safe on me boat.” I allow myself to focus on her tangled hair, thrown into a messy ponytail. Pieces fall into her worn-down face, and while Summer is beautiful either way, I can tell she’s not wearing any makeup.

Her eyes well with tears, and something in me cracks. I’m not sure I’d let her go in this state, whether or not she wanted to. The desire to take away the pain so viciously etched into her face is shocking to my system, but at the same time it feels natural. Normal.

“Kieran … I … I can’t. I need to go.”

“I see ye’re still not over that wholebeing difficultphase.” I crack a smirk at her, willing her to play with me.

I nearly sigh out loud when she quips back, “And it seems you’re still stuck in thebeing unbearablephase.”

Grinning, I reach up to swipe one of her tears that’s fallen over her cheek. I swear she leans into me, into my touch. “I can take ye anywhere ye need to go afterward. Why don’t ye come eat with us, get a shower, take a beat. I can help, Summer.”

Several more tears squeeze out from underneath where her eyelids have fluttered closed.

“Ye’d be safe. No harm will come to ye while ye’re with me.”

She considers for a second and then nods.

I gesture toward the marina. “We’re this way.”

Summer grabs her backpack, and the cat I’ve now just remembered will be coming with us. Aoife leaps toward Summer, grabbing her hand and twirling around underneath her arm.

Summer laughs, glancing over her shoulder at Finn, who’s smiling back at her.

I glare at him, and he averts his gaze.

“That’s Finn,” Aoife tells Summer. “He works for my dad.”

“Does he now?” Summer nudges Aoife.

Again, I scowl at Finn. His blond hair, brown eyes, chiseled baby face. I rub the spot on my Henley over my chest—was this a good idea? My daughter’s teacher. So much younger than me and tempting with that witty mouth of hers. I need to make sure she’s okay. That’s all.

We move down the marina’s dock. I spot Tadhg, my captain, standing in front of my yacht.

“Good day, sir,” he says as we approach, and Summer looks at him, then back at me. When Finn deviates from the dock to the ramp leading up to the yacht, she stops dead in her tracks while Aoife runs up after him.