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“Yes, it is. Amelia, you have been the same way since we were children. This situation with Erin is serious. I’m not disputing that, but you must admit, you’ve fought it the whole way. Since you met Erin, you have been the one to come up with all the worst-case scenarios.”

“Um, look around, Lucille, I was right to worry.”

“Worry, yes, but you’re doing more than that. I heard Erin just a minute ago. She was right to put you in your place. You can’t dictate to her. You can’t take this on like it’s your problem alone. Amelia, your whole family has been trying to help for years but you’ve resisted, convinced the worst was preordained. You are making this harder.”

Am I?

“I like Erin. She won’t allow you to get away with it.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Let people in Amelia. Let us help.”

“I have!”

“Only when you literally collapsed.”

Okay, she’s got me there, I suppose. I exhale. My body is wracked with fatigue. I don’t think I had a minute of sleep last night. “I don’t know what to do, Luce.”

“Yes, you do. You’re going to Ireland. You’ll find this vamp and gather as much information as possible. And…”

I don’t like where this is going.

“You’ll have us all there to support you.”

My head whips up. “I’m sorry, what now?”

“That’s the real reason I came up here. Obviously, I wanted to check on Erin but also to tell you that mother has ordered the family to prepare for a trip to Ireland.”

“Why?” I screech.

“As I said, Amelia, to help and support. Anyway, it’s been ages since the Lochs had a family vacation.”

“We all went to Vegas last year,” I protest.

“Yes, but we’ve never been to the Emerald Isle.”

“But—”

“Why are you even trying to argue? Mother has spoken, end of discussion. Get packed and make up with Erin.”

Lucille flounces out of the room. I hate it when she gets the last word. Scrubbing my hands down my face, for what feels like the millionth time, I take a breath. I need to stop fighting the help being offered. And I know I need to look for the positive in all this. I have to, for Erin.

“Shower’s free, babe,” Erin calls from the bathroom. I pad over, slinking in just in time to see Erin towel herself off. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how beautiful she is. My carnal urge is to get her against the sink and plunge my fingers into her until she screams, but the fear that overwhelms me a second later stops me yet again. I quickly shed my clothes and jump under the hot stream of water.

Erin leaves me alone. Flicking a switch on the panel by the tap, I wait for music to flood my bathroom. My head is a hive of questions, and I desperately need a few minutes of respite.

The soothing voice of Eva Cassidy lulls me into a serene state of mind. I wash my hair and body, feeling invigorated once again. Stepping out of the shower, I let my body sway to the rhythm as I dry myself off.

“My God you’re sexy,” Erin says. My eyes open to find her grinning at me devilishly as she scours my body, her hunger for me clear in those expressive eyes.

I give her a wink, but nothing more. Walking up to her, I peck her on the cheek and head to my closet. Dressing, I continue on as if nothing is out of the ordinary. Which it is. Before last night, I would have taken Erin up against the door as soon as I spotted her looking at me. Now? I can’t do it.

“Are you packed?” I ask.

“No, I literally just got out of the shower,” she laughs.

“Well, we best get to it. Apparently, the family is coming along now.” I roll my eyes.