Page 59 of Solar Shadows

I liked being there for her. I loved her more than anything in the world. And I’d been a dickhead to have kept my relationship with Ben going after he’d spewed such bullcrap about her. That’s why Isaac’s outburst rubbed me the wrong way, my protectiveness on immediate alert.

But Isaac wasn’t like Ben. Isaac was…a good man. Yeah, a good man I couldn’t get out of my head.

Those damn sparks…

Ben never really knew me or cared to understand me or my family. He didn’t care less about the hole my dad left in the world.

Mum pulled back, turning away. “Sorry, son.”

“Never be sorry, Mum.”

She slapped a smiley face on and inspected me again. “Are you alright doing this?”

“Yep.”

“You don’t have to. I can ask one of the Brambles.”

“I’m good, Mum. Really.”

I didn’t know why, but I wanted to do it, to be close to Isaac. The thought of anyone else driving him into town got a big nope from me.

Sparky sparky sparks…

“Stay close to him,” Mum said. “I’m worried. Ideally, I’d like him to tell this agent of his no.”

“Get him to cancel, then,” I suggested.

Mum shook her head. “There could be too many legal problems for him.”

What a shame there wasn’t a spell to settle a superstar model’s potential legal issues.

“I’ll look after him,” I answered a bit too softly.

In the professional way,I added in my head.

Just because I’d seen another glimpse of vulnerability in him today, didn’t mean I’d start making puppy dog eyes at him. Whatever feelings bubbled down in the darkest parts of my core would stay there.

Really?

Mum cleared her throat. “I know his fuse is short, but he has a heart of gold. They both do. This is a lot for them, and they have dealt with it exceptionally. Much different to their predecessors. Juliet would be proud of her boys.”

I nodded slowly, facing the mirror. “Let’s hope this meeting doesn’t drag on too long.”

There was another one tomorrow with those Hot Candy people.

“Make thatbothmeetings,” I tossed out.

“Indeed, son. Indeed.” She spoke with unease.

“Are you sure we can’t say bollocks to any legal threats?”

She shook her head, coming up to my right side. “Not for the time being.” She faced me, adjusting my black tie. “There. Fit to protect a superstar.”

“I think he’d end up protecting me first,” I said.

And save me with his healing touch…

Mum chuckled, the sound of heavy rain pounding the bedroom window moments later.