Chapter 16
Kori
I hear Kane talking to Declan on the phone as I tidy the kitchen, and I can’t help the smirk that spreads on my lips when I hear him say, “Hiding from you.”
From what I can tell, their relationship is definitely more hate than love.
I look at him and see his face immediately tensing at whatever Declan is saying on the other end. The conversation seems heated, with Kane mostly listening while occasionally running his hand through his hair in frustration.
While he’s distracted with the call, I head upstairs to get dressed appropriately.
No more sweatpants if I’m going to be meeting his family again—this time by choice rather than circumstance.
I pull on jeans and a sweater, then reach for my inhaler on the bedside table.
My asthma has been relatively stable lately, but the cold swim last night and all the excitement have my chest feeling a bit tight this morning.
I take two puffs, holding my breath for the count of ten before slowly exhaling. The familiar relief spreads through my lungs as I head into the bathroom.
After brushing my teeth, I pull my hair into a ponytail and clip it in place, praying it stays put. I head back downstairs to find Kane pacing the living room.
“Everything okay?” I ask, though his expression clearly indicates otherwise.
“Define ‘okay,’” he mutters. “Declan’s pissed, but what else is new? They’re waiting for us at Tara.”
“Us?” I raise an eyebrow. “You told him I was coming?”
Kane shrugs. “I figured it was better than just showing up with you. Besides, Wren likes you, and she keeps Declan in line.”
“Great,” I say, feeling suddenly nervous about voluntarily inserting myself into this family drama. “So, when do we leave?”
“Now, if that works for you. It’s about an hour’s drive.”
I nod, grabbing my jacket from the hook by the door. “Let me just get my purse, and we can go.”
I head back upstairs, collecting my purse and checking that I have my wallet and phone. I’m halfway down the stairs when Kane calls up to me.
“We should probably stop for fuel on the way. Rental car’s running low.”
“There’s a gas station in the village,” I say, reaching the bottom of the stairs. “We can stop there.”
We lock up the cottage and head to his rental car. The morning is bright but chilly, the kind of deceptive Irish sunshine that looks warm but carries a bite. Kane opens the passenger door for me with an exaggerated bow that makes me roll my eyes.
“Such a gentleman,” I tease as I slide into the seat.
“Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain.”
As we drive toward the village, I’m struck by how comfortable this feels—being with him, heading out to what is essentially a treasure hunt with a family I barely know. It’s certainly not what I had in mind when I fled to Ireland, but I’m happy that I’m with him.
We stop at the small gas station in the village. While Kane fills the tank, I pop into the attached shop to buy some snacks for the drive. When I return with arms full of chips, chocolate, and water bottles, Kane looks amused.
“Planning for a siege?” he asks.
“Road trip essentials,” I corrected him. “I get cranky when I’m hungry.”
“Noted,” he says seriously. “Feed Kori regularly to avoid mauling.”
I punch his arm lightly as we get back in the car. “Just drive, Murphy.”
As we leave the small coastal village behind and join the main road heading inland, I feel a tightness in my chest that has nothing to do with my asthma.
I’m nervous, I realize. Not just about meeting Kane’s family again under these circumstances, but about what they might find.
What if this sister doesn’t want to be found?
What if their father is dead after all? What if this whole thing leads to more pain for Kane?
“You’re thinking very loudly over there,” Kane observes, glancing at me as he drives.
“Just wondering what we’re going to find,” I admit.
“That makes two of us,” he says, his hands tightening slightly on the steering wheel. “Whatever it is, I’m glad you’re coming along.”
“Even though you barely know me?”
“Sometimes strangers see us more clearly than the people who think they know us best,” he says, surprising me with the insight. And it takes me back to the plane ride when he sat down beside me.
I turn to look at the passing landscape—rolling green hills dotted with sheep, stone walls tracing ancient boundaries, the occasional cluster of houses forming tiny villages.
Ireland feels timeless in a way that soothes something in me, as if my personal drama is just a minor blip in centuries of human experience.
An hour later, we’re approaching the Hill of Tara. My chest feels tight again, and I reach into my purse for my inhaler only to realize with a sinking feeling that I’ve left it on the bedside table.
“Everything okay?” Kane asks, noticing my frantic searching.
“I forgot my inhaler,” I explained, trying to stay calm. My asthma isn’t usually severe, but the stress and excitement might trigger an attack. “It should be fine as long as I don’t have to run up any hills.”
Kane frowns. “Is it serious? Should we go back?”
“No,” I say quickly, not wanting to delay him meeting his family. “It’s fine. I’ll take it easy.”
He doesn’t look convinced but doesn’t argue as we pull into the parking area near the visitor center and park beside their car.
“Ready for this?” Kane asks, turning off the engine.
I take a careful, measured breath, testing my lungs. They feel okay for now. “Yup.”
As we walk toward the entrance, I spot Declan pacing near the visitor center, with Wren, Kat, and Rory standing nearby. When Declan sees us, his expression darkens momentarily before he schools it into something more neutral.
“Here we go,” Kane mutters under his breath. “Family reunion, take two.”
I resist the urge to reach for his hand. Instead, I straighten my shoulders and put on what I think of as my professional face—the one I used in boardroom meetings when dealing with demanding clients. Whatever happens next, I’m determined to be the calm in Kane’s storm.