Chapter Seven #2
Inside, Kieran tossed the keys on the coffee table.
The sofa bed beckoned, but he resisted the lure.
If he lay down, he might not get back up again.
Exhaustion was kicking his ass. God, he was dirty and grimy.
He trudged into the tiny bathroom and kicked off his jeans.
He’d been warned not to get his bandages wet, but to hell with it.
Getting clean was a priority. If he died of infection, he wouldn’t have to worry about completing the assignment.
Stopping cold, he grabbed the sides of the sink and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
His skin was paler than it had ever been.
The beginnings of dark circles were becoming visible beneath his eyes.
Could he die? He hadn’t completed or failed the assignment.
It was ongoing. He’d assumed there would be no consequences until things had played out either way. Now he wasn’t sure.
“Get your head on straight. Georgia is going to die.” He gritted his teeth and gripped the edges of the cheap vanity. When the wood made a cracking sound, he pushed away. “I can’t change that.” The reminder sounded hollow.
Cranking the water on warm, he stepped beneath the shower spray, dropped his head, and pressed his hands against the sides of the stall. His brothers had changed fate. The women they’d been tasked with reaping still lived. But at what cost?
He grabbed the soap and began to scrub, ignoring the burn when the suds ran into the various scrapes and cuts. The pain helped to ground him. “Remember what’s at stake.”
While he genuinely cared for Georgia—something he’d thought impossible—it was her destiny as a human versus the eternal fate of him and his brothers.
Self-preservation was powerful motivation.
His brothers might truly believe they were in love, but what about in a year?
Or five, or twenty, or when they were on their deathbeds?
It would be too late. There was one opportunity to set things right. He couldn’t afford to screw it up.
…
Georgia sank lower in the tub. The bubbles were long gone, the water verging on cold, yet she lingered.
People often said their life passed before their eyes during a crisis.
That hadn’t been the case for her. It had happened so quickly.
They’d gone from sitting at the table enjoying lunch to flying through the air.
If not for Kieran’s swift action, she’d have been seriously injured—or worse.
It was shocking how fast life could change. Very few people woke in the morning thinking this was the day they were going to die. She swiped at another tear and sniffed. “It’s a natural reaction.”
Gripping both sides of the tub, she stood, then stepped carefully onto the bathmat. She patted the towel gently on her skin. The minor scrapes and cuts stung, and her muscles ached, but she’d been fortunate. She had no idea if Mr. Davis had been as lucky.
Giving a shiver, she stared at herself in the mirror.
She was paler than normal—not surprising—and her hand wasn’t nearly steady enough for makeup.
She rarely wore it since it didn’t last long in a hot kitchen.
Her hair was a mess. That was something she could tackle.
Two minutes later, the tangles were gone, and she’d pulled it back in a clip.
If Kieran wasn’t expecting supper, she’d tumble into bed and pull the covers over her head.
She wasn’t sure she could eat, but she’d promised him food.
It had been an impulse, a desire not to be alone.
“He probably agreed to be kind.” He had to be hurting worse than her.
He was a big man, but he’d hit the pavement hard.
Not wanting anything tight on her body, she pulled on a pair of underwear and a loose sundress.
Barefoot, she padded to the kitchen and checked the oven.
The crust of the chicken pot pie was golden-brown.
The delicious smell perfumed the air, making her stomach growl.
Maybe she could manage a few bites after all.
The knock on the back door made her stomach jump.
He was here. Smoothing her hands over the dress, she went to let him in.
I should have worn a bra, or maybe a sweater would have been better.
Her nipples were hard, but at least the material was patterned with bright-red poppies, so it wouldn’t be noticeable. That would be extremely embarrassing.
Taking a fortifying breath, she pulled open the door.
Like her, he’d cleaned up. The ends of his hair were damp and clung to his neck.
His jeans hugged his muscular thighs. The waistband dipped slightly, giving her a glimpse of his belly button and a hint of dark hair angling down toward his groin.
Jerking her gaze up to his, she swallowed hard.
“Sorry I’m not wearing a shirt, but I don’t currently have one. Can I come in, or have you changed your mind?”
Oh God, she was staring at his… What’s wrong with me? Around Kieran, she lost all sense of propriety. “I’m sorry. My mind was elsewhere.” Yeah, it was on sex…and how it had been a long time since she’d had any. “Come in.” She held the door open in welcome.
He stepped inside and sniffed. “Smells delicious.”
“I was just about to take it out of the oven.” To give herself a chance to regroup, she took her time removing the dish and setting it on the table.
She needed to get a grip on herself. The man was here for a meal.
She had to stop looking at him as though he was the main course.
It didn’t help that he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Broad shoulders, sculpted biceps, and abs the likes of which she’d only seen in magazines were on full display.
It was little wonder her thoughts gravitated toward sex. The man practically oozed it.
Then he turned slightly, giving her a glimpse of raw skin, bruises, and bandages, reminders that he’d gotten hurt protecting her.
He was sturdy, but he wasn’t indestructible.
No one was. Today, he’d put his life at risk.
For her. If he hadn’t taken the time to grab her, he might not have been injured. And I might be dead.
The reality made her head spin. She leaned against the counter, waiting until the dizzy spell passed.
“Georgia?” He stood behind her, not touching her, but he didn’t have to for her to feel the impact. His masculine presence radiated around him and encompassed her.
“I’m fine. It’s leftover reaction. I’m not quite myself.” Talk about an understatement. Outwardly, nothing had really changed in her life. Inwardly, she was a mass of swirling emotions.
“It’s the adrenaline crash and the near brush with death.” His matter-of-fact attitude sparked her curiosity.
She turned, and he was so close she had to look up to meet his eyes. The other option was staring at his chest, and that was inappropriate. “You sound as though you’re speaking from experience.”
There was a slight hesitation. “Death and I are old friends.”
She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, suddenly chilled. “I’m hoping that’s the closest encounter I have with him for a long time.”
Kieran’s eyes shuttered, the black depths becoming unreadable. A muscle in his jaw clenched, and he took a step back. “We should eat before it gets cold.” His total withdrawal was unsettling. The talk of death was probably no more pleasant for him than it was for her.
She’d set the table before taking a bath. All that was left was to pour the drinks. “I have water, cranberry juice, milk, and a half bottle of white wine. Sorry it’s not a better selection.”
“Water is fine. I appreciate you feeding me.”
He waited at the table, holding her chair as she took her seat. The gesture was old-fashioned and gallant, and something no man had ever done before. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Was it her imagination, or had his fingers grazed her nape before he’d moved out from behind her and taken his place at the table? It was likely just wishful thinking. “Help yourself.” She motioned to the dish. “It’s simple but filling.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.” They were acting like two polite strangers on a first date, not people who’d shared a harrowing experience. But for all practical purposes, they were virtually strangers, barely friends. He took a large serving, then waited until she had taken some before he began eating.
Neither of them spoke as they cleared their plates, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was enough to be sharing a meal with someone who appreciated it. Food was her joy, her passion. Watching him devour something she’d made filled her with satisfaction.
It was oddly intimate to sit in the kitchen of her childhood home with him. It was also a first. She hadn’t dated since she’d returned home, and in high school, all dates had involved the local takeout. Kieran had only been in her life a couple of days, but he’d profoundly impacted it.
“How’s your back?” The bandages were damp, likely from showering, but they were still in place.
He shrugged. “It’s fine.”
She studied his face and frowned at the slight discoloration in his jaw. “Did you hit your face? I thought you landed on your back.”
The grin was fleeting, but it sent a delicious warmth rushing through her. He rubbed his chin. “I didn’t think it was noticeable.”
“It’s not. Not really.” She pushed aside her plate. “I’m sorry if I struck you during the accident. It’s all a blur.” Maybe her head had hit him when they’d landed.
“It wasn’t you. It’s from where Alex hit me earlier today. He has a fist like a stone.”
She’d only noticed his lip earlier. “You don’t seem too upset by it.” And if anyone else saw it, they’d assume it happened during the accident, as she had, and wouldn’t ask questions.
He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands against his firm stomach. The wood protested his weight but held. “Not the first time we’ve come to blows.” His expression turned pensive. “Likely won’t be the last.”
She’d be the first to admit she didn’t understand men.
If she did, she’d have made better choices in the past. The relationship of brothers was totally foreign.
She decided to probe a little deeper. The worst he could do was to tell her it wasn’t her business.
“Is that why you’re in Redemption? Because you had a disagreement? ”
“They’re in trouble and too damn stubborn to admit they need my help.” He sat forward and rested his elbows on the table, his gaze intent. “I have to save them.”
The fine hairs on the back of her neck rose on end. “Of course you have to assist them. They’re your brothers. And, punch to the face aside, you seem close.” Why else would he have come here?
“They might not forgive my interference.”
Unable to stand his distress, she reached out and laid her hand on his arm. “You’re sure they need your help? They seem like capable men.”
“Yes.” His eyes were bleak, his features tight with stress. Whatever was going on, he truly believed they needed him.
“Then you have to try to convince them to accept it.”
“If that doesn’t work?”
“You have to do it anyway.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.” Kieran shoved up from the table and walked to the window, staring out at the backyard. The muscles in his shoulders bunched and flexed, and he fisted his hands by his sides.
Rather than take offense at his harsh assessment, she was filled with an overwhelming need to soothe him.
Whatever the issue, he was torturing himself over it.
She approached slowly. He stiffened when she was beside him, but he didn’t move away.
“Maybe I don’t know what I’m saying, but I’m not wrong about you loving your brothers.
” His being here confirmed that, and his anguish was real.
He hung his head and sighed. “We haven’t been close for too many years.”
Taking a chance, she placed her hand on the small of his back, careful not to touch any of the bandaged areas or superficial cuts. “And yet here you are.”
“They’re my brothers.”
She’d never known the love of a sibling.
While her parents had fed, clothed, and sheltered her, they hadn’t been demonstrative people.
Maybe that’s why she’d been easy prey for David and his careless affection.
There were all kinds of love—romantic, friendship, the bond between a parent and child, and the connection between siblings.
While she might not have experienced true love, she recognized it when she saw it.
It was special, a treasure to be protected.
“Then you have to do whatever it takes to make sure they’re okay. ”
Kieran spun around, his eyes wild. “You have no idea what you’re asking me to do.”
“Is it illegal?” She hadn’t considered that. He didn’t seem the type. Then again, her judgement in men couldn’t be trusted.
“No.” He shook his head. “But others might get hurt.”
The bottom dropped out of her stomach. “Will I be one of them?” she whispered. The setting sun seemed to vanish, and the room darkened around her. She blinked, but the shadows remained.
He cupped her face in his big hands. “You’re the last person I want to harm.”
Hurt came in many forms. It didn’t have to be physical. “I know you’ll be leaving when this problem with your brothers is sorted out.” In the past, that alone would have made her walk away, but the accident this afternoon had changed everything.
“I can’t stay.” There it was in black and white. No promises.
“I understand.” She covered his hands with hers and grabbed onto her courage.
“Stay tonight.” It was the most audacious thing she’d ever done.
If he rejected her, it would undoubtedly sting.
If he didn’t, it would eventually hurt when he left.
But not trying would be worse. Life was too short not to grab onto a moment of happiness.
She knew the score going in and had no expectations, other than mutual pleasure.
Kieran was special. Maybe she didn’t know everything about him, but he loved his brothers, wasn’t afraid of hard work, and honestly cared for her. And today he’d saved her life. It was enough.
“I should go.” He made no move toward the door.
“Stay tonight,” she whispered again.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss against her forehead. “I should walk away, for both our sakes, but I’m weak where you’re concerned.”
A zing of feminine power shot through her. To imagine she made a man as big and strong as Kieran weak was a revelation. Taking him by the hand, she led him down the hallway to her bedroom.
He kicked the door shut behind them.