A Little Harmless Fantasy(96)
“People will think we’re freaks.”
Zee shrugged. “They already think that. This way, we have Maura and they think we’re freaks. Besides, when did you decide to worry about what other people think? Seriously?”
He sighed. “I thought you would.”
Zee smiled and walked forward. Rory felt his heart turn over. The man had him by the ballocks and Zee knew it. Hell they both did. And there was something so bloody sexy about that.
Zee cupped his face in his hands and kissed him. Slow, long, and wet. When he pulled back, he smiled.
“Let’s go get our woman.”
Warmth spread through Rory. For the first time in days, the feeling of rightness shifted through him. He gave Zeke a quick kiss.
“Let’s go.”
“She might say no.”
“Too bad. I’ll drag her back by her hair if I have to,” Rory said.
“There’s the man I love,” Zee said as he pulled out his phone.
“You’re calling her?”
“Nope, but we need a flight, love.”
“Good. Get the flight, then we get Maura,” Rory said.
But he did have something he needed to pick up at home before they left, then off to their future.
He just hoped they hadn’t waited too long.
Chapter Twenty-two
“What are your plans today?” Conner asked at breakfast. Jillian knew that he was trying to engage with Maura but she knew her friend wasn’t ready.
Maura shrugged as she played with her cereal. She hadn’t been eating enough to keep herself alive, but Jillian knew she needed her space. Unfortunately, her brother didn’t understand that. He wanted his baby sister to be better. Now.
The physical bruises were just now starting to fade, but the wounds to Maura’s pride were going to take longer. Much longer.
“I think I’ll go for a walk on the beach,” she said.
Conner rose with her and she looked at him. “What are you doing?”
“Going with you.”
She glanced at Jillian and she could see Maura wanted to be alone. Conner had been hovering like a mama. Jillian was of the belief that brother and sister needed to set their own boundaries. She was not getting in the middle of that.
“I want to be alone, Conner.”
“I think that you might—”
“I didn’t ask. I just told you, I want to be alone. Deal with it.”
With that she left the kitchen, letting the screen door slam behind her.
There were a few moments of stunned silence. Jillian wasn’t stunned. She knew that Conner and Maura had their own issues to deal with and they were starting to come to a head. Trying to sooth either one of them was going to leave Jillian hurt…and Conner and Maura wouldn’t heal. Of course, her stubborn husband wanted everything to be all right right now. Like Maura was going to feel better overnight.
“She’s starting to get on my nerves,” Conner said.
Jillian ignored him. He had been saying the same thing for two days. But for once he didn’t go on. She glanced over at him. He was staring at the screen door. She looked down at the Honolulu Advertiser again. When he didn’t go on, Jillian figured he would just sit in the house and stew in his irritation. She didn’t have time for that.
“She isn’t getting on your nerves.”
“Yes, she is.”
“No, you’re angry and you want to hurt someone because she hurts.” She took a sip of coffee and looked at him. “You are just going to have to deal with it right now. She needs to be alone.”
He frowned and rose from the chair. “I want to hurt someone.”
“I know you do, babe. There are just some things you have to let her work out on her own.”
He said nothing. She could tell from the way his shoulders were tensed that he was contemplating his next move and it would not be what she suggested. She sighed and walked over to him, setting her coffee cup down on the counter. Jillian slipped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his back.
“You have to let the children grow up some time, Conner.”
She felt him relax slightly.
“She’s hurting because of them.” He spat out the words. Anger dripped from every word and she knew there was a good chance his friendship with Zeke was over…if Maura didn’t work it out.
And, Mr. Man needed to learn that Zeke and Rory were not the only ones at fault here.
“Truthfully, she is hurting because of a whole lot of things.”
He moved and she released him. He turned to face her. His frown was even darker. “Explain.”
“Your sister, the level headed-most of the time-girl you raised came to you and said she was attacked.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I remember. I called Rome, he did the report.”