That’s really all she wanted in the world right now. She wanted to make Shea’s life as happy as it had been before their mother died, and give her all the opportunities that she’d had before. She pushed back a swell of emotion and nodded her head, agreeing with the sweet woman in front of her.
“There you go. It’s that simple, and I have complete confidence in you,” Dee said.
“Why? You don’t even know me.” She hoped that didn’t sound as rude out loud as it sounded in her head. Fiona wondered if Dee was saying these things only to be polite. She couldn’t actually understand why anyone would look at her life, and the mess she’d made of it, and still have confidence in her.
She didn’t even have confidence in herself.
“I see the way you look at Shea, and there’s not just love in your eyes. There’s sacrifice. That tells me all I’d ever need to know, but to top it off, mo mhac likes you. Kieran’s never let me meet someone he’s dating before,” Dee told her, not seeming bothered at all by Fiona’s tactless question.
“Really? Never?” Fiona was surprised.
Kieran was one of the most attractive men she’d ever met, and he commanded every room he walked into. She couldn’t imagine he had a hard time catching women’s eyes. Which only made her wonder again why someone like him would pay her any attention, especially after she’d spent days trying to push him away and insisting that they weren’t dating. “I’m sure he’s had plenty of girlfriends, though. I mean, I can’t be all that special—we’re not really even dating. We went on a frozen-yogurt date with Shea, but really we just met.”
“He’s a man. I’m sure Kieran’s had other girlfriends, but I never met them. None of my sons would bring home a woman he wasn’t serious about—they know better than that. So I know he’s serious about you, and I couldn’t be happier. Kieran’s a lot different since he got back, different than who he was a few years ago.”
Fiona smiled warmly at the sweet words, and the thought that maybe she was different. Maybe he really did think she was special and he really did want to be with her. His abrupt end on their kiss last night had thrown her into a serious web of doubt, sure that the moment he’d seen how hard her life was and how much was on her plate, he hadn’t wanted any part of it. Listening to his mother now, and remembering his words as he’d had her pressed against the building earlier this morning, she was thinking she’d read last night completely wrong.
As she thought about it, though, she realized there was a part of Dee’s statement she hadn’t understood. “Got back from where?” Fiona asked.
Her question was interrupted by a banging sound from the front of the house as someone shut the front door. A deep voice could be heard rumbling through the hall, and Shea pulled her earmuffs on at the intrusion. Fiona frowned, wishing Shea wasn’t so sensitive to loud noises.
“Yeah, got it. I’m on my way. I’ll meet you there.” Kieran walked into the kitchen as Dee scooped more eggs onto Shea’s plate.
Fiona felt a shaky breath shudder through her as she watched him before he noticed her. He looked so serious, no fun and games, but the hard way his jaw set and the tense bulge of his muscles beneath his shirt were unbelievably appealing. She blushed slightly at the memory of running her hands over his chiseled chest.
“Fi, can I talk to you?” His eyes finally fell on her, causing her skin to heat under his dark blue gaze.
“Shea, honey, I’m just going to be right outside.” Fiona noted that Shea was already happily eating her eggs and not paying attention, but Dee waved her off, saying she’d watch her.
Walking out onto the back porch together, Kieran slid the glass door closed behind them and stepped to the side so they were not in view of the kitchen. “How are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m fine.” She shrugged, looking away from him. She was definitely not fine. She wasn’t sure why she’d even said that.
“Fi.” He took her hand and pulled her closer to him. She looked up into his worried, scruffy face as she tried to focus on what he was saying and not the delicious citrus smell of his aftershave. “You’re not fine. You just woke up to your house caving in on you. Shea’s still sick. You can’t possibly be fine.”
“I know, but I have to be fine, don’t I?” Fiona boldly placed her hand on Kieran’s chest, as she was already so close to him.
She could feel his heart pounding under her hand, and he tensed at the contact. He considered her for a few moments but didn’t pull her closer. She found herself mentally willing him to grab her, to scoop her up and take her away from it all. To make love to her for days, in a world where no responsibilities or crises existed.