Saving a Legend(44)

Kieran’s deep voice vibrated in his chest beneath her hand as he began to talk again. “I spoke to my brother Jimmy. He’s a police officer and was able to pull a few strings to access more information, but he said your building is definitely going to be condemned. We’re going to go over to get all your stuff now.”



“What?” Fiona’s hand fell to her side as she was catapulted back into her dismal reality. “Crap. Where are we going to live?”

“You and Shea will stay here. Ma’s got three open bedrooms, and she loves having people stay. The only people living here now are her and my dad, plus my cousin Casey. And Casey’s usually working at the gym or going to school, so she’s not here often,” Kieran explained, as if it was no big deal at all.

Fiona gasped. “I can’t stay here! Your parents don’t even know me. Why would they let me stay here? I can’t ask them to do that.”

“You didn’t ask. They offered.”

“They did?” Her shock subsided and she shook her head adamantly. “Kieran, I can’t. No way, they’ve already done so much for me just today. A place to stay? That’s absolutely too much. I cannot ask that of them.”

“You can, and you will. You need a place to stay, and Shea needs someone when you’re at work. My mom would be all over that. She loves kids; plus, she believes it’s her religious duty to help everyone, or something like that.”

“Live in their house and ask them to babysit? Are you kidding me right now?” Fiona was flabbergasted. “Kieran, this is not okay. You cannot ask them to do this for me.”

“To do what? Put a roof over your sister’s head?” Kieran tilted his head to the side and looked at her pointedly; the harsh truth gradually settled into her stomach. “If it was just you, Fi, you could be stubborn. But you’ve got Shea to think about, and homelessness is not an option with an eight-year-old.”



Fiona nibbled on the edge of her thumb. She knew he was right, of course. Damn it. It simply seemed like so much to ask of people she’d just met, to ask of someone Shea had just met. Actually, she hadn’t even met his father yet, only Dee.

However, Shea did need a bed tonight, and at the moment, Fiona had no way of providing one. Kieran was right; there wasn’t another option, at least not for tonight.

“You’re right. I know you’re right, but it’s so hard for me to let someone do this for me. I mean, I know I should be grateful and thanking you and your parents for the offer. In fact, I probably sound like a real bitch for even hesitating.”

“You have to stop calling yourself a bitch, Fi. You’re the farthest possible thing from it.” Kieran shook his head. “It’s hard to accept help from people, especially when you’re so used to doing it all on your own. I get that.”

“I know—it feels strange. I want to be able to do everything on my own.” She felt a lump forming in her throat as she stopped pacing and wrapped her arms around her waist, an attempt to hold herself together now that everything seemed to be falling apart. Kieran grabbed her, pulled her against his chest, and wrapped his arms around her.

“Everyone needs help now and again, flower girl. There’s nothing wrong with that.” She could feel him plant a gentle kiss on the top of her head, and it cracked the floodgates in her eyes. Tears began streaming down her face. “Let me help you,” he said quietly.



“I just…” She blinked in an attempt to clear her eyes. “I don’t understand why.”

“Why what?” he asked as he leaned down and kissed her cheeks lightly, feathering kisses down her jawline to her neck.

“Kieran, stop,” she whimpered, but her head tilted to the side to give him further access to her neck. “You’re distracting me.”

“Good, because you’re not making any sense. I thought we cleared this up earlier when I told you I want you, every part of you.” He moved to take her lips with his. She found herself moaning, and he took the opportunity to slide his tongue into her open mouth. Moving her hands up from his chest, she wrapped them around his neck and tangled her fingers through his hair.

“Kieran, please,” she whispered after a few hot, tangled moments. “I just don’t understand why you’d do this for me—we just met.”

“Flower girl, I couldn’t care less that we just met. You’re all I’ve thought about since Sunday when I walked into your store. I adore Shea, and I think you’re amazing.” He cupped her face in his hands, looking deeply into her eyes. Fiona sniffed as he wiped her tears away with his thumbs.