Until Harry(61)

“They’d personally go over to New York and put you on a plane home.”

They would – that was God’s honest truth.

I cringed. “I can only imagine.”

Lochlan smiled at me, then leaned in and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes, then reopened them and looked up at him. “Are we cool?”

He gazed at me for a moment and said, “Yeah, Lane, we’re cool. I’m tired of being angry with you. I know it’s because I just miss you and worry for you, but if you want to live abroad, then I’m going to deal with that. Things will change between us, I promise.”

He hugged me again, and just like that, the tension between Lochlan and myself disappeared. It felt damn good too. I pulled back from my brother when I heard the sound of a throat clearing, and froze when I saw Kale standing in the open kitchen doorway, his hands in his trouser pockets. His lifeless eyes were trained on me.

“Lane?” Kale’s voice murmured quietly.

Oh, God.

“How . . . how long have you been standing there?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He licked his lower lip. “Long enough.”

Did he hear everything I said about him? I panicked. Fuck.

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I have to go.”

I needed to get away from everyone and be on my own. I pushed myself away from Lochlan and practically ran by Kale, only to be brought to a halt next to the sitting room when a body stepped out in front of me.

“You aren’t going anywhere!” This voice belonged to my father.

I refused to look at anyone.

“I meant I’m going to my hotel room. I promised Mum and Nanny I’d stick around to help with Uncle Harry’s house and his belongings. I’m not skipping town – I just want to be on my own for a while.”

My father didn’t budge. “You can be alone up in your room, you don’t have to—”

“Sweetie, let her go,” my mother said softly.

I wasn’t so surprised to hear her say that. I looked up and found her in the doorway of the parlour, watching me through exhausted eyes.

“We’ll see you tomorrow?” she asked me.

I nodded my head.

“Then go on to the inn and get some sleep, sweetheart.”

I walked over to my mother, gave her a big hug and kissed her cheek.

“I love you – you know that, right?” I whispered in her ear.

She nodded and squeezed me tightly. “I love you too, darling.”

I turned then and headed towards the front door of my parents’ house but froze when his voice spoke.

“I’ll walk you.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I’ll be fine.”

I felt him behind me.

“I wasn’t asking for permission, Lane.”

Oh, damn.

I licked my lips. “I can’t be alone with you right now.”

Kale rounded on me and got in my space, not caring that everyone in my family was behind us, watching with intent.

“Deal. With. It.”

How? I wanted to scream. How the hell can I deal with anything when it comes to you?

I exhaled. “Kale—”

“Lane.”

I set my jaw and looked up at him. “Why do you have to be so difficult?”

He shrugged. “It gets results when it comes to you.”

What the hell does that mean? I frowned.

I shook my head. “You’re being a complete arsehole right now for no reason. You realise that, don’t you?”

His lip quirked. “I’m aware of it, yes.”

I ignored the snickers from behind us.

Kale’s eyes showed that he wasn’t backing down on his offer to walk me to the inn, so I shook my head, pushed past him and opened the front door.

“Come on if you’re bloody coming then,” I grumbled.

I heard the smile in his voice when he said, “Yes, ma’am.”

I could hear him chuckle under his breath as I exited my parents’ house and walked briskly down the pathway and out of the garden. He was hot on my heels and jogged to my side, where he easily matched my strides because his legs were a lot longer than mine.

“You’re going to give yourself a stitch if you don’t slow down,” he commented.

I grunted. “It’s either walk fast or thump you for—”

“For what?” he said, cutting me off. “Making sure you get to the inn safely? You think I’m taking chances when it comes to your safety?”

I sighed and slowed my pace down.

“You’re taking the decision away from me about whether you accompany me to the inn.”

Kale laughed. “It’s been years since I took anything from you. Let’s call this a catch-up on due goods.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re something else.”