Page 104 of Vengeful Guard

“You did what?” Lara’s eyes nearly bulge out of her head. “Who? When? Where?”

“Stop with the third degree. I’m not telling you who, but it was about a week ago, before all this with Da.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Was it Kael?”

I gape at her. “Wh-why would you say that?”

Lara gives me a slow smile. “I saw the way he looked at you last night. The way you looked at him.”

“You can't tell our brothers.” I hold her hands in mine, squeezing them. “I don’t want there to be a fight.”

She looks almost offended. “I would never tell our brothers.”

“You wouldn’t?”

“Of course not. There are things we Burke girls must keep to ourselves, and guys are one of them.”

“Even if it’s Kael?”

“Especially if it’s Kael. Can you imagine what Declan would do to him if he knew?” She whistles, and then laughs a little. “Thank you for telling me, though. This kind of drama is a lot more fun than the drama we’ve been having of late.”

I frown. “I shouldn’t be worried about it, but I can't help it. He’s all I can think about when I’m not worrying about Da.”

“I’m always worrying about Da.”

I groan and place one of her pillows over my face. “See? I shouldn’t be worried about Kael at all. I’m selfish and stupid.”

Lara crawls onto the bed and hugs me. “You’re not selfish and stupid. You’re just a late bloomer, and Kael is the first guy you’ve ever really been allowed to be alone with.”

“Do you think that’s what it is?”

“I know so.”

“So, I’m not in love?”

She blanches. “God, I hope not.”

Me, too.

I sniffle slightly as I look at her. “I should move back in, shouldn’t I?”

“I can’t tell you what to do, Paige. That’s up to you. But if you’re not moving in because of Kael... that would be a little selfish.”

I nod slowly, knowing she’s right. “Da needs me right now. I’ll go and get the rest of my things in a bit.”

Lara nods. “Your brownstone will always be there when he gets better.”

The words if he gets better hang between us, unsaid.

A couple of hours later, Kael is helping me get my things out of his car, grunting and pulling out two suitcases.

“What do you have in here? Bricks?”

“Shoes.”

“No one should have fifty pounds of shoes,” he grumbles, but he carries them in all the same. He seems particularly grumpy today, but then again, doesn’t he always? I’ve just gotten used to him being a bit more playful with me.

However, this is a serious time, and even though I miss it, I can understand why he’s not flirting with me. Plus, we’re at my family home, and he wouldn’t want Declan or Gray to notice.

---