Page 78 of Killian

“It was a great drive.” Celine avoided eye contact with her mother.

“What’s going on with you?”

Celine sighed. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Does it involve a man?”

“Of course.”

“Not Blaine, I hope.”

“In an indirect way. I promise I’ll tell you all about it, just not today.”

“Okay, honey. Let’s get inside.”

“Let me grab my bags.” Celine opened the trunk and took out two suitcases while her mother grabbed a small overnight bag, then they entered the house.

Celine set down her bags and walked over to hug her father.

“Daddy, it’s so good to see you.”

“You too, Buttercup,” Dale Nelson said as he hugged her.

Celine had to bite her lip to hold back tears as she smiled at the one man in her life who loved her unconditionally.

“I’m going to take my luggage upstairs and shower. I feel like I’ve been in that car for two weeks, even though it was only a six-hour drive.”

“Sometimes it can seem that way. Especially when you’re alone.” Her mother smiled.

“I’ll be down in a little while. I want to call Blair too.”

“Okay. We’ll have dinner later. Go take a shower and relax a little. We’ll be here.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Celine picked up her cases and carried them up to her old room.

She sat on the bed. It was good to be home, but she missed Killian so very much. Pushing to her feet, she entered the bathroom.

****

Killian sat on the back deck with his feet onthe rail. He looked at his brother to see him in the same position.

“You have a great place here, Killian.”

“I like it.”

“Be nicer if you had a woman here to share it with.”

Killian sighed. “You’re not going to let up, are you?”

“Tell me what happened.”

As Kian listened, Killian told him what had happened between him and Celine. Just talking about it had his blood boiling again. He couldn’t get past the fact that she had lied to him.

“Maybe she was trying to protect you,” Kian said, then took a swig from his beer.

“Or him.”

“Why would she protect him?”

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