Page 6 of The Secrets We Share

His arm reaches up, fingers grasping my chin and tilting my gaze to look back at him. “There is no more you or I, there is only us. And we will figure this out together. I don’t care if it’s another two months or two years, Keira.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know that I can handle this for another two years.”

“You could. I have no doubts about that. But we’re close, sweetness. Once James gets here, we’ll sit down and make plans for our next move. Your father’s here.”

I spin in his arm and look up at him, mouth agape. “You found him?”

“Finally.”

“Why didn’t you...” The doorbell rings, interrupting my question.

“That’ll be James. Perfect timing. Now, I’ll only have to go over this once. I’ll let him in. Why don’t you see if they have anything to drink here.”

“Oh, send me off to the kitchen because I’m a woman.” I huff and roll my eyes at him.

“Little one, it’s been a long day of driving. But don’t think I won’t make that ass red if you roll those beautiful eyes at me again,” he threatens, with a quick smack to my ass, before walking back toward the front door.

I poke my tongue out at his back, staring after him.

“You’re playing with fire, baby. Keep it up!” he calls back at me, never turning around.

Damn man knows me too well.

Their footsteps sound down the hall. I pause at the fridge, looking at the emptiness within. Looks like we’ll need to send for groceries or pop into town if we plan on staying here for any length of time.

The footsteps pick up and I swing around right in time for a body to collide with mine, shoving me back into the open fridge. My brain stutters, trying to make sense of James welcoming me like this, but the long blonde hair caught in my mouth straightens that thought process.

“Stace?” I say in disbelief.

“Keira, oh my god, babe. I’ve missed you so much.”

I tighten my arms around her tall frame, before pushing her away to get a glimpse of my best friend. “But...” I shake myself. “I missed you too. But what are you doing here? How?”

Harkin and James step into the kitchen. They must have stopped in the hall to have words.

Stace leans in toward me, dipping her lips next to my ear. “I think I cracked the big guy.” Throwing a thumb over her shoulder, she points toward the guys.

James, she must be talking about him. His eyes are on us, well, not us, her.

Holy shit, is something going on between them?

“Surprise,” Harkin says when his eyes meet mine. But I can see it there, clear as day, he wasn’t aware of this little addition any more than I was.

“Keira,” James says with a small chin nod.

“Hey, James, good to see you again.” I give him a knowing look, but his mask doesn’t break. That’s fine. Stace can’t keep shit to herself, and I’ll figure out what’s going on between them soon enough.

“Any luck on finding something?” Harkin asks, breaking the tension brewing between the four of us.

“Nothing. We’ll have to order take out for today and go into town for groceries tomorrow.”

“Stacey and James can go. We’re not leaving the house unless necessary.”

“Fine,” I say with a huff. Another day, another place, but I’m still locked away in an artfully decorated prison.

“Why don’t we take this to the living room; it’ll be more comfortable, until the food arrives,” Harkin instructs, pointing in the direction on the other side of the kitchen wall.

James goes without hesitation, stopping to grab Stace by the arm and drag her away with him. I’m shocked when my friend doesn’t blanch at being manhandled. I watch after them disappearing, too stunned to notice my own demanding man walk up behind me.

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