Page 87 of Beautifully Complicated

“That was the original plan.” Kier picks my hand off my lap and kisses my knuckles. “But when my dad was raving about how well the leg worked, I couldn’t take all the credit. Plus, I’ve never been so happy, and wanted them to know why.”

“And? Have they thought you lost your mind?”

Kier uses his thumb to pry my bottom lip free. “No, Leanbh. They know I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

I have half a second to decide it’s time to tell my parents about him before Kier’s mouth is on mine, and I forget everything but how much I love him.

Chapter twenty-five

Kier

MAY

“Wear the gray one with the blue shirt.” Aiden snakes his arms around my waist from behind and props his head on my shoulder. “It brings out your eyes.”

“Why are we worrying about what goes withmyeyes onyourgraduation day?”

“Because whenyoureyes stand out it’s easier to see when they’re onme.”

“They’re always on you, Leanbh.” I reach for the suit he picked and start putting it on while he gets dressed in his, a smart tan one with a faint blue pattern he’s accentuating with a blue shirt that matches mine.

“We aren’t too—coordinated—with these shirts?” I look down my torso before looking at his.

“We’re partners.” He shrugs.

“Yes, but I’m meeting your family for the first time, so maybe we should, I don’t know, not look like we got dressed together?”

“They’re just shirts.”

“Identical ones. We bought them together.”

“You know they know I’m sleeping with you, right?” Aiden arches a playful brow. “It sort of came up when I told them instead of applying to grad school I was going into business with my boyfriend.”

“I remember. It was right before they threatened to sue the school for allowing you to have a relationship with your boss.”

That was two weeks ago—Aiden thought we were close enough to graduation to fill his parents in on his future plans without freaking them out—and it’s only because Conor stepped in to explain how we met before I was hired at the school and verified the story by showing them my picture on the book jacket that they relented.

Conor got them to accept that our relationship isn’t breaking any rules, but I’m pretty sure they aren’t sold on the age difference, so I don’t want to rock the boat by broadcasting that their son regularly spends the night.

My boyfriend doesn’t share my opinion.

“Yes, well since I told you I’m not hiding and that includes from my parents. Besides, my dad doesn’t care about fashion and my mom doesn’t see well enough to know what she’s looking at, so I doubt they’ll even notice. How do I look?” He spins to face me.

The tan suit hugs his lean frame perfectly, the earthy tones a perfect complement to his fair hair and amber eyes. The blue shirt softens the strong lines of the jacket, giving him an approachable yet still classic air.

“You’re stunning.” I step to him and cup his face in my hands, gently pressing my lips to his. “Thank you for including me in this day.”

“Thank you for including me in the rest of your life.” He kisses me back, pouring more emotion than should be possible into a simple kiss.

God, I love him.

“I have something for you,” I tell him as we pull apart.

“Really?” He bites his lip, but promptly lets it go with a warning growl from me.

Pulling an envelope from my jacket pocket, I say, “Congratulations, partner.”

Aiden tears open the envelope and unfolds the paper, looking up at me after just a few seconds. “What?” He blinks.

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