Page 76 of Cowboy
"How do you do that?" I ask softly.
"Do what?"
"Always know the right thing to say."
He gives me a small, crooked smile. "Years of practice saying the wrong thing first."
The kettle whistles, and he turns to make our tea. I watch the strong line of his back, the careful movements of his hands. He's so different from the boy I knew growing up—Dylan's scrappy friend always getting into trouble. Now he's a man, solid and sure, with a dangerous edge that somehow makes me feel safer rather than threatened.
"Here you go," he says, setting a steaming mug in front of me. "Chamomile with honey, just how you like it."
Our fingers brush as I take the mug, and I don't flinch away. That's progress too. Two weeks ago, any unexpected touch sent me into a panic. Now, with Ciarán at least, touch is becoming a comfort rather than a threat.
We sit in companionable silence, sipping our tea. The kitchen is bathed in the soft glow from the range hood light, creating a small island of warmth in the darkness. Outside, rain patters gently against the windows—a soothing rhythm that grounds me in the present.
"I spoke with Travis today," Ciarán says after a while. "The Agency has finished processing the intel we gathered in Vienna. They've taken down three more trafficking operations that were connected to Kovac's network."
I nod, a small satisfaction blooming in my chest. Every trafficker caught means more women and children saved from the fate I endured. "Good."
"They've also processed the paperwork for Saoirse," Ciarán continues, watching me carefully. "The emergency guardianship has been approved. She's officially in your care now."
My heart swells. Since we returned from the cabin, I've been terrified that someone will try to take Saoirse away—place her in the system, or worse, return her to the mother who sold her in the first place. The guardianship isn't as permanent as adoption, but it's a start.
"That's... that's wonderful," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "Did they say anything about her mother?"
Ciarán's expression darkens slightly. "She's been arrested. Part of the network Kovac was running. She won't be getting out anytime soon."
Relief floods through me. Saoirse is safe. She's mine to protect now, legally as well as emotionally.
"Thank you," I whisper. "For everything you've done for us. I don't think I could have survived these past weeks without you."
Ciarán reaches across the island, taking my hand in his. "You're stronger than you know, Caoimhe. You would have found a way. But I'm glad I could be here for you."
I look down at our joined hands—his large and calloused, mine still too thin but no longer skeletal. We fit together, somehow. Two broken pieces that make something stronger when combined.
"The nightmares," I begin hesitantly, "they're not just about what happened to me. They're about what could have happened to Saoirse. What almost happened."
Ciarán squeezes my hand gently. "But it didn't happen. You protected her. You saved her."
I shake my head. "You saved us both. If you hadn't found us at the cabin?—"
"But I did," he interrupts firmly. "And I always will. Wherever you go, whatever happens, I will always find you, Caoimhe. Always."
The conviction in his voice steals my breath. I look up, meeting his gaze, and what I see there makes my heart race for entirely different reasons than fear.
"I know you will," I whisper.
Something shifts between us, the air suddenly charged with unspoken feelings. Ciarán's eyes drop to my lips for the briefest moment before returning to mine, a silent question in them.
Slowly, giving me every chance to pull away, he leans forward. I meet him halfway, our lips touching in a kiss so gentle it's barely there—a whisper, a promise, a beginning.
He pulls back slightly, searching my face for any sign of discomfort or regret. But for the first time in so long, I feel nothing but warmth, nothing but right.
I reach up, my hand cupping his cheek, and draw him back to me. This time, the kiss is deeper, more certain. His hand comes up to tangle in my hair, cradling my head as if I'm something precious, something to be cherished.
When we finally break apart, I'm breathless. I’m falling so hard for him. So hard.
"You make me feel safe," I confess. "I wasn’t sure if I was ready for more."
