Page 60 of Guarded Secrets
“Hell yeah. Good move, Marine.”
Owen scrubbed a hand over his scruff. “Hold on. We’re involved, but I’m not good for her in the long term. I wish it was different, but I don’t want you to get your expectations up.”
Abby stepped in front of him and laid her hands on his cheeks. “You are a good man, Owen, and I love you. There’s something in your past that makes you feel that way, and I’m sorry for it. But you deserve happiness, and I think you and Keeley will bring happiness to each other. Don’t punish yourself by not going after something good, something you want. You both deserve more.”
Her words held such sincerity and were spoken with such conviction he could almost believe she was right. Almost.
Abby patted his cheek then went to the pan to move the last of the bacon to a paper towel. Owen sat at the table. “How’d you rate bacon?” he asked Bruce.
“I like bacon. Today’s the day for bacon.”
“I like bacon too, but don’t get it much.”
Abby spoke over her shoulder. “Bruce gets bacon once a month, so you came on his lucky day.” She poured the bacon grease into acan and wiped the cast iron pan. “I’m making scrambled eggs and there are biscuits in the oven. You’ll eat with us? Then you can tell us what’s on your mind.”
“Biscuits, bacon, and eggs? As Bruce says, hell yeah.”
“Good. There’s a cantaloupe in the fridge and a bowl on the counter. Would you prep the melon?”
He scooped out the guts and was cutting the rind off the cantaloupe when Keeley walked through the door, a mug of coffee cradled in her hands. She kissed Abby on the cheek, then shocked Owen by going up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the lips.
Stupid thing was, if she were truly his, he could see exactly that moment playing out on different occasions stretching on for the rest of his life.
He blocked out that dream because yearning for something that could never be would only make him more miserable than he already was.
His gaze searched hers and she gave him a shy smile before setting her mug on the table to wrap her arms around Bruce from behind. “Good morning, Dad.”
“Good morning, daughter.”
She kissed Bruce on his cheek and took the seat next to his. Her folks’ orange cat left his perch on the windowsill and leapt onto her lap. She stroked him and drank coffee, her gaze steady on Owen.
Abby scooped eggs into a bowl. A timer chimed and she opened the oven and pulled out a tray of golden biscuits. In minutes they were all seated at the table with a breakfast that beat the shit out of his usual oatmeal.
Keeley smiled at her dad when he slipped a bit of bacon to the cat on her lap. The cat knew he had a good deal and was purring his heart out.
“Tell us what happened last night that brought the police to our home again,” Abby said.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Owen raised a brow at Keeley, who tapped her mug and shook her head. “You tell them.”
So he did, giving Abby and Bruce the rundown of the events from the previous evening. He finished by saying, “I don’t want Keeley left alone, and I don’t want her staying at the cottage. She’s been attacked or threatened three times. I can take care of her at Easy Money, but she’s more vulnerable here.”
Keeley sat up, the cat jumping off her lap. “Wait a second,” she began, but he held up a finger.
“This is nonnegotiable, princess. You’re not staying here.”
He bit into a biscuit smeared with Cider Mill Farm boysenberry jam. Swallowing, he said, “I can’t remember the last time I had homemade biscuits, Abby. These are damn good.”
“Damn good,” Bruce repeated.
Keeley, more alert now, her hazel eyes glittering sharp green, said, “You can’t order me around, and then be all charming to my mom.”
“I’m never charming.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You can be, and you know what I mean.”
He wanted Keeley to understand, but there was a more urgent consideration. “Is there someplace you two can go for a few days where you’ll be away from whatever is going on?” he asked Abby.
