Page 43 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

I nodded, mesmerized by those calm eyes. They reminded me of the Mediterranean Sea. Lena and I traveled to the Mediterranean countries one summer. We spent an unplanned weekend on an island. I remembered one morning looking out the window into the sea, and the surface of the sea around that island seemed like glass. All the brewing of the storm that happened since the moment I laid eyes on Alexander Caldwell, turned into that glass, calming surface of the sea.

“You’ve had a rough week,” he said, his hand reaching out for my face. My thoughts stopped when he touched me, his fingers lightly wiping the lingering teardrop that fell off my eyelash onto my cheek. “Get some rest this weekend, Liberty.”

I nodded and watched him say goodbye to Brandon, putting a big smile on his cute little face before he left through our front door.

Chapter Nineteen

Alexander

It killed me to see Liberty so upset. I’d rather have her defiance, anger than see her so heartbroken. As her body shook in my arms, I wanted it to make it all better for her, make all her hurt and worry disappear. I always protected my family but never concerned myself with their feelings. This was a new territory for me. Liberty was new territory.

Her arms wrapped around me and nothing felt as right as having this woman in my arms, seeking comfort from me. I thought back to the cemetery. Her and Brandon grief stricken, staring at the coffins full of peonies scattered across them. I had our florist cut them and deliver them for the funeral. The whole graveyard emptied and she stood there, rain and tears mixing on her face. As she picked up Brandon and walked away from the grave, she looked so lost and frail but also there was inner strength in her that I admired so much.

I recognized Callen McLeod the moment he approached Liberty. I couldn’t believe the man would add to her pain by showing up. The jealousy burned inside of me. They looked good together, her with her dark hair and him with his light hair. They made a perfect looking family, and you’d think Brandon was their son.

I won’t let that happen.

The fury that came over me as I watched them closely surprised me but I knew there was no sense fighting it. I would not let Callen get back into her life. He had his chance and he blew it. She was mine now.

I said goodbye to Brandon, impressed by how brave he was. There was sadness in both him and Liberty, but I planned to take care of them both.

Facing Liberty one more time, I couldn’t resist touching her face. Her hazel eyes shone with tears she held back as she watched me, and I lightly brushed one lingering on her eyelashes.

“Get some rest this weekend, Liberty.”Because I will find a way to make you mine and take care of you and Brandon.

Maybe I was more like my bastard father than I thought. My obsession with Liberty Rain Smith certainly resembled my father’s obsession with her mother.

The woman he killed for.

Chapter Twenty

Liberty

Being a new guardian, I had no clue what I was doing most of the time. I would forget about dinner or breakfast, and while that wasn’t a big deal when it was only me, it was a problem now because it impacted Brandon. I desperately tried to establish some kind of routine and schedule that would work and make me a better caregiver.

And my little guy was amazing. He actually praised me when I did well. We made a pact to always stick together and remind each other when we forgot to do something. Like wash clothes and then scramble at the last minute to get him something clean to wear.

The nights when he fell asleep were hard. My mind was filled with a million thoughts. Since Lena’s death, all the past I had been ignoring since my mother’s death started creeping back, warning me I had been ignoring issues for far too long.

I’d stare at the ceiling, pictures and memories from the past pushing through, a feeling of guilt squeezing my chest.

I should have seen it.

I closed my eyes, trying to focus on the pain and the memories that caused it.

The smell of flowers, my mom’s favorite peonies were everywhere. The sweet, rosy smell became the smell of home. No matter what time of the year we were in, Mom and home always smelled like peonies.

Her hazel eyes watched me with a sadness I didn’t see through my young eyes.

“Mom, I’m an adult now.” I was agitated, wanting everything now. I just turned twenty-two and thought I knew it all. “You told me once I was an adult, you’d tell me about my father.” I couldn’t understand what the problem was.

“Livy.” My mom’s hand trembled slightly. “I’m not ready yet.”

“Ready for what?”

“Please, baby. Let it go.” There was desperation in her voice.

“No,” I spat back angrily. “Why do I always have to let it go? I should be able to know something about him. Part of me is missing because I know nothing about him or any of my heritage. Where did I come from? Where did he come from? Why doesn’t he come to see us?”

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