Page 18 of The Caress

"No, silly." She rolls her eyes. "This is one of the towers."

"Oh, right. A tower. I see it now."

Well, at least our castle building skills seem to be evenly matched. As long as she’s happy and smiling, I’m more than willing to sit here and help her build hill-shaped towers all day long.

"My dad was sad before we came here," she says, looking up at me with a seriousness that is completely at odds with the way we’ve been playing on the beach. "Before we came here, I mean. After you left."

God, how is it that kids know how to tear a person’s heart out with just a few innocent words? Joy has always been able to do the same thing. It's maddening. Maybe because both girls are old souls trapped in young bodies. Maybe because kids in general have a knack for seeing through adult bullshit and pretense. Maybe Isla and Joy are simply too smart and mature for their own good sometimes.

Whatever the reason, it never fails to make me want to reach out and hug them, to promise that everything is going to be okay and that things aren’t as bad as they sometimes seem.

It’s hard to make that promise now, though. Just like I couldn’t bring myself to make that same promise to Joy when I was talking to her earlier.

I can still give Isla a hug, though. "I think we can all be happy here for a while," I say, meaning it as I pull her in close. "All three of us. And Saffron."

"And Grandma, too?"

Well, I don’t want to lie to the kid. I’m not sure that woman knows how to be happy. But it’s a bright, sunny day and there’s not much harm in being optimistic.

"Sure," I say, nodding. "Your grandmother, too."

From the corner of my eye, I can see someone moving toward us. My pulse instantly quickens even as I recognize who it is.

Just Keir, thank God. Not the killer. Not the paparazzi. Just tall, dark, handsome Keir.

"Looks like your dad is coming down here to check on us," I whisper, smiling as Isla jumps up and starts running toward him.

‘Dad! Are you going to build sandcastles with me and Ella? Please, will you?"

He shoots an inquisitive look in my direction. "Maybe I could join the two of you for a little while."

Is he asking permission? From me? Is this his way of checking to make sure we’re on good terms again? It's not like I’m going to object in front of Isla, but I guess it’s still nice that he’s asking.

"I hope you’re better at building sand castles than I am," I answer, watching him as he walks over to sit next to me.

Keir sits down, flashing me a little smirk. "I’m trying to be nicer."

"Nicer?" I ask. "That’s not exactly a quality I associate with you. Commanding? Dashing? Absolutely unwilling to do things any other way than you’ve always done them? That sounds more like you."

He straightens his tie, his eyes flashing. "Well, maybe I am tired of being so inflexible."

"You? Be more flexible?" I can’t help the laughter that bubbles to the surface. "I don’t think it’s possible."

"You’ll just have to see it in action, I guess." Keir looks amused and sits back, playing with his tie.

Lord, he really is sexy. Sexier than anyone should be in the middle of the day.

It’s times like this, seeing him laugh and play and being so attentive, that I can’t help but think of how nice it would be to stay with him. To have a real, loving relationship that we can both admit to in public. Better yet, to live somewhere together where we don’t have to worry about admitting anything to anyone and where every move we make doesn’t end up in the tabloids.

That isn’t the world we live in, though. That isn’t the kind of life he’ll ever have. That kind of relationship won’t ever be possible with Keir.

I understand that now. Better than I did before, at least.

And that’s why I’m guarding my heart even while I’m letting my mind wander and daydream about a life and a love I know I’ll never get to fully experience.

CHAPTEREIGHT

KEIR

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