She scowled up at me
“Because I don’t have a boyfriend,” she admitted. “I only said that Storm was me boyfriend last night to stop ye’ from chattin’ me up because I didn’t want to have sex with ye’. I still don’t want to have sex with ye’. I just need your help, but ye’ said ye’ couldn’t help me so I’ll be goin’ now. Aideen!”
Aideen walked out of the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“We’re leavin’. Alec won’t help me.”
Aideen frowned, and her shoulders slumped. “Crap, who the hell can we get to be your date to that weddin’ now?”
“Whose wedding?” Dominic asked Aideen.
Keela gave Aideen what I guessed was supposed to be a stern look, but Aideen ignored her, and the look, and answered Dominic’s question.
“Keela’s cousin.” She clicked her tongue in distaste. “Micah is gettin’ married to ‘er dickhead of a fella next week. Jason, Micah’s fiancé, fucked Keela over a few months ago. Since she has to attend the weddin’, we wanted someone to go with ‘er who would show Jason she can do miles better than ‘im. I thought Alec was the man for the job, but apparently, I was wrong.”
Keela was embarrassed—one glance at her told me so—and it was getting harder and harder to keep from helping her.
“Wait,” Dominic said to Keela. “You’re related to Micah Daley?”
“Yeah, Micah is me cousin. D‘ye know ‘er?”
“Unfortunately, I do. She was in my homeroom in high school.”
My brother leaned forward and really looked at Keela’s face. “She was a brunette in school, but I’ve seen her around town, and she has red hair now. You look similar to her.”
“Her hair is dyed red. Mine is naturally this colour. I’m not like ‘er at all; she is a bitch of epic proportions.”
Dominic grinned. “You don’t need to convince me that she’s a bitch, I believe you.”
Keela’s lip twitched.
“What did Jason do to fuck you over?” Ryder questioned her.
She rubbed her neck awkwardly.
“He pretended to like me, took me out on dates and so on in an effort to make me think we were a real couple, but really, he was only usin’ me to get back at Micah for cheatin’ on ‘im. It’s all really fucked up. They worked shite out and are gettin’ married, and because we’re family, I have to go their weddin’.”
“Why not tell them to shove their wedding up their asses?”
This came from Kane.
“Because me ma would be on me case about it. Goin’ to the weddin’ and keepin’ out of the way is much better than dealin’ with me mother if I don’t go. She is the devil.”
“Amen,” Aideen said and made the sign of the cross.
I could feel Keela’s disappointment at how the situation had turned out, but she kept a smile on her beautiful face to keep it hidden.
“It was nice seein’ ye’s again, Kane and Alec, and lovely meetin’ you two lads.” She nodded at Dominic and Ryder. “Have a nice day.”
I moved before she finished speaking. She turned to head for the door, but I was standing in her way. In that split second, I decided to help her. I wasn’t sure why I even considered it, but I saw it in Keela’s eyes that she needed my help, and I wanted to give it to her.
“Turn around and walk into the kitchen.”
“What?” Keela blinked. “Why?”
“Because,” I grunted. “I need to iron out some details with you if I’m going to be your escort to your cousin’s wedding.”
Keela stared up at me with a deer in the headlight look on her face. A few seconds passed by until she found her voice, and said, “But ye’ said that ye’ aren’t in that business anymore, that you’re retired and—”
“Do you want my help or not, Keela?”
She sucked her lower lip into her mouth and nodded.
“Then turn around and walk into the kitchen,” I requested. “I want to talk to you in private. Just the two of us.”
She didn’t say word as she turned and walked by everyone on her way into the kitchen. I followed her, keeping my eyes on her body as she walked. I saw her jump when I closed the kitchen door. She turned to face me, and it was obvious she was unsure about what was happening. I wanted to calm her clearly spiked nerves.
“Do you want a cup of tea?”
She stared at me, her eyes unblinking.
“Why do you look like I just asked you to show me your tits?”
Laughter bubbled up her throat. “Because I’d expect a request like that from you, not an offer for tea.”
I shrugged. “Bronagh and Branna always tell me to ‘put the kettle on’ when they need to have a serious conversation, so I figured you might want one before we talk.”
“Um, sure.” She swallowed. “I’d love a builder’s cuppa, please.”
“What the hell is that?”