by Kasey Krane
“Breakfast?” he suggested, suddenly jumping out of bed like he’d read my mind. Aidan had no interest in making time stand still.
Sure, the sex was good. It had always been good. But that was a far cry from being in an actual relationship. From starting something with me. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.
I watched him walk naked out of the room. I could hear him in the kitchen, walking about. I smelled coffee and then a few minutes later, there were eggs being fried on a pan.
He definitely had grown up. Five years ago, the Aidan I knew wouldn’t have known how to crack an egg without completely destroying it.
So much had changed in this time.
I’d lost all hope.
I’d lost my chance at happiness.
Now, the only thing I could do was make sure my mother stayed alive long enough to die a natural and peaceful death. After that, I had no idea what my future held for me.
Probably complete destruction.
Nineteen
Aidan
We had breakfast together, after which, I told Leah I needed to leave because I had to get to work and take care of some business. It wasn’t a complete lie—I was still needed back at the construction site. More importantly, I felt like I needed to put some distance between us.
I shouldn’t have gone to her apartment the night before. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to be so easily tempted. Even though I gave her the benefit of the doubt for now, as far as her involvement with the Barons was concerned, I still couldn’t allow myself to take this any further.
It was supposed to be just one fuck for old time’s sake. After that, I was supposed to move on with my life.
I didn’t know how I would ever move on with my life after her.
Instead of riding back to my apartment, I decided to go to Killian’s cabin.
I wasn’t prepared to tell any of my brothers about what was really going on with Leah. I was still trying to protect her. However, I felt like I needed to surround myself with some familiarity. Take my mind off how addictive Leah was.
I hurried to the cabin in the woods and rushed up the steps to knock on the door.
But instead of Killian, it was Reese who opened the door.
“Oh, Aidan! It’s you!” she exclaimed, rushing back inside.
“Killian around?” I asked.
“No, he left about an hour ago. Something about a shipment. Do you want something to eat? I can whip up some eggs.”
I followed Reese to the kitchen and saw that she was in the middle of baking.
It looked like there were several cake tins cooling on a wire rack on the counter. There were mixing bowls, ladles and whisks lying around. Icing in bags, edible decoration, flour and chocolate sauce.
The kitchen looked like a mess, which was not what it looked like these days since Reese started living here.
“No, thanks, I’ve eaten a big breakfast. What’s going on here?” I asked, looking around.
Reese sighed, rubbing her forehead with the back of her hand and leaving a trail of flour there. I could see she was exhausted and worried about something.
“Don’t even ask…”
“You trying to bake a cake?”
She met my eyes and shook her head.
“Yes. Trying is the operative word here. I thought I would bake my own cake for the engagement party and it’s…as you can see…not going too well.”
Shit. I’d forgotten about the big engagement party. When was it? Tonight?
I was so caught up with Leah, that I’d completely forgotten about it.
Reese covered her face with her hands. It seemed like she was about to give up and break into tears.
I wished Killian were here, because I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“Okay. Reese, look at me. Tell me what you need,” I said.
Yes, the engagement party was tonight, and more importantly—things were falling apart. I didn’t realize that I’d just walked into a ticking time bomb.
Apparently, Reese dismissed all help Killian had offered for organizing the party and she insisted she would be able to handle it herself.
She’d been working tirelessly the past few weeks on arranging a venue, catering, decorations, invitations, booze and also the cake.
Killian had instructed her that he invited some important people and business associates and he wanted to make a good impression.
Now, Reese felt overwhelmed and like she had nothing in order.
She sat at the kitchen table with her face covered with her hands. Her voice was muffled because she refused to look at me.
“I just wanted to make him happy. I thought I’d be able to handle it myself. I’ve never had a responsibility like this. On this scale. Even when Isabelle offered to help, I shrugged her away.”
“This is not a one person job, Reese. This is the reason why people hire professionals to take care of a party like this.”
“I know. I see that now. I thought I could do it, but I can’t. The caterers are backing out, the decorations aren’t up yet, this cake is a disaster and I forgot about the band. Killian said we need to have some kind of live entertainment.” The more she spoke, the more she blubbered.
What was I expected to do? Give her a hug?
I crossed my arms over my chest and she looked up at me, teary eyed.
“I know…I understand how you all feel about me…” she began.
“I don’t know what you’re referring to.”
“I’ve caused a lot of shit. Stirred up a war between my stepfather and your family. Maybe you guys don’t think I deserve your brother. Which was why I was trying so hard to make a good impression. Show you that I really do deserve to be here…”
Her eyes filled with tears and I realized I had to do something before this got out of hand.
“You don’t have to prove yourself to us, Reese. All that should matter to you is what Killian thinks, and I can tell you he thinks very highly of you. One stupid party won’t make a difference.”
“We are going to remember this stupid party forever! We are engaged. It’s supposed to be a happy celebration, but instead, I’m freaking out over here!”
I breathed in deeply, at a complete loss for what needed to be done.
I couldn’t bake a cake. I definitely couldn’t decorate a venue. I couldn’t even supply Reese with the encouraging words she really needed.
“Okay, whatever you do, Reese, don’t freak out,” I said.
When Leah opened the door it seemed like she’d just stepped out of the shower. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that clung to her tits and woke my cock. I had to focus on just her face. Damp red hair was strewn over her shoulders messily. She looked fresh and beautiful.
“Oh?” She was surprised to see me so soon after leaving.
Honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing there. I could have gone anywhere else. Made a few phone calls and done the job.
“Are you busy?” I asked.
Leah shrugged. “I just called the hospital and they said Mom is asleep, so I guess, no.”
“I need help,” I replied.
Her eyes grew wider and she smiled—like she was pleased to hear it.
She didn’t even ask for an explanation. Instead, she hurried to get ready. We were out of the door in under ten minutes.
On my bike, she clung to me as I rode us back to Killian’s cabin.
Reese was still freaking out, but had somehow managed to dress herself. She didn’t know what kind of help I was bringing. I didn’t know why I was doing this. I wasn’t thinking.
Finally, Leah turned me for an explanation and I tried to fill her in as best as possible.
“And now the party is in less than six hours and everything’s a mess.” Reese added, looking exhausted. She sank down into one of the chairs, shaking her head.
Leah passed me one glance, turning to Reese with a smile.
“We have six hours? That’s plenty of
time. Why don’t we start by calling a few caterers first? I’m sure, for an extra fee someone will be more than willing to cater an event like this.” She turned to me with a smile and I nodded.
The extra fee wasn’t a problem. I would do anything to make sure my brother got what he wanted for his engagement party.
Reese looked a little relieved. The color returned to her cheeks.
Leah looked around the messy kitchen, but instead of panicking, she was calm.
“The cake looks totally salvageable. We don’t have to make it as lavish as a wedding cake. Something simple and graceful will do the job. It won’t take longer than two hours to turn the cake around.”
Reese clutched her chest with both hands, like she’d somehow suddenly found a heartbeat.
She stared up at Leah like she had all of life’s answers.
“And the decorations…” Reese murmured.
Leah smiled, pulling her phone out.
“There are thousands of mood boards for decor ideas we can use. Something tasteful, but simple to execute. I’m sure Aidan can arrange all the things we need. Once we’re done with the cake, we’ll head to the venue and set it up. Two hours…and that still leaves us with enough wiggle room for last minute things.”
She looked at me and then at Reese.
Maybe it wasn’t such a big deal, but to Reese and I, it felt like she had just saved the day. Simply by using her organizational skills.
Reese stood up and threw her arms around Leah, giving her a tight happy hug.
“I don’t know how to thank you!” she exclaimed.
Just as Leah had promised—things did come together pretty neatly, and as it turned out, we had nothing to worry about.
But Reese knew just as well as I did that none of this would have worked out so smoothly if it wasn’t for Leah.
Five hours later, we were at the venue and Leah helped Reese bring in the cake they’d baked together. Some of our guys had been called in to help with the balloons and decorations.
Leah had managed to execute a simple, but classy look for the event, and Reese was beaming. She couldn’t stop complimenting Leah on her good taste and eye for detail.
The cake was small and nothing fancy, but it looked delicious.
Killian had texted to say he was on his way to the venue. The rest of my family would have been arriving soon too.
I looked over at Leah and saw her engrossed in a deep conversation with Reese. They seemed to be discussing the band.
Leah called an old friend from high school whom she knew used to be in a band. She took a chance, and it turned out that the band still existed. Tonight’s party was exactly the kind of thing they were good at. Leah reassured Reese that everything would be okay.
I walked up to them with my hands shoved in the pockets of my jeans.
“Maybe we should get ready,” Reese said with a smile. “You’re staying right? You have to stay!”
Leah glanced at me. She blushed. How could I say no? After everything she had done to save the day, it would be cruel to send her away now. The least she deserved was a slice of her own cake!
“You should stay,” I said.
Leah was surprised. She didn’t expect that from me.
What kind of a man did she think I was? For fuck’s sake!
“I don’t think I have anything to wear,” she replied, clasping her hands together.
“Why don’t you come to the cabin with me to get ready? We can stop at a store on the way and hopefully make it back in time by the time people start arriving. And who cares if we’re ten minutes late.” Reese grinned excitedly and she grabbed Leah’s hand. Without waiting for a response, she led her away.
Leah looked over her shoulder at me as she walked out. Maybe she was as lost as I was—it felt like it happened too fast.
Nobody, except Colin, knew she was back in town. Now, all of a sudden, she was going to be bang in the middle of a family event.
I expected my whole family to stare at Leah, ask her a million inappropriate questions, or at the very least give me a lecture of disapproval on why they thought this was a bad idea.
Instead, they didn’t bat an eyelid.
Maybe it had something to do with all the praises Reese showered on her every time she was invited to participate in a conversation.
Leah kept her distance and tried not to interfere in the festivities, but Reese was determined that everyone knew how she’d saved the day.
I stood at the bar, watching her as Leah laughed at some stupid joke Nolan must have cracked. Colin was with them. They talked to her like they’d known her all their lives. When, in reality, she hadn’t ever gotten to know my family properly. They welcomed her in because they knew she meant something to me.
She left town before I could introduce her to the family officially. It was over before it even started.
Leah looked ravishing tonight in a short black cocktail dress that had a sexy pussy bow at the back. She’d styled her hair in a neat updo that showed off her milky smooth neck. Her shoulders were bare and had a dusting of freckles that I recognized.
In fact, every inch of her body was familiar to me.
Killian cleared his throat beside me and that was when I noticed him standing there. I had no idea how long he’d been there, observing me while stared at the girl I was falling for.
“You have Reese’s seal of approval—I’ll tell you that,” Killian said.
I tried to hide all my awkwardness by drinking heavily from the bottle of beer in my hand.
“Approval for what? We’re just hanging out,” I replied.
“Okay. Just hanging out after all these years. How many years has it been?”
I shrugged. “I dunno. I haven’t been counting.”
By the looks of the glare Killian gave me, it was pretty apparent that he knew I was lying.
I mean, why did I expect my brothers to simply forget about how I’d moped around for ages after Leah left town?
“This has turned out well. Reese is happy, so I’m happy. Maybe you should keep her around. Everybody deserves a second chance,” Killian continued.
I said nothing. I didn’t want to verbally commit myself to any response. He could assume what he wanted.
Killian waited, and then decided to change the subject.
“Anyway, so this engagement party should be the last straw in the stack. Aldo Baron is coming for us, and we have to be prepared for it.”
“Have you heard anything?” I asked.
Killian sighed, shaking his head.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out. Why? Why haven’t we heard anything? He’s been uncharacteristically quiet even though we know he’s declared war.”
My eyes drifted to Leah again. Reese was pulling her by the arm and it looked like she was about to be introduced to our stepsister, Isabelle. My thoughts went to the day I saw Leah talking to the guy who worked for Aldo Baron. I couldn’t get it out of my mind, no matter how much I tried.
“We haven’t heard anything from him because he’s planning something big,” I replied.
Twenty
Leah
Attending Reese and Killian’s engagement party was a bad idea in every way possible. The biggest problem of all was the fact that now, I felt even more guilty than I did before.
I didn’t expect all of them to be so nice to me. In fact, I didn’t expect them to be nice to me at all. I’d jilted one of their brothers. I’d disappeared for five years. Aidan had admitted to me how torn up he was after I left.
I was sure his family knew about it. Even though I hadn’t been formally introduced to any of them before—we all knew each other because we grew up in the same town. They knew who I was. They knew what I’d done.
And instead of ignoring me or shunning me, they welcomed me into their fold. At least for the night.
Reese was very sweet and the more time I spent with her and Killian—the happier I was that they’d found each other.
She brought the
sweetness to Killian’s bitterness. She was the softness to his hard. And it was pretty evident how crazy he was about her, as much as he tried to downplay it.
It was adorable.
Now, more than ever, it made me think about what it would have been like if I’d stayed. If Aidan and I had the baby together. If we had somehow managed to become a family.
Would we have had an engagement party like this? Surrounded by all these people who were fiercely loyal and protective of us?
Didn’t our child deserve to grow up in a family like this? Where he wouldn’t have to worry about anything in his life. Where he would always be safe.
My parents’ perception of who the Dohertys were and stood for was completely different from reality. First and foremost, they were family. They were close knit. It was evident that they didn’t let too many people in. However, when they did, it was for life.
I looked at Reese with admiration, fondness and a little bit of envy.
She had the life that I could have had if I was stronger back then. If I hadn’t allowed myself to be manipulated by my parents.
I was so afraid that they’d somehow force me to abort the baby, that I left.
I wasn’t thinking straight. I felt alone.
But the truth was, I was never alone. I had Aidan and the support and strength of his entire family if I wanted it.
If only I’d witnessed all this back then—maybe I never would have left. I wouldn’t have blamed myself for falling pregnant out of wedlock.
Instead, I would have been proud.
The party winded to a close. Killian and Reese were on the dance floor, kissing and slow dancing. The rest of the family were scattered around the venue, drinking and laughing. Most of the outsiders—guests, friends and business associates had left already.
I didn’t know what I was still doing there. I wasn't actually a part of the family.
Aidan and I hadn’t interacted too often through the course of the party.
He was constantly surrounded by people and was involved in what looked like serious conversations. Reese always whisked me away to introduce me to people or to just have by her side. So, Aidan and I kept missing each other’s paths.