That thought now in her mind, she did the only thing she could do.
Walking over to the tall, broad-shouldered fighter, she slid her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her back, his chin on her head, and they hugged for a moment. Easy, wonderful, simple.
“Let me see.” She gestured toward his hand as they let go of their embrace.
He gave her his large hands, and she inspected the shredded skin over his knuckles and the scratches on his arms carefully.
“These look awful, Kane. We need to put some ointment on them.”
She left to grab the first-aid kit from the hallway bathroom, just as she’d done once or twice before when Shea had gotten a scrape. She spotted no one on her way to the bathroom and back and figured Fi and Shea were still sleeping. When she returned to the kitchen, she found Kane sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his hands. He looked up at her, his expression conveying a million things she couldn’t possibly begin to understand. His eyes never left hers as she sat across from him, took his hands one at a time, and applied a salve to the open wounds.
“He’s not going to bother you again,” Kane finally spoke up, his voice gruff. “Your mom’s bookie. It’s over.”
She didn’t say anything as she repacked the first-aid kit. Her mind reeled with the idea of having her life back. Not having to work an extra job. Not having to fear for her safety any time money was tight. Actually being able to focus on her doctorate program and chase the dreams she had come so close to losing.
She hadn’t wanted him anywhere near her problems—worried that something exactly like last night would happen. He didn’t need to be caught up in her world; he shouldn’t have had to take that risk. But he had. Kane had chased away her demons—the physical ones, anyway—and there was nothing she could do that would adequately express how grateful she was. The dictionary didn’t have enough options to explain how much his actions had meant to her.
Instead, she slid off her chair and sat directly in his lap. His hands circled her bottom, holding her as she faced him. Slowly, she let her fingers caress the sides of his face. He leaned into them, kissing her hand as she went. She let her hand rest over his heart, feeling it beat beneath his skin and reveling in the way she fit so perfectly in his arms.
“I don’t know how I can ever thank—”
His lips crashed down on hers before she could finish. “You don’t need to,” Kane told her between kisses.
She pulled back slightly for just a moment. “No, I do, Kane. Thank you. Thank you for being there for me like no one ever has before. Thank you for risking everything…for me.”
Kane kissed away the tears on her cheeks. “You’re worth it.”
Nora shook her head. Who was he kidding? Suddenly, she was so damned tired of pretending to be strong when she didn’t feel strong. Too much had happened in the last several weeks, and her spirit was threatening to break under the burden. Worth it? She hadn’t been worth anything of value to anyone for a long time, if ever. Not unless her mother’s perpetual need for money could be counted.
Kane grabbed the sides of her face with his hand, gently directing her to look at him. “I know your mother has made you feel like that’s not true. I know I probably made you feel the same way by proposing this whole casual-relationship thing, and I’m so sorry I did that. But if you trust me in any way, Nora, then believe me when I say this…” His eyes pierced hers, and she couldn’t breathe at the intensity of the moment. “You’re worth it. You’re worth so much more than I can give you right now, and that just kills me.”
Tears fell harder, and he kissed her with the same intensity he’d used their very first time. Their lips danced together as he held her face in his bruised hands, and she felt his words resonating in her soul. After everything they’d said to each other, the cruel barbs and painful rejections, this was all that mattered. Right here, right now.
These words. This good-bye.
Each soft, excruciating touch created another ache in her heart for what he was walking away from. What they were both walking away from.
Nora finally tilted her chin down, breaking their kiss, their foreheads touching as they both tried to catch their breath. Gently pushing off his chest, she stood and walked over to the coffee machine. She heard his chair scrape the tile as he got up, too, but she didn’t turn to look at him.
“You’re going to be an amazing champion, Kane.”
He exhaled against the back of her neck and stepped closer. Heat radiated from him as he leaned around her and kissed her gently on the cheek. “You’re going to be an amazing psychologist, Nora.”
Without another word, he left and she was alone. The only sound was the low hum of the refrigerator behind her. She sat at the kitchen table and finished her coffee in silence, waiting for her best friend to wake up and convince her that everything was going to be okay.
It had to be.
It wasn’t.
Chapter 17
“This is just embarrassing.”
Nora looked over to see Fiona frowning over a vase of flowers on her kitchen countertop. “What? They’re pretty.”
“They’re half dead and just randomly shoved in there. Your closest friend in the world is the best florist in town, yet you have cheap grocery-store flowers that you haven’t even watered?”
“Best florist in town might be a stretch,” Nora teased, closing her laptop and heaving a big, happy sigh at having finished the final paper for her graduate program.
“Rude,” Fiona replied, though she was smiling as she began rearranging the flowers in an apparent attempt to make them look a little less sad.
“I’ll probably just throw them out.” Nora moved to grab the vase, but Fiona batted her hands away. “They’ll be dead by the time we get back anyway. What’s the point?”
“We’re gone for only a few days. These can last up to two weeks!”
Nora shrugged. “I think I should probably cancel and stay here, Fi.”
“What are you talking about?” Her friend looked up from the flowers. “You have to go to Vegas with us on Thursday. You just finished the summer semester, and you have another couple weeks before the fall one starts, so don’t tell me you’re busy.”
“It’s not that—it’s that this whole trip is centered around a man I definitely do not want to see.”
Fiona scoffed. “Not true. The championship is just the side attraction to my bachelorette party.”
Nora laughed and shook her head. “Oh, suuuure. Makes total sense.”
“Exactly, and you’re the maid of honor. I’ll be dishonorable without you. You’ve got to come.”
Nora let out a playful sigh as she stomped over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of white wine, then poured them each a glass. “It’s going to be so awkward, though. Why can’t you have the party here?”
“Because I’m the bride.” Fiona took one of the glasses from her. “I get to do whatever the hell I want. Plus, you need a vacation, girl.”
Nora considered her life in recent months. Working a second job, getting caught at it, losing it, worrying over how to pay her mother’s bookie, suddenly having no more worries about her mother’s finances, completing extra clinicals, studying for hours upon hours. As it all flashed through her mind like a bad movie preview, she sighed. Maybe Fiona was right.
“All right, fine, fine. I’ll go have the time of my life on a free vacation just for you,” Nora said with sarcasm and a small smile.
A satisfied grin broke over Fiona’s face. “Your sacrifice is appreciated.”
Nora wandered into the living room and plopped down on the couch with her glass of wine. She stared at the dark television screen, remembering how—had it been only weeks ago?—she and Kane had been together on this couch as if it was the most natural thing in the world. And now, she hadn’t seen or spoken to him in…it felt like forever. Shaking the bittersweet images out of her head, Nora gulped down half her glass before Fiona
joined her.
“So, the semester’s over. How’d school go?” Fiona asked.
A small smile spread across Nora’s face. “That’s actually been really great. I’m only one semester behind, so I’ll have to take classes this fall, which my regular scholarship won’t cover. But a private scholarship just opened up that the dean is trying to help me land. I passed my clinicals and have been studying like crazy.”
“Like a hermit,” Fiona teased. “Ever since you and Kane split, you’ve had your nose in your books.”
“I should have been doing that long before.” Nora sighed, taking another sip of her wine.
Fiona tucked her leg up beneath her on the couch and faced Nora. “How are you doing with the split?”
“I’m fine.” Nora shrugged. “We were never really together.”
“You kinda were.”
Nora shook her head. “Well, even if we were, we’re not now. We’re each just focusing on the things that make us happy—me on school and the youth center, him on fighting.”
Fiona frowned. “I don’t know, Nora. I love my flower shop, but I’d close it down tomorrow if I had to choose between that and Kieran.”
“You would?” Nora’s brows lifted. “But you love that store. You’ve put so much work into it, and it’s what you always wanted.”
“It’s what I thought I always wanted. And then I met Kieran…”
Nora stared at her for a moment, then finished the rest of her wine. She wondered what it was that would really make her happy. She was months from graduating and starting her career—everything she was sure would satisfy her. But the feeling of being in Kane’s arms, waking up next to him, laughing with him…those things definitely satisfied her, too.
Sighing, Nora tried to push the worries away and switched topics. “So, what’s on the agenda for this trip? What should I pack?” Nora asked.
“It’s four days, and they’re jam-packed. The first day is going to be a press tour, and we’re going to help the guys with that—show our support and whatnot. Second day is the bachelor and bachelorette parties, so fun! The next day Shea and Kiera will be joining us, and the last day, Sunday, is the championship. Just bring cocktail dresses, and at least one really fancy outfit.”
“I love Shea, don’t get me wrong, but I still don’t understand why you’re bringing an eight-year-old to Vegas.”
“You will,” Fiona said in a singsong lilt as she flashed a mischievous grin.
Nora raised her brows. “Now who’s the one keeping secrets?”
“Good secrets, though.” Fiona winked. “This weekend is going to be so much fun!”
Nora smiled at her friend, and the women clinked glasses together. Truthfully, she was looking forward to the trip, even to seeing the championship fight. She loved the Kavanaghs and she loved Fiona and Shea. She’d never been to Vegas before, but she was sure she’d love it, too. Not so much for the slot machines and gambling, of course, but drinking and dancing sounded right up her alley.
She needed more fun in her life, needed just to let loose and enjoy time with friends. Her life had been on hold for so long as she’d dealt with earning money to pay her mom’s gambling debts, finishing school, and so on. Now that money was no longer an issue—thanks to Kane—and she’d finished up the semester, she was excited to get back to being young and having fun.
And Vegas sounded like just the place where she could do that.
Chapter 18
“How do we get to the MGM Grand? That’s where we’re staying and where the fight is, right?” Nora looked over at Fiona and Clare as they stepped onto the bright sidewalk outside the Las Vegas airport.
“Yep, in the arena, and we’ve got a block of rooms in the hotel,” Fiona confirmed.
“There’s a driver meeting us,” Casey told them, only steps behind Clare and Fiona. “Look for someone holding a sign that reads ‘Kavanagh.’ ”
Nora scanned the town cars lining the sidewalk and quickly spotted a tall man with bright-green eyes holding the sign Casey had referred to. The women made their way to the vehicle, squinting in the blinding desert sun.
“Welcome to Vegas, ladies.” The chauffeur shook hands with each of them. He had a big smile full of perfectly white teeth, a clean-shaven jaw, and eyebrows that matched so precisely that they had to have been groomed. Nora couldn’t help but wonder if he also worked as an actor or something in show business since he sported such gorgeous looks and pristine manscaping. “I’m Diego, your chauffeur. I’ll be taking you to the MGM Grand. Let me help you with your bags.”
“Thank you, Diego.” Nora tilted the handle of her suitcase toward him with a grateful smile. Her bag was way overpacked and much heavier than she’d intended.
“Yes, thank you soooo much, Diego,” Casey crooned, trying extra hard to be flirtatious as she leaned against the large town car. “Have I seen you somewhere before?”
Nora didn’t miss Fiona and Clare rolling their eyes as they left their luggage on the sidewalk and climbed into the backseat. Casey was the youngest of them, and it definitely showed in her attitude. Luckily, she was so sweet and personable that no one really minded when some of her more immature tendencies were on display from time to time. The downside was that all of the women, Nora included, felt a certain responsibility for her, since they knew the Kavanagh brothers would have preferred that Casey live in a convent and never see men, ever.
“Maybe!” Diego looked excited now, pulling a small photograph out of his back pocket and handing it to Casey. Nora glanced over and saw that it was his head shot. “I’m in one of the shows over at the Rio. You should come see me sometime.”
“Oh, definitely,” Casey replied, her eyes roaming the poor man’s muscular arms. “You should come join us tomorrow night at the MGM nightclub. It’s a bachelorette party…”
His eyes widened slightly. “Sounds like a good time. DJ Calvin Harris is playing the Hakkasan Nightclub there tomorrow.”
Nora perked up at this. “Really? Did he ever bring his ex-girlfriend to work with him?”
Diego glanced at her briefly before looking back at Casey. “Taylor Swift, the pop icon? Yeah, I don’t think so.”
“Never?” Nora frowned. Swiftie down.
She joined Clare and Fiona in the backseat as Casey sat up front next to Diego and they made their way to the hotel. Despite their excitement, all four women were exhausted from the flight. When they arrived at the hotel, they unpacked their luggage in their rooms, which were all located on the same hallway. Casey and Nora shared a two-bedroom suite, and Clare and Fiona roomed with their fiancés.
“Nora!” Casey called her from the living room.
Putting her now-empty suitcase in the closet, Nora left the luxuriously plush bedroom for the even more beautifully decadent living room. These rooms were some of the best she’d ever seen, and she was pretty sure her feet hadn’t touched the ground since they’d arrived.
“Case, these rooms are amazing,” Nora called out as she scanned the inside of the not-so-minibar. “I can’t believe we’re staying here!”
“I know,” Casey gushed. “But it gets better, because…guess what!”
Nora doubted it could actually get better than this, but gave her a shot. “What?”
“Aunt Dee booked all of us spa appointments. She’s meeting us down there in thirty minutes for massages, manis/pedis, and facials before the press conference tonight. Her treat—she insisted.”
Yep, it definitely got better.
“Oh my goodness!” Nora sputtered, unable to believe the extent of the Kavanaghs’ amazing kindness. She was used to paying her own way with everything, and this was a strange—and slightly uncomfortable—situation for her, but she knew refusing to participate would only hurt their feelings. “She’s going to pay for all of us? Me, too? I can’t let her do that—no way. I don’t mind at all sitting this one out.”
“Oh good, because it’s for everyone but you,” Casey deadpanned. Then she broke into a grin as she crosse
d her eyes and made a face that made Nora laugh. “Of course you’re coming, silly. Everything on this trip is paid for by my aunt and uncle, or by Kane’s sponsors, and good luck trying to tell Aunt Dee no.”
Nora shook her head. “I don’t know…”
“Well, I do, and you’re coming,” Casey said firmly, a big smile still on her face. “Anyway, I need to chill before tonight’s headache.”
“Are press conferences stressful?”
“Incredibly so.” Casey plopped onto the plush couch in the suite’s living room and dropped her feet onto the coffee table. “The last time we were here was when Rory was in the championships. He didn’t win—you remember the story about his injury and his career ending and all that, right?”
Nora nodded. It wasn’t a pretty story, and she’d always been impressed by how much Rory had done to better himself since then. She hadn’t known him back in his fighting days, but she’d heard stories of a guy vastly different from the mature, strong, sweet man she knew now.
“Right, well, before Rory’s fight, there was a huge, long press conference, and the fighters have to sit next to their opponent and answer questions. They also do blood tests, weigh-ins, physicals, and a bunch of other stuff,” Casey explained as she stood up, made her way over to the ice bucket, and scooped herself a glass of ice. “Kane’s schedule is going to be insane! We probably won’t see him much until the championship.”
Nora didn’t mind that one bit, but she was impressed at the whole process. “Wow, it all sounds so exciting.”
Casey took her glass to the minibar, pulled out a soda, and poured. “It is…the attention is insane.”
“I keep forgetting that you guys are so”—Nora wondered how to phrase it without sounding presumptuous or insulting—“so…famous.”
“Well, I’m not famous at all. My cousins are, but really only in their sport. You won’t find paparazzi following them around when they’re at home or anything.”
Nora joined Casey at the minibar, pouring her own glass of ice-cold soda. “But here?”
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