Page 61 of Irish Betrayal

“It didn’t. It won’t.”

Ulf stared at both of them, a look of disbelief on his face. Thankfully, a call from Tim Daniels interrupted the interrogation. Truth be told, Daniel hadn’t been satisfied with Blair’s weak explanations, but he had no choice but to trust.

twenty-six

BLAIR

It had been one hell of a night and an even crazier morning. Daniel had surprised Blair last night at Katy and William's. Running away hadn’t made Daniel stop loving her, which made her heart stop and start all at once. And last but by no means least, there was a crazy amount of sex involved, and she ached in all the best ways.

And now, after only fifteen hours of having Daniel back, she was forced to say goodbye. At least this time, it was face-to-face.

No secrets.

No running.

Her guilt over not sharing the entire history with Peter ate at Blair, but no matter how hard she’d tried to form the words to explain their past to Daniel, they refused to leave her mouth. Her fear that her dad might do something rash and illegal when he found out was also a fear with Daniel.

Blair was only putting off the inevitable. She would tell her parents…which meant telling Daniel. She rationalized it was best to wait until she was home and once she and Daniel were more solid, once they had been a couple longer.

Excuses.

So cowardly.

As the weeks passed in Oklahoma, each day brought a new memory that she’d clearly suppressed.

On four occasions, Peter had bruised her…a slap to the face, pinched thighs or arms. He always apologized. Things were bound to happen like that between two people “who are so connected.”

It was the way things were.

Not anymore. Every dawn brought more clarity. Every dusk, the past suffocated her. It had to stop. She had to stop him. There was still the minutest hope that he would let her go without further drama.

Even if he did let her go, she had to tell.

Would he walk away? Were there others like her?

Daniel needed to go to his family. Nothing else would suffice, and yet, his presence would have solved everything. Peter wouldn’t have dared to approach her again while her man, the man she loved, stood beside her.

Even though she’d be alone physically once Daniel left, she had Daniel now. He was her rock, her shield. She would wield his place in her heart like a sword and gladly cut Peter with its sharp edge.

“Christ, Blair, but I don’t want to leave you,” Daniel said. He was too close to sign and holding on to her too tightly. Her eyes practically crossed trying to read his lips, but when they registered, her stomach rolled with love and regret.

She loved Daniel beyond reason, but she regretted how vulnerable she knew she would feel when he was gone.

Peter was still going to be in Oklahoma.

Her past was still a threat to their future.

“I’ll miss you, but I’m only a few weeks behind you. I really do work more than anything else, and I’m well ahead of the university schedule.” She felt her cheeks warm when she admitted, “I finished writing the thesis six weeks ago. The last of the data I’m gathering on this property will be added before I turn it in.

“Professor Bartel is extremely pleased with my work and asked me to be an adjunct instructor under her until I finish my doctorate, but I told her I’ll be returning to Scotland, Ireland really,” she grinned, “the moment I’m done here in Oklahoma.”

“Wales if Uncle Ulf has anything to say on the matter,” Daniel grinned, tucking a curl behind her ear.

“Very aware.” Blair had been fighting tears while Daniel packed, including his significantly depleted condom supply.

Trailing Daniel as they walked outside to her Jeep, Blair casually asked, “We are together, then? Exclusive.”

Daniel opened the back hatch and tossed his luggage and backpack in before turning slowly to take in her awkward “casual” lean against the spare tire.