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“That’s a good start. Give me time to sort this out. I’ll find an answer that works for us. I’ll get us out of this mess.”

A sliver of sadness lodged in Talyn’s heart. He needed this, but he couldn’t force Sinead if she’d be miserable. His ability to sooth her frantic thoughts was not enough for her to consider their formal joining.

“I’ve no objections in staying together. I like you, Sinead. I think I could like you a lot. I want this to work. But you need to help me make this work. I can’t do it without you.”

Sinead swallowed, and her gaze traveled over him. “You’re a lovely guy, Talyn. Way too good for me. My idea of a good time is getting so wasted I can’t remember what I did. You won’t enjoy that. I don’t think you’d enjoy me when I behave like that.”

“Do you enjoy doing that?” Talyn deliberately brushed his hand across her palm and felt her relax. It was a sneaky move, and he shouldn’t have done it, but she was panicking so much it made his heart hurt.

“It’s the way my mom lets off steam. She opens a bottle of wine any time of the day and says it’s five o’clock somewhere in the world. It’s how she relaxes. I was sixteen when she first took me dancing with her. We went to the local bar, and everyone knew her. Everyone welcomed her. They bought her drinks, and me, even though I was underage. It felt incredible to be included. The alcohol made everything easier and took away my worries.”

“So, you carried on doing it?”

“Sure, why not? It worked for my mom. She loves to have a good time. She was always laughing when she had her dancing shoes on and a drink in one hand. My mom’s a good-time girl. She told me never to take life seriously. Never let it hold you down or pull you under. You can’t do that when you’re drinking and dancing.”

“What’s your mom doing now?” Maybe that was the voice Talyn heard in Sinead’s head. That could be her mom. If so, he wasn’t certain she was a great influence. Who took their underage child drinking because it was a fun thing to do? He tried not to judge and waited for Sinead to continue.

She ducked her head and clasped his hands between both of hers. Talyn sucked in a breath as his body shook with pleasure. Sinead made him feel so damn good.

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard from her. Mom moves around a lot. The latest guy she’s with is wealthy and likes to travel. She goes with him.”

“Are you like your mom?”

“Everyone says we look more like sisters than mother and daughter. She had me when she was eighteen, but it also helps she’s had a little work done. The last I’d heard, she’d just had a second boob job.”

He cocked his head. “What’s a boob job?”

“You know, perk up the ladies and make them bigger.” Sinead glanced at her chest.

“A boob job is the inclusion of silicone implants into a woman’s chest. The nipples are often lifted, and the skin raised to give a perky, youthful appearance to the breasts,” Booby said.

Talyn frowned and couldn’t help but glance at Sinead’s ample chest. “Have you had a boob job?”

“No! These are my own. But guys like women with ample assets, and Mom knows how to use hers to the maximum. She doesn’t want to lose what she has. She always worries about her looks. I remember her slathering herself in anti-wrinkle cream and moaning about getting old.” Sinead shook her head. “She’s gorgeous. She doesn’t have to worry about that. Men have always lusted after her. They chase her and beg her to marry them.”

“And she agrees to these marriage proposals?”

“She did five times.” Sinead smiled at him.

Talyn could tell his ability was working on her. The panic that had flared through Sinead’s mind had receded. She was full of fond feelings for her mom. They were conflicted, though. There was a part of her that loved her mom intensely but another side that was fearful of her and ashamed she wasn’t good enough to make her mom proud.

Talyn lowered his barrier more, keen to filter away Sinead’s worry and learn more about her family. She had a deep connection to her mother. It wasn’t dissimilar to the connection he had with his own mother. Neither connection seemed healthy.

“Does she often visit you?” Talyn asked.

“Oh, no. I haven’t seen her in three years. She keeps in touch when she can. The last time I heard from her must be three months ago. She’s always busy. Mom lives an incredible life.”

“You must miss her.”

Sinead sighed. “I do. But it’s nice not to have to live up to her crazy schedule. Mom doesn’t have an off switch, you see. She’s always on the go and looking for a new adventure. It was fun when I was younger, and I looked forward to our nights out and what she’d get us embroiled in.”

“You make it sound like she went out looking for trouble.”

Sinead shook her head. “Trouble often found her. It’s because she attracts attention. It makes people jealous. Mom doesn’t have many girlfriends, but the guys, they can’t get enough of her. I know I’ll never be as popular as she is.”

Talyn stroked her silky hair. “Sinead, you do realize how beautiful you are, right? And you’re caring and have a huge heart. Those things are important.”

She eased her hand away from his and waved it between them. “As I said, you’re way too good for me. Only a truly lovely guy says that and means it.”