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We set off and I couldn’t say who reached for who, but we walked hand in hand. With her free one, she pointed to the top of the building where the ball drops every year. “Is that the ball?”
It was dark, I couldn’t really tell. “I don’t know.”
“Let’s pretend it is. What would you do if it was New Year’s Eve?” she asked.
Kiss you was the first thought that came to mind. “Enjoy the party,” was what I said. “What about you?”
“I don’t know. I think I’d be that girl who would want a proposal or something else epic to happen.”
“Epic, huh?”
She bobbed her head. “Walk me to Central Park. I’ve never been there.” She didn’t give me an option, dragging me along behind her.
Several blocks later, we walked in. It was late, but it appeared open.
“I imagined taking a carriage ride, but I guess not this time,” she said.
I found myself wishing I could have been with her on a carriage ride. The night was alive all the same. Holding her hand felt right.
We walked until she gave up. “I don’t know if I can make it back,” she said, laughing.
“So we should race,” I joked.
Her jaw dropped, but then she took off. This time, I caught her and swept her off her feet. Her amusement was infectious. I felt lighter than I had in months. But then, I found myself mesmerized by her mouth again and set her down.
She let the moment pass without comment, but it was different. We didn’t hold hands the rest of the way back to my truck, which was still where we’d left it. She navigated us back to her place. As I idled in front of her door, she smiled. “Thanks for this. I didn’t know how much I needed it.”
“Me too,” I said, hating that it was over.
I thought she might say more. Instead, she smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes and said, “Night.”
“Goodnight.” I watched her disappear inside the house.
We were friends. That’s all we would ever be. I’d been firm about that to her. Now I had to convince myself.
Fourteen
Liam
Internally, I’d debated on whether or not to accept the modified job offer. I spoke to Grant briefly and he thought I should go for it. I had to admit, I liked the idea of security work, plus flying helicopters. Secretly, I enjoyed that more than flying planes, and hadn’t told my uncle who loved planes as much as his son.
The next day I was called in to fly my father to the hospital for another appointment. Rumor had it he was dying, but reports had been sketchy about his diagnosis.
This time I was let into the King compound by someone on the house staff. I was asked to wait in the hallway across from double doors that were open to a two-story library. Before I could cross and look in, Connor appeared.
“On time. A good quality,” he said.
“You should know that about me. I’m sure you guys did a thorough background check.”
“We did, which is why you’re here. But I want to remind you that even if you hate my father, you will show him respect.”
I held his gaze and arched an eyebrow. “Your father?”
“We have no proof you are his son. And you aren’t the first person claiming they were fathered by him. All have been disproven.”
“Are you saying you don’t believe me?” I asked.
His jaw tightened. “To be honest, you’re the first person that I thought maybe. But have you considered the alternative?”
“What’s that?” So far, our conversation had been cordial. Our voices kept at a level that wouldn’t be heard down the hall. If he said something about my mother I didn’t like, all that would change.
“When I met Grant, I’ll admit I wondered if we could be brothers. Now I find out he’s a cousin. When I met you, my first thought was that you were his brother.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you suggesting my mother is a liar?”
“No. I’m suggesting merely that there’s an alternative.”
I got in his face. “My mother isn’t a liar. If that was an option, she would have told me.”
He didn’t back down. “Did you ask?”
Anger boiled my blood. The gall of this asshole.
“I’ll be honest with you,” he began.
“Why? Because I’ve signed a non-disclosure agreement?”
“Because I like you.” I waited; my fury not subsided. He exhaled. “There is a real question if my father is my biological parent. In fact, the day you showed up, I thought it was the delivery of my own DNA results.”
That caught me cold, and I waited for the rest of what he had to say.
“I didn’t hide the question. When I spoke to my father about it, he could have denied me and cut me out of his life.”
“And?” Though the answer was obvious.
