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“Perhaps we can pick up from where we left off before Archer called?” I murmur in her ear and a shudder moves through her as she turns to face me.
With Cara by my side, facing Blair seems like the easiest thing in the world.
And yet as Cara’s lips find mine and my thoughts drift, the nagging question about the truth of my child won’t leave me.
13
CARA
There’s soup bubbling gently on the stove, perfect for the incoming colder nights, and tea arranged on the coffee table. With no dining setup available, it’ll have to do. I stand by the kitchen counter, hands clasped as I admire my handiwork in preparation for Blair’s visit although the self-appreciation doesn’t calm the flurry of nerves in my stomach.
Arranging for Blair to visit ended up being smoother than I imagined. She’d taken Killian’s call easily for the first time in weeks and dinner was arranged two days later. It had given me enough time to call Sienna for tips on cooking and for me to put together a gentle meal I hoped we would all enjoy.
I care little for what she likes but painting the picture of a perfect family goes a long way.
And I want to make her jealous.
Business with Dante has kept Killian away for most of the day and worry nestles in my gut that he won’t actually make it back in time for dinner with Blair. I can handle her by myself but having him there would definitely help.
As I smooth my hands down my navy dress, a knock at the door sends my heart leaping into my mouth. Without much thought, I hurry to the entrance way hoping it’s simply Killian and he’s finally done for the day. The thought dies the moment I open the door and come face to face with Blair, her crimson hair stark against the black umbrella she holds aloft.
Oh.
“Blair,” I say with more surprise than I intend.
“Cara,” she replies cooly and her black-winged eyes widen a fraction as she stands there. “Are you going to invite me in or are we having this evening on your doorstep?”
“Oh, of course!” Forcing a bright smile, I step aside and usher Blair into the house, closing the door behind her after a glance at the driveway.
No sign of Killian. Great.
Blair closes her umbrella and thrusts it into my hands without a word. It sparks irritation that begins to coil sharply around my heart. Being pleasant to this bitch is going to take more strength than I bargained for.
I set the umbrella aside on the table by the door and hang up her coat after it's also thrust into my arms before I guide her into the lounge with a tight smile.
“What a quaint little house,” Blair purrs slightly, her words dripping in mocking but I decide to ignore them. This isn’t my home so she can say what she likes.
“Please, take a seat,” I state calmly, “there’s some tea, and coffee in the kitchen if you prefer. I’ve made some vegetable soup to chase away the evening chill.”
“Oh I’m not hungry,” Blair says and she turns to me, a tight smile plastered on her dark plum lips. She smooths her hands over her perfectly flat stomach as if to prove a point and I fight the urge to wrinkle my nose. The barbed coils nestle deeper once more in my heart, forcing the beats out of sync for a moment.
“Oh that’s a shame,” I force out behind my smile. “Please, help yourself.”
The sound of the door closing is my savior and I force one final smile at Blair before I dart into the hallway and come face-to-face with Killian. His brow is pinched as he shrugs off his wet coat but the sight of him instantly soothes the twists of discomfort in my gut.
“Killian!”
“Is she here? Am I too late?” he asks in a rush.
“Just on time,” I reply, reaching for his hand. A rush of warmth floods through me as he weaves our fingers together and it strikes me that he may need me for support against Blair as much as I need him. She hurt him deeply in ways I will never fully understand.
I take a step but he catches me, pulling me back into his hold and pressing a warm kiss to my lips. His warm scent mixes well with the scent of the rain and I’m a little lightheaded when we part.
“Let's do this,” he sighs.
Leading him through to the lounge, Blair is absent and my heart stutters for a moment before I notice her in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand.
“Sorry, I’m not really a fan oftea,” Blair explains sweetly as she returns to the lounge. Her gaze drops, lingering on Killian and I’s joined hands before she takes a seat. We sit opposite her and Killian holds tight to my hand, not that I’m complaining.
