Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 111775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 559(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Opening the door, all the air left me when I saw him. Shay looked handsome but tired, and I fought the urge to pull him into my arms, to kiss him until we were both gasping for breath.
“Thanks for coming. You really didn’t have to,” I said.
Shay tilted his head, glancing inside my flat. His eyes went to the picture, then to me. I tucked some hair behind my ear, feeling entirely too seen. I moved towards him, placing my hand on his chest. “I know I said thank you yesterday, but I wanted to say it again in person. Thank you. It’s such a beautiful piece. It’s a privilege to have it on my wall. I think I spent about two hours just looking at it when I got home last night.”
Shay’s eyes lowered to my hand pressed firmly over the fabric of his jacket. Then those eyes lifted, burning into me. My pulse fluttered, and I withdrew my hand. “We should probably—”
Before I could finish, Shay grabbed my wrist, spinning me back around. His eyes found mine, checking in, gauging how I was feeling. I inhaled sharply and leaned forward, our noses touching. Then our lips found their way to each other, meeting gently. It felt organic, inescapable. My breathing stuttered as his lips caressed mine, slowly opening me up. I willingly accepted, and before long, the kiss grew more impassioned, desperate …
I broke away, gasping for breath, my hands once more pressing to his jacket. I didn’t know if I was holding him at bay or grasping for my own self-control. Closing my eyes, I found some composure. “There isn’t time.”
Shay fingers came to my chin, tipping it up. I opened my eyes. His held a message, a promise.
Later, then.
I nodded, gathering myself as I motioned to the large bag that held the kids’ Christmas presents. I was going to wait until after the visit before I handed them out. If things didn’t go so well with Mam, then at least the presents afterwards might take away some of the sting.
“Do you mind if I store that in the car?”
Shay nodded, grabbing the bag for me. Walking by him, I stepped out of the flat, and he followed suit, waiting for me to lock my door. I was still full of butterflies, my head dizzy from the kiss. Shay stowed away the presents, then stepped over to the passenger side and opened the door for me. I murmured my thanks, and once I was seated, he went around and slid into the driver’s seat.
Grabbing his phone from the middle console, he typed, “Are you going to be all right today? I can take the kids to see your mother and you can wait outside if you’d prefer?”
I shook my head. “No, I … I need to do this. If I don’t, I’ll just feel like a coward.”
“You wouldn’t be a coward. You’d be protecting yourself. And all I ever want to do is help protect you, Maggie.”
“I know that,” I breathed. “And I’m grateful, but this is something I need to face.”
Shay’s eyes flickered between mine before he nodded and started the car. By the time we reached Delia and Ken’s house, I’d managed to calm down a little. Shay turned off the engine and came in with me. The kids were curious about him, especially when they found out he was mute. Eamonn, the youngest, began peppering him with questions, and I had to keep reminding him Shay couldn’t respond in the usual way.
Vivi seemed eager but nervous. I knew she was excited, and I just hoped our mother managed to pull herself together enough to be kind to Vivi for the duration of the visit. Shay started loading the kids into the back of the car when Delia drew my attention.
“Do you think they’ll be okay?” she asked.
We stood by the front door, and her eyes were on the children. For the first time, I saw a genuine concern for them. She might not have been the most involved foster parent, but she did care for the kids in her own way.
“I don’t know. My mother can be unpredictable,” I answered honestly and saw worry etch her features. “But no matter what happens, they’ll have you and Ken to come back to. They have a solid base with you, and that’s no small thing for a child.”
“Thank you for doing this,” she said then, and I nodded, tugging my scarf higher around my neck before I went to join Shay and the kids. The four of them were surprisingly chipper on the journey. It wasn’t a long drive, about fifteen minutes, but they chatted and giggled the entire way there. I tried to see things from their perspective. As far as they were concerned, it was a fun day out to a new place. Their memories of Mam were so distant they didn’t feel apprehensive.