“Stay out of it.”

“I can’t. There’s no one else to tell you when you’re being a dick… and by the way, if that wasn’t clear, you’re being a dick.”

“What’s that?” Kennedy asked.

“Princess, go sit in the living room while I talk to Di.” She ran off, and as soon as she was out of sight, Di started to back toward the front door. “Don’t even think about it. You and I need to talk.”

“Really?” she squealed and feigned ignorance. “About that?”

“First, why is my kid watching Jaws and eating ice cream this late at night. Speaking of late, why isn’t she in bed?”

“Whoa, super dad. Calm down. I think the better question is why doesn’t she know she’s your kid?”

“It’s complicated. Now answer the question.”

“You had me help you basically kidnap them by setting up all these locks so you could ‘stake your claim’ and now you’re chickening out?”

“It isn’t kidnapping, and it didn’t go as planned, but it doesn’t matter because they are here now.”

“It didn’t go as planned because it shouldn’t have ever happened. I’m just glad you came to your senses… sort of.”

“Why did you rat me out to my brother?”

“Because you were homesick, and I knew he wouldn’t hurt you no matter how many times he may have fantasized about it over the years.”

“That isn’t a reason.”

“Would I knowing about Kennedy be a reason?”

“Come again?”

She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “He told me when he cornered me. At first, I thought it was a trick to get me to tell him what he wanted to know, but then I realized it was Keiran. He would have just tortured me.”

“So how did he convince you that she was real?”

“He showed me a picture of her. She looks just like you, which is kind of a shame. I always wanted to know if those Maury shows were created with real material or staged.”

“Di.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“What are friends for?” she grinned smugly.

“You fucking annoy me.”

“And you’re a slut.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SHELDON

I’D BROKEN FREE. Back at the shop, I snagged a couple of bobby pins and didn’t allow myself to wonder how they’d gotten there. Thanks to boredom and YouTube, I figured out a long time ago how to pick a lock. Once I was free, I tiptoed out of the room and listened for any sign of Keenan. When I realized he wasn’t in the apartment, I made a mad dash for the phone I spotted downstairs.

I tore the receiver from the counter and dialed Dash. When he didn’t answer, I tried Lake, who answered almost immediately. “Sheldon! I’m so glad you called. I was getting ready to form a search party for you and a lynch mob for Keenan’s head.”

“So why didn’t you?” I asked bitterly. It was all I could do not to scream into the receiver. I had been locked away in some undisclosed location for the past twenty-four or so hours, and Lake, one of my best friends, pretended as if I had just come back from some vacation.

“Well, I didn’t want to disturb your romantic alone time.”

“Come again?”

“Don’t be so stingy with the details, girl. Spill.”

“Lake… what the hell are you talking about?” I was yelling into the phone, clutching it with a grip more suffocating than death. “Scratch that. Where is Kennedy?”

“I thought Kennedy was with you guys. Are you okay?”

“No. I’m not okay. Keenan—”

“Mommy?”

I whirled around and almost tripped over my feet at the sound of my sweet little angel’s voice. “Kennedy?” I could hear Lake calling for me in the background, but I absently hung up and ran the short distance to where Kennedy waited by the door.

“Ken! Oh, my God.” I kissed her all over her face and completely ignored the fact that I could be scaring her. “Are you okay? Let me look at you.”

“Mommy, I had fun.” She began to fire off everything she’d done, and though I could barely keep up with her babble, I listened because I wanted to know exactly where she’d been. “Di show me sharks.”

Di? Did she say Di?

“Di? You had my daughter around that slut?”

“Watch your mouth around my kid.”

“I think I know how to raise my own daughter. I’m her mother.”

“Then act like it. She needs a bath and it’s late. Do it before I change my mind.”

As much as I wanted to argue, he was right. It was almost midnight, and I was surprised she was still up and wide-awake. I could also smell the beach on her. He walked past me and shed his linen jacket that matched the pants he wore. I tried not to salivate over how suave he looked. It was a far cry from the jeans and tees he normally wore. He looked every bit of the man he’d grown to be and even older than his twenty-two years.

I ran a bath for Kennedy. Before long, her eyes were drifting close so I dressed her for bed. By the time, I had her nightie on her Keenan had entered and took a seat on the edge of the tub while I brushed Kennedy’s hair. Her head rested against my chest, but when Keenan entered, she began to fight sleep.

Could she already be attached to him? If she was, then I knew it was too late. How could I rip them apart now?

“Why did Lake think we were spending alone time together?”

“Because that’s what I told them.”

“And they just believed you?” I felt as if I was sold to the highest bidder.

“I told you… they want us back together… even if we don’t.”

“They are being ridiculous.”

His eyes narrowed and his hands clenched at my statement. Kennedy seemed to sense the change in her father because she lifted her head to stare at him. He noticed and snapped out of it immediately, and I couldn’t help but smirk. “I’m going to put our daughter to bed. I want you to wait for me in the bedroom.”

“Keenan, I don’t think this is a good idea. Maybe I should sleep with Kennedy.”

He drew me close with a light hand around my neck and growled against my lips. “Go. Now.”

I met my daughter’s eyes, which were nearly shut from fatigue but still very much aware. Fighting with Keenan in front of her when he was still very new to her would only scare her.

I cleaned up the bathroom and made for the bedroom where I took a shower in the master bath. By the time I finished, Keenan was waiting for me on the bed. He’d shed his shirt and shoes and the sight of him shirtless and barefoot stirred unwanted lust. The tattoos covering his upper body contrasted greatly with the dress pants.

“You can stop drooling now.”

I snapped my mouth shut and swallowed the moisture that had formed from the sight of him. “I wasn’t drooling.”

“If you say so.” He smirked. “Here. I want you to wear this.” He extended a slip of sheer fabric, and reluctantly, I took it and held it up for inspection.

“I think I will be a little over prepared to sleep, don’t you think?”

“You can sleep naked if you want.”

“Why can’t I wear the pajamas I brought with me?”

Instead of answering, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me between his legs and then plucked the lingerie from my hands. The towel was peeled from my body, dropping carelessly to the floor, and just as quickly, I was wearing the gown.

“Will you always need to have your way?”

“I’m afraid so.” He stood to his feet, towering over me. “I’m going to shower, but I’ll be back for you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a promise.” He startled me by kissing my nose softly and then disappeared into the bathroom.

What the fuck?

I all but ran out the room feeling confused and on edge. Why had he changed his mind about Kennedy? Why was he being gentle and almost likable? A part of me hoped it was real while the other feared it was just another mind game.

I entered the bedroom where Kennedy was fast asleep and watched her chest rise and fall for the longest time. With each breath she took, my heart felt lighter. She was safe. She was home. We had each other.