Before Sunrise Read online

  “No. It’s you. I caught you off guard; I used all my old tricks on you to get you into my arms. But look at you, you’re protecting our daughter. I even think you’re protecting me from me. Making sure we can do this right. I respect that. Especially since when I’m near you I can’t concentrate.”

  Her silence caused him to glance over. She looked as if she wanted to say something. “What is it?”

  “I just missed you so much.”

  “Come here. Closer. I won’t bite, unless you want me to.”

  Kennedy moved in and he dropped his arm around her shoulder. He inhaled her scent and it soothed him. “Do you know what I was thinking of earlier?”

  “What?” she asked softly.

  “I was thinking about the time when we were caught by your folks. How your dad called the police on me. The feeling I had when I thought I might lose you. It was a different feeling than the one in that desert. In the desert I hadn’t lost you, I was just fighting to survive to get back to you. Back then, with your folks I mean, when they took you from me, I couldn’t breathe. Kind of how it is now between me you and Phil. As if I’m really not entitled or deserving of you. I hurt your parents and Harper by convincing you to run away with me. I was selfish then. I hate Phil, but I know he protected and cared for you when I couldn’t. I can’t be selfish now. But don’t get me wrong. I want to be selfish, I want to tear this fucking place apart and burn it to the ground. I want to take you and Mackenzie away from here, from the fucking Navy, from your job and new friends, from our old friends. I want to go somewhere no one can touch us. I’m sorry Kennedy, I know it sounds crazy, but—”

  “It sounds romantic,” she said. “It’s okay to want a fresh start. You’ve earned it. I want the fresh start, too.”

  He looked over at her, hoping he didn’t see pity in her eyes. He felt such relief when he didn’t. She was still his Kay. “You remember when I snuck to your school and grabbed you after your volleyball practice? How I told you that I was living out of my car and I had to make a move?”

  “You were leaving.”

  “I wanted you to run away with me. You remember what you said to me?”

  “I’ll go anywhere with you, Liam. I have no choice. I love you,” she repeated, and smiled fondly.

  He hoped that decision hadn’t caused her a lot of pain. He had to wonder. “You have a choice now, Kay. I don’t want you out of guilt or obligation. If you did find something with Phil that I couldn’t give….”

  She put a finger to her lips. “I won’t compare you. There’s no need. He’s not even close, Liam. You’ve always been the man for me.”

  “Then show me.”

  Kennedy had little chance to respond. He drew her in by the neck and pulled her legs up over his lap. His lips brushed hers as his hand crept under the hem of her skirt. Her skin was so damn soft. Always so soft. She exhaled, parting lips plump and full. Immediately he was reminded of how she’d used her mouth on him. From her sweet kisses to the way she swallowed his cock. Liam groaned and kissed her deeply, forcing her back on the sofa. His hand touched between her tightly pressed together thighs. She soon parted them and he discovered how moist she was there. He shivered, feeling the thin lace covering the swollen lips of her sex.

  There came a knock at the door and the phone began to ring.

  “Liam, we have to stop.”

  “They’ll go away,” he groaned, sliding the seat of her panty aside to touch her.

  Kennedy pushed at his shoulders when he eased a finger inside of her. Tight, wet heat. He nearly lost his mind.

  “Liam, let me up, please.”

  She panted and he gave her another finger, licking the side of her neck, nipping at her racing pulse. The phone stopped ringing but the person at the door kept knocking. Liam wanted to rip the dress from her and fuck her into the sofa. He felt her moving under him as he pumped his two middle fingers in and out of her tight hole, slick with her juices. She gripped his shoulder.

  “Don’t do this, not like this. Stop,” she pleaded. And he heard her.

  He withdrew his hand. Kennedy quickly pulled down her skirt, blushing with him. Did she not want him? Fuck, I am so stupid.

  The phone started ringing again. And then the knocking resumed.

  Kennedy couldn’t look at him when she rose and fixed her dress. He’d blown it. He knew he’d fuck up and he did.

  “Can you get the door? I need to get the phone,” she mumbled at him.

  She hurried away, avoiding looking at him. Liam groaned. He grabbed his cane and limped to the front of the house. Steeling himself, he opened the door with a tight, grim fix to his jaw.

  “Mom?”

  Sally glared up at him and marched in. “I knew you would be here. The problem is, nobody bothered to tell me.”

  “Hello?” Kennedy panted, going to the fridge to get a bottle of water to cool down. Another moment and she’d have been screwing him on the couch. That would have been a disaster. She couldn’t dare approach sex with him until she knew for certain about her pregnancy. She felt such shame and disappointment for letting things advance as far as they had.

  “So he’s been there all day?”

  “Phil?”

  “You remember my name?”

  Kennedy winced under the piercing stab of guilt. “I-I was going to call you.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Kennedy. And please don’t play me stupid. You think those men posted at my house didn’t tell me he’s been there all day? Hell, all I had to do was turn on the TV and watch the people coming and going from my damn house.”

  “He came to see Mackenzie.”

  “Right.”

  “Phil, we-we need to talk.”

  “So I take it tomorrow is my day. All day? With you and Mac? So we can talk, the same way you have been with Liam?”

  “Well…I think—”

  “I won’t be an afterthought for you, Kennedy. You owe me more respect than this. Damn it, you are my wife!”

  Kennedy sighed. She heard elevated voices from the living room. It sounded like…Sally? “I have to go.”

  “I will be there in the morning. Do you hear me? I don’t want him there when I arrive.”

  He hung up on her. Kennedy guessed she deserved that. Still, she felt her anger swelling in her chest. She’d get a test and take it tomorrow, seven days be damned. No. She’d go to the doctor and get a blood test. A blood test would answer the question once and for all. Then they’d have the talk. It was time to move her family forward and free Phil as well. She cared deeply for him, loved him in her own way. But they never shared the kind of love Phil deserved. She felt sick about the liberties she’d taken with his heart.

  When she walked into the living room she saw Sally, eyes red and weepy, her nose running. Kennedy could see pain etched all over her face.

  “Kennedy, you of all people. How could you not call me? Why? I had to hear it from a stranger while on my retreat. I drove straight here. Am I not even worth a phone call from either of you?”

  “Sally, I’m sorry. I was blindsided by it all, I really was. I’m sorry.” She went to her mother-in-law and hugged her. To this, Liam frowned. Sally never liked Kennedy when Liam was alive. But she tried to get Liam to let her back into his life. What Liam didn’t know is that they’d bonded over his supposed death. How could they not? They were the two who mourned him the most. She thought Liam had let his bitterness toward his mother go. From over Sally’s shoulder, Kennedy saw that wasn’t the case.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Sally managed a smile. She glanced over to her son. “Can you give us a minute alone, Kennedy?”

  Liam walked away from his mother in disgust.

  “Sure. I’ll go upstairs and check on Mackenzie. Take all the time you need.

  “Well? Aren’t you going to say anything?”

  Liam returned to his seat on the sofa. He was so close. Kennedy had softened to him. She would have been his. Then of course Sally had to show up. H
er timing had always been the worst. He’d pretended at forgiveness the year before he left for the war, mostly because Kennedy was so adamant about healing with their families before they started their own. She mended her relationship with her parents and wanted him to do the same. He blamed Sally for choosing his stepfather. For being so absent as a mother, up until his sister’s death. He blamed her for many things.

  “Liam? Do you know how I’ve prayed? How hard I’ve prayed.”

  “Look mom, it’s only been a few days. I wanted to see Kay, and then I found her married. Things have been difficult. I don’t need you here making it worse.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, I know it has. You must have been in shock to find her remarried.” She hurried over to the sofa and sat next to him. She put her hand on his knee, and he cut his eyes at her. She moved away. “Liam, first tell me how are you? Please.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are you…because you have that thing.” Her eyes went to the cane. “You’re a cripple.”

  “What did you call me?”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way, it’s just that thing….”

  Liam lifted it with a bitter chuckle. “What this? It’s called a cane. And I’m still a man with it,” he snapped. “Of course you only think a man’s a real man when he’s pounding his fist into your skull.”

  Sally paled. Her eyes widened with hurt, and she withdrew. “I’m sorry, Liam. Don’t be cross with me. I just, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not a good time, mom. Can we do this some other time? I can’t deal with you right now.”

  He hurt her. When he looked over he saw her bottom lip quivering and her face flushed with ageless hurt. He didn’t know if he meant to or not, but if Kennedy saw her this way she’d read too much into it. He was losing it. All he wanted was Kennedy and Mackenzie. Not this shit. Why wouldn’t everyone leave him the hell alone?

  Liam tried to rein in his emotions. He felt like the walls of that desert hole were pouring in sand on him again, threatening to bury him alive. He couldn’t breathe with Sally so close. Fuck! Why won’t she just go away.

  “Liam?”

  Liam counted down his anxiety and willed his mind to control it. He forced a patient smile to his face and calm to his voice. “I’m sorry, mom. I’ve missed my life, I’ve missed everything. Most of all I missed my baby-girl. She’s so big now. I’m trying to know her. It’s been hard.”

  “I understand. I love you, Liam. When they told me you were dead, that was it for me. After losing little Mackenzie, then you, I had nothing. Your sweet baby girl is all I had. When Kennedy wanted Phil to adopt her, take his last name, I was right here to stop her—”

  “Wait? What did you say?”

  “Phil Freeman wanted to adopt her as a gift for Kennedy. She was going to let him. I had to protect you even if you were dead. I flew down here and told her there would be no way in hell she would make that little girl a Freeman instead of a Flanagan. She is so in love with that jerk she was willing to do it.”

  Liam felt his restraint crumble. His gaze flashed to the stairs. Kennedy couldn’t possibly want to rob him of fatherhood even if she thought he was dead. Sally had to be lying. It had to be a lie. And Sally was good at twisting things to fit her needs.

  Sally touched his face. “Your return is a miracle. I love you. So much. You can come home with me. I can take care of you.” She moved in and hugged him. He hugged her back. But he continued to glare at the staircase. “Mom, do you have some place to stay?”

  “I’ll find a hotel in town.”

  He let her go. “Stay here,” he said, his mind calculating.

  “What? But—”

  “You want to do something for me? Help me get my family back. Kay needs someone here when I can’t be. Stay here with her until I can convince her to leave. Do you understand?”

  Sally read into what he wasn’t saying and quickly nodded to be his spy, his co-conspirator. Liam felt a little more at ease. His meddlesome mother was just like Kennedy’s, except she’d work on his team. If he had to tolerate her, it was best he find a use for her. What was he thinking? He didn’t know what he was doing anymore. He’d never been so desperate. Had Kennedy really wanted to give Mackenzie Phil’s name? He wouldn’t allow himself to believe it.

  “Don’t you worry, son. I will make sure your girls are okay. They have a guestroom I stay in when I visit. I will keep my eyes on Phil, too.”

  “Good. I’m going to see Kay.” He reached for his cane and tried to rise. But Sally grabbed his arm.

  “Liam?”

  “What is it?”

  “Harvey is dead. He had a stroke three years ago. You can always leave here and come home with me. I’m so alone. You can barely walk. I can take care of you.”

  He snatched his arm away and glared at her. The only condition he’d laid out for her was that Harvey never be part of his life. Their reconciliation had been contingent on the fact she never mentioned his name. Even in her attempts to mother him and get to know Kennedy, she refused to leave the abusive bastard. Now she needed a replacement. “I changed my mind. You don’t need to stay here. Go back home.”

  “Liam?”

  “Go!”

  She shot to her feet and cut him off. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry for what I said. Don’t be angry. Please. I missed you so much. I’ve changed. Kennedy will tell you. I’ve stayed here many times with her. I can help you. Trust me. Who do you have, Liam, that will fight for you? Who? This is his house. He’s been a father to your little girl. Who will help you get them back but me?”

  “Excuse me.” He stepped around her and limped over to the stairs.

  Liam looked back to see Sally staring off deep in thought. The part of him that needed her love, her comfort, died the day his kid sister did. Still, he had to agree. If Kennedy decided to stay with Phil, then she would be all the family he had left in the world. He’d be a visiting dad to his little girl. He’d have nothing.

  Liam climbed the stairs steadily. He first walked into Mackenzie’s room. He saw her curled up in her yellow comforter with a purple bear. She was so much hair. He smiled. He walked over to her and resisted the urge to kiss her soft cheek. How he loved her. No one in the world made him feel as much love as she did by just existing.

  When he drew up her blanket his gaze swept her dresser and stopped on her fish bowl. The goldfish floated at the top. “Damn. It’s dead,” he said. Liam shook his head. He would need to do something before his baby girl discovered her pet. He limped over to the bowl and picked it up. The water lapped inside and the fish began to sink down to the blue crystals at the bottom. He carried it carefully out of the room. He’d take it to Kay’s bedroom and ask her what they should do. Maybe Mackenzie has lost a fish before and they could have a ceremony. Or maybe he could go to the pet store and get one before she woke and discovered it was gone.

  Kennedy’s door was half closed. He hated that room. Knew that bastard had his woman in that bed, doing whatever he pleased to her. The thought of it made him physically ill. He pushed open the door with the end of his cane and limped inside. That’s when he heard the shower. Liam set the fishbowl on the dresser. He stared at the partially closed bathroom door. Swirls of misty steam blew behind it. He could hear her humming as she normally did when she showered. His groin grew tight. He’d had several erections since he first laid eyes on her again. But mind over dick usually meant he could ease out of it within seconds. This one couldn’t be rubbed out or dismissed with a thought. The shower had once been one of his favorite places with Kennedy.

  Liam limped over to the door. He shouldn’t invade her privacy. He should wait for an invitation. But when would that be? She kept talking therapy, and he could barely get to first base without some interruption. Besides, she belonged to him. She could debate it. Phil could debate it, hell the government could as well, but Liam knew better. Every inch of her belonged to him.

  He eased the door open, just enough to see her. Not enough for her to s
uspect him. The sweaty steamed-over shower glass just gave him her brown silhouette. But Liam had a good imagination. He should. He survived off of it for years.

  Kennedy turned off the water. Liam wanted to pull back, but something in him couldn’t. The door to the glass shower opened and her delicate foot stepped out on the white bathroom rug. His gaze slowly climbed her slick, slender leg to her curvy thighs and hips. She reached for a towel. Before she did so, he got a full look at her. From the trimmed hairs over her pussy, to the full, pert roundness of her breasts. She had additional weight in some areas but it was measured perfectly. She dried herself, then wrapped the towel around her. Liam quietly stepped back.

  He went to the chair in the room and sat to wait. He rehearsed what he would say to her. He had to get the lustful thoughts out of his head. All he needed was for her to come out and find him with an erection in her bedroom. Damn, this would be impossible.

  The door opened and she walked out. She jumped, startled to find him there. Sitting down made it easier to cover his erection. He leaned forward with his cane between his legs. “Hi.”

  Kennedy smiled. She put a hand to her forehead. “Liam. Gracious, you scared me.”

  “I didn’t mean to,” he said, noticing the split in the towel reached to her pelvis when she raised her arm. She quickly adjusted it. He smirked. So she wanted to play shy. He remembered her shy days as well. He couldn’t wait to get her in his bed and claim her again.

  “Is Sally gone?” She hurried to get a robe to cover herself. She turned around, confused not to see it. Liam suspected it was in the bathroom. When she looked at him again, he realized he was sitting on it. He eased up and brought it from under him. He didn’t bother to hand it to her. He just studied her.

  “She needs somewhere to stay. I can’t take her to the Marriott. I’d feel better if all my girls were together.” He smirked.

  Kennedy fixed her towel for the fourth time and nodded, barely getting the meaning of having Sally stay with her. “That’s fine. We have a guest room. She’s stayed with us before.”