Before Sunrise Read online

  “Kay?” Andrew frowned.

  Liam managed a weak smile. “I call her Kay. She’s so special. I mean, special in the way she’s showed me I can be different. We um, we want to get married.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” Andrew sat back coolly.

  Liam leaned forward. “It will happen, sir. You can’t stop it. I didn’t make her run away. She chose to. She wanted to be with me. She loves me.”

  “She’s a kid. But you know that, don’t you? A kid that has no idea what gutter you came out of, you punk.” Andrew slammed his fist on the table. The cutlery and his cup clanked on his saucer. Two diners looked over.

  “She’s not a baby anymore and in three months she’s eighteen. Sir, in three months she will be my wife and you can’t stop it. I don’t want to do it that way. I want your permission—”

  Andrew scoffed. “You must be insane. No. I must be insane. To come here and not tell my wife. To think I could convince you to give me my child back. I’ll just go to the police,” Andrew said, flinging himself out of the booth.

  “And we’ll run. You’ll never see her again.”

  Andrew’s large hands clenched into fists. The veins in his neck bulged. Liam feared he’d pushed the man past his limits.

  “Hear me out, sir. Please hear me out. It’s important.”

  Andrew remained tense, on the edge, but he eased back into the vinyl seat. Liam swallowed down his fear and summoned his fearlessness. “She and I love each other. I didn’t plan it. And I don’t want her to suffer because of it. I want to join the military. Naval Air Station is here, so I went there and I met with a recruiter. Thing is, I have to be married to take care of Kay. We can wait. We can bum around for three months and do it then. But I don’t want her to suffer. I don’t want her to have to go without anything because of me. I can’t let that happen. She loves you and her family. She needs you, sir. If you can support us, give us your consent, you will have her and so will I. The way I see it, a compromise means we both win and I get to keep her, I mean, love her. I thought about this long and hard before I called your office to set up this meeting. I thought about what I would say to you. How I would convince you that this here is real. That I’m for real. All I can do is tell you the truth. She’s my entire world. She’s everything to me. Please. Give us your blessing. Please.”

  Andrew closed his eyes. “She’s my baby girl. She has a bright future. Since she’s been gone her mother cries herself to sleep. I can barely get her out of bed. And her sister…” Andrew’s voice choked with emotion. “Her sister cries herself to sleep too. Do you understand what you have done to my family?”

  “Yes, sir. I am so sorry. I am so sorry for all of it. I handled it wrong. We both did. But when you forbid us from seeing each other—”

  “She’s seventeen!” Andrew yelled.

  The entire diner went silent. Every eye in the place turned to them. Liam couldn’t back down from the accusation in that statement. He’d taken her virginity on a picnic table at a beach, stolen her away on weekends to drink and have sex. Snuck into the Washington’s house and laid with her and filled her head with fantasies. He was no hero. Hell, he was a selfish bastard just like his stepfather, only seeing what his needs were. But the truth was if he let her go he wouldn’t want to live. He was sick of his shitty life, of his existence. She was the only person keeping him alive.

  “I love her,” Liam said. “I love her, and I can’t change that.”

  “I want to see her. I want to hear from her that this is what she wants.”

  Liam frowned. “If you bring the police, if you take her from me she won’t forgive you. You can lock her up, you can force us apart, and she will blame you. And unless they put a bullet in me, I won’t stay away. I won’t stop trying to be with her. Then she will be eighteen, and she will come back to me. It’s only three months away, sir. You can talk to her and she will tell you. I’m asking you to please help us.”

  “Take me to my daughter. Now!”

  “Yes, sir. Yes, okay.” Liam dug in his pocket and pulled out the last three dollar bills he had left. He put them on the table. This had better work. If it didn’t, he didn’t know what they’d do next.

  Kennedy gurgled then spit sudsy paste into the sink. She let the tap rinse it down the drain. Turning it off she heard the door open. She had good news. She’d woken to find Liam gone. Possibly to get them breakfast. She’d wanted to shower and clean up their room. The motel was $139 a week, and the service was pretty lacking. She’d dressed and gone to the front desk to ask for clean towels, which is where she saw the help wanted sign for a maid. She asked if they were hiring and they were. Now she could work, and that would help. Liam was so upset about money. This would surely turn things around.

  “Liam!” She grinned, hurrying out of the bathroom in panties and his T-shirt. Kennedy froze. Standing in the motel room was her father. He looked her over and then, over their meager surroundings. She could see his eyes well with tears.

  “Daddy? How did you find us?”

  Andrew walked over and lifted Kennedy into an embrace. Her dad’s hug was so tight she burst into tears from both relief and sadness. She held on to him. She tried not to think of her family. Tried not to miss them. She lied to Liam and said it didn’t hurt and didn’t matter. But from one roach motel to the next, it did, because she loved them so much and she knew what she’d done had hurt them deeply.

  “I’m so sorry, daddy. I’m so sorry.”

  “Shhh sweetheart, it’s okay. Thank God you’re okay.” He stroked the back of her head. “I got you now.”

  Kennedy let go of him but Andrew held her a little longer before releasing her. He touched her face, wiped off her tears with his thumb. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  “I’m fine, daddy. How’s mama, and Harper?”

  “They miss you, Kennedy. You scared your mother to death. You scared me to death. Three months and no word from you. How could you do that? Do you know what you put us all through?”

  “I’m sorry,” Kennedy said softly.

  Liam opened the door to leave. Kennedy pushed away her father’s hands. “Liam, don’t go. Did you do this? You called my dad? Why? Why would you do that?”

  Liam closed the door. “I had to, Kay. I want him to give us his blessing. I did it for you.”

  Kennedy’s heart leapt. She turned and smiled at her father. “Is it true? Will you help us?”

  “Leave us alone, son.”

  “No, daddy. Liam stays. Answer me. Will you…will you help us?”

  “Leave!” he yelled at Liam.

  Kennedy stepped back at the sound of her father’s angry voice. Her father rarely raised his voice. He was a gentle man. He looked at Liam as if he wanted to murder him.

  “It wasn’t Liam, daddy. Look at me. I went after him. I did. He thought I was nineteen when I met him. I lied to him, to you, to everybody. I wanted to run away with him. He didn’t force me.”

  “Why? Kennedy, why would you throw away your life, our family, for this!” Andrew asked, with repulsion in his eyes over the crumpled bed sheets, stained walls and carpeting, and the roaches scurrying across the nightstand.

  “I don’t know why. I didn’t think….”

  “That’s right, you didn’t. You’re a child and you act like one. Now you want to do the grown up thing and marry him? You think I would stand by and let that happen? Do you!”

  “Daddy, I’m sorry. I love him. That’s why I did it. I don’t have any reason other than that. I love him so much. Please, try to understand. He’s what I want. Liam is smart. He’s a good man, he’s like you daddy. He can fix cars and stuff—”

  “I can’t let you throw away your future. I can’t do that to you, Kennedy. Get your things. We’re leaving.”

  “It’s not your choice, daddy. I’ll be eighteen in three months. We’ll get married and I’ll leave with Liam. I don’t want to, but I will. I won’t let Liam go.”

  Andrew sat on the bed. He dropped his
huge shoulders and hung his head. Kennedy had never seen her father so lost, so upset. This was all her fault. She was killing him and she couldn’t stop it. She couldn’t make him understand. She walked over and sat next to him. Her hand went to his back. “Daddy, I need you to help us. Help mama understand. Please.”

  Andrew began to cry. He pulled her under his arm and cried. Kennedy nearly lost it at the sight of her father’s tears. It was the first time she’d ever hesitated, ever thought that maybe she should return home. Why did it all have to be so hard? After her father let go his frustration, he let go of her.

  “Okay. I’ll help you. Get dressed, pack your things…the both of you.”

  “Sir, I can’t return to Connecticut. I—”

  “I don’t want my daughter staying in some flea-infested motel. I’ll get you separate rooms at my hotel and get you fed. We’ll talk about this marriage thing a little more. I have questions. And conditions.”

  “Daddy….” Kennedy stopped him from rising. “Don’t tell mama. She won’t understand, you know she won’t. Please. I’ll talk to her after we figure it all out.”

  The pain etched on Andrew’s face aged him another ten years. He kissed her brow and rose. “Get dressed. Let me worry about your mother.”

  ***

  “Do you, Kennedy Michelle Washington, take Liam Edward Flanagan to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  “I do.” Kennedy grinned.

  “Then by the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I pronounce you husband and wife.”

  Kennedy, shrieking, leaped on Liam’s chest and covered his face with kisses. He laughed and spun her around in front of the judge. He tried to move them aside for the next couple to stand before the justice of the peace, but she had to have her kiss, their first kiss as husband and wife. “I love you, Mr. Flanagan.”

  “I love you, Mrs. Flanagan.” Liam smiled.

  “Where’s daddy?” She turned to see her father walking out of the courtroom. “Liam, I’ll be back.” She hurried for the doors. “Daddy!”

  Andrew stopped, but didn’t turn. Kennedy ran over to him. “Daddy, are you leaving?”

  “I called your mother this morning and told her what we’d done. I need to get home. You call her tonight to talk her,” he said softly.

  “Thank you, daddy. For everything. Thank you. I’m sorry for hurting you and mama. But I’m so happy with Liam. You’ll see, he’s going to do great things and so am I. We both will make you so proud of us.”

  Andrew smiled. “I want you to be happy. Liam seems, well I think he’s a good man. You just know that if you want to come home, anytime, no questions asked baby girl. You call daddy, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said, swallowing her tears.

  “I was going to leave this at the hotel for you. Here.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out an envelope.

  “What’s this?”

  “Your wedding gift. Remember my conditions. You and he have both given me your word that you will honor my wishes.”

  “Yes, daddy, we will.”

  “I want you to call me and let me know where you will be. This should hold you over.”

  Andrew looked up at Liam approaching. This time, he extended his hand. Liam eagerly shook it.

  “Thank you, sir. For everything.”

  Andrew tightened his grip on Liam’s hand. Kennedy could see her husband flush. “You take care of her. You keep your promise to me.”

  “Yes, sir. Yes.”

  Andrew smiled. “My baby girl is a married woman.” He gave a sad sigh. “I love you, sweetness.”

  “I love you too, daddy.” She embraced him. Andrew nodded and then walked off. Liam dropped his arm around Kennedy. She watched her father until he disappeared through the crowd. Liam asked for what was in her hand. She passed it over, not bothering to look.

  “Holy shit,” Liam gasped.

  Wiping tears, she looked up at him curiously. “What is it?”

  “Ten thousand dollars. He gave us a cashier’s check for ten thousand dollars. Why would he do that?”

  “He’s my daddy. He did it because he loves me.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kennedy wiped her tears. She went to her jewelry box. The wedding ring didn’t come until three months after Liam enlisted and enrolled in school. In order for him to get accepted into the SEAL program he had to finish college. She feared the separation, but her father’s wishes were that she go to school as well. So reluctantly, she agreed. Liam received a forty thousand dollar bonus when he finished school and training and they paid her father back every dime.

  Kennedy smiled. She slipped the ring back on her finger. She’d told Angelina to go home to her husband and sons. That she didn’t want to talk. She asked everyone to leave her alone. She just wanted space. There was so much pain between all of them. How was she ever going to heal her family?

  There were several knocks to her door, and then it opened. “Hey there, beautiful.”

  Kennedy looked up to see Eric smiling. He wore dark slacks and a thick black leather jacket. He had on his gloves so that meant he was on his motorcycle today. She went to him and gave him a hug. From the first day Liam brought Eric home with him, they’d connected. She always believed he would protect her husband in the field. She wasn’t surprised to see Harper staring up at him with that look in her eyes. She knew that look. It was the same dreamy look she gave Liam the day she gave him her heart.

  “Liam and Mackenzie should be on their way back. I planned to cook something. You gonna stay?” Kennedy sniffled.

  “No. Can’t. Hey, are you okay?” Eric touched her cheek.

  “Mama’s gone, Kennedy. Daddy took her and left. Just me and Sally downstairs now,” Harper said.

  “I’m okay.” Kennedy walked away. She tried to dry her eyes with the backs of her hands. Eric wouldn’t let her escape that easy. He took her hand and turned her around. She smiled up at him. “I’m okay. I am.”

  “Good. I have to leave. Something came up. I need you to do me a favor. I got all Mackenzie’s gifts at one of my places in Spring Lake. You know I got some rental homes out there.”

  “Yeah, I remember. Phil wanted to buy one.”

  “Here’s the address.” He put a small paper in her hand and a silver key. “Can you go over and get them?”

  Kennedy smiled. “Sure, I’ll go tomorrow.”

  “NO!” Harper yelped.

  Kennedy frowned. “No?”

  Eric flashed his handsome smile. “I got some exterminators coming to tent the place. You should go tonight if you can. I hate to ask….”

  “Kennedy, go now. Get out of the house. Cool off. Let everybody cool off before Liam and Mackenzie get here. I’ll wait with Sally for them.”

  Kennedy did need a chance to escape. She felt like she was suffocating. “Um, okay, yeah. I think I will go.”

  “I’ll call to check on you and my boy,” Eric said. Kennedy lifted on her toes and kissed his cheek. She smiled at him. “Make sure you do.”

  ***

  “Eric, wait!”

  Harper was out of breath. She made it in time to catch him, closing the door gently behind her. He was headed for his motorcycle, about to put his helmet on. She loved that bike. It was a sleek, black BMW. He’d taken her for a ride once, two years ago. The way the leather seat felt between her legs, and his hard body in her arms, gave her so many wet dreams. She couldn’t concentrate for a week straight. Everything about him made her flush with excitement and want to touch herself. Freaky, yes, but damn, there was no way a woman could turn down such a nice drink of chocolate. She had it bad. And he had the nerve to roll up on this bike on a night like tonight, smelling like the wind and spicy aftershave. Umph!

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  He was headed her way with a predator’s walk, the kind that a male lion gave when he stalked his lioness. Cut it out, Harper. You’re losing it, girl. His deep voice wrapped around her warmly. Harper re-focused and put on a cute smile.
r />   “I um, hey…you just ran out of here without saying bye to me. Are you leaving um, tonight? Secret mission or something?” She shivered under the porch light.

  “No. But it’s cool to let Kennedy believe I am. I think we did good tonight.”

  “Yeah right, me too. Gotta get those crazy kids back together, right?” She punched his arm playfully.

  Eric frowned. “Aren’t you cold?”

  Yes! Warm a sister up! Start with your tongue!

  Harper waved his question off “Nah, not really. So what you getting into tonight?”

  Eric chuckled. Was her cover blown? Damn. Of course it was. He could read through her. Kennedy always said she walked around like a neon sign broadcasting her feelings. Nothing worked with him. That was until her eighteenth birthday. She’d caught him looking at her ass. He became so uncomfortable when she winked at him that he left the room. That’s when she knew. He wanted her too. He could fake it all he wanted, but she knew. “Come inside, let me get you a beer. We can catch up.”

  “Got some stuff to take care of on base.”

  “This time of night?”

  “Have a good evening, sweetie.” He winked, but turned away.

  Harper grabbed his arm. Her touch revealed pure steel under his jacket. Was the rest of him that way? Her ex-boyfriend David had been sort of a beefcake jock. He had muscles in his toes. But his dick was so small she never knew if he was pushing it in or taking it out. Eric didn’t have that problem, she just knew it. Harper bit down on the inside of her jaw not to reveal how excited he made her. “Wait a second, will you? I’m not done talking to you. Maybe we can do dinner. My treat?”

  “Your treat?” Eric asked, and the corner of his mouth curled as if he found her amusing.

  “Or I could, um, cook for you at your place. I can make some gumbo. You liked it at the cookout last year. Remember?” she stood closer. His tall frame blocked the chill, and his warm gaze made her forget the plummeting temperature. She noticed his eyes were on her lips when she spoke. They’d drop past her face a few times, landing on her cleavage. The miracle of a good Wonderbra really can make a guy yours. She sucked in her diaphragm and made sure to lift her chest as best as she could without being obvious.