I paced in my hotel room, running my hands through my hair trying to figure out what to do next. The fact that Rachel hated me is a given, but I felt something more than hate when my lips were on hers. There was something there, she might not want to admit it, but it was there. I’d take what I could get, I just had to figure out how to get her to talk to me.

There was a light knock on my door. I didn’t order room service. Who the hell would be visiting me?

I checked through the peephole and saw nothing but a blonde head of hair. I opened the door and my stomach soured.

Her mom. Was this when she told me to stay the hell away from her daughter?

“Killian Thorne. Finally, we have a chance to talk.” Even in what I assumed were her dressed down clothes, she looked immaculate. Her hair and clothes were perfect. It was funny to think that this was Rachel’s mom. There were so many days she’d come tumbling into my apartment, her hair all over the place, a little bit sweaty, but disheveled like that. I wouldn’t want her any other way.

“Am I invited in?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

I jolted. “Sorry, yes, come in,” I said, moving aside to let her in. She scrutinized me, looking me up and down. Her bag clutched in her hands, she drummed her fingers across it. The tap of her fingers on the leather the only sound in the room. I felt like a bug under her silent gaze.

“Hmm,” she said before walking over to me.

“You’re in love with my daughter,” she said, standing in front of me. Daring me to deny it. I opened and closed my mouth. We’d never said those words. I’d never said those words to any woman, other than my mother. Maybe if I’d said it more…I banished those thoughts from my mind. It wasn’t something I could fix. I could fix this. I could try to repair the damage I’d done.

“I do,” I said, my voice strained and tight. It was like I could finally breathe again. “I do love her,” I said, my voice steadier. That tightness in my chest relaxed. It was like being hit over the head.

“If my daughter decides she wants nothing to do with you after tomorrow, will you leave her alone?”

I gulped.

“I hope that won’t be the case, but if after tomorrow, she tells me to leave her alone, I’ll do my best to honor her wishes.”

Her lips pursed. I didn’t know if I’d be able to go through with it now that I knew who she was. Now that I had her name and she couldn’t hide from me. Maybe I’d leave the city. I hadn’t been able to stay away from her apartment while she was away. How would I do it if she came back? But this wasn’t about me. I could do it. I could stay away from her, if that was the only way to show her I cared about her. That I loved her.

“I don’t like my daughter upset, but I’m also not going to let her run home because she’s scared. You have your one chance, Killian. Don’t fuck it up because I’ll help Dahlia hold you down while she cuts off your balls,” she said, sharply. My eyes got wide at the barbs in her words.

“I wasn’t always this woman, Killian. And I’m not afraid to go to the mat for my daughter. Be sure you remember that,” she said, opening the door and letting it slam behind her.

A plan formed in my mind. I knew exactly what I needed to do to prove to Rachel just how I felt and that she’d done the impossible and changed me.

I made a call to my assistant and made the arrangements. The paperwork would arrive by morning.

* * *

Killian: I’m here. Are you coming?

I stared at his message for at least fifteen minutes as I debated going in there. I sat in my car, the engine idling as I stared at the building in front of me. The beautiful structure had taken on an ominous look even though the sun shined and the gardens were filled with colorful flowers.

I took a deep breath and got out. Killian sat on one of the benches out in front of the museum, his head hung, and he stared at his phone, gripped tightly in his hands. My heels clacked off the stone steps and he glanced up. He stood the minute he saw me, reaching out before shoving his hands in his pockets.

“You came,” he said, wonder in his voice.

“I said I would.” I tugged on the hem of my blouse, suddenly wishing I was in jeans and a t-shirt. Part of me wore these clothes to make it clear to him that I wasn’t the girl he’d known back in the city. I wasn’t going to let him play his games with me. The other part of me wanted to kick off these shoes and walk around in the grass, holding onto his arm pretending like we hadn’t torn each other’s worlds apart. Anger and longing warred inside me and I wasn’t sure which one would win. Or which one I wanted to win. It was so easy to hold onto that anger. That was what I wanted to feel, but the longing crept in and settled in my heart, bringing me that ache that nearly brought me to tears.

I didn’t think Dahlia would have sent him here if he hadn’t done some serious groveling. I’d asked her not to tell me anything about him visiting, so I kind of pushed her hand.

“Ok, let’s start your tour,” I said, trying to step past him. He reached out and gently grabbed my elbow. I stopped and took a breath before peering at him over my shoulder.

“I’ll double the donation, if you just sit out here with me for a while, so we can talk.”

“Killian...”

“Please,” he said, plaintively and I took a deep breath and nodded. He led me to the bench he’d just vacated, and sat beside me. A thick manila envelope laid on the bench beside him.

“How have you been?” he asked, glancing over at me. He rubbed his thumb over the back of his hand.

“I’ve been okay. Helping my mom out. Planning a lot of things for the rest of the spring and summer.”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m great. Busy. Meeting new people. I don’t know why I always made fun of what my mom did. She does great work and I enjoy it.” I was rambling. Babbling, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Are you happy?” he repeated.

“Are you?”

“No. Not even a little bit. I am completely lost without you, Rachel.”

“I doubt that, Killian. You got everything you wanted, right? Managed to stick it to Rhys. Got your company. Got to use me along the way. You should be incredibly happy.” The anger seeped back into my voice, even though I tried to keep it at bay.

“I apologized to Rhys.” He chuckled at my wide-eyed expression. “Trust me, it wasn’t easy. I have the literal scar to prove it,” he said, pushing the hair off his forehead. A red line sliced across his forehead just above his right eyebrow. I winced. It must have been painful.

“I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you.” Nervous energy flowed through me. I needed to move. “Can we walk now? I need to give you your tour.” I stood and started walking. His heavy footfalls landed behind me.

We got to the exhibit and I showed them my badge and we were allowed back in. I went through all the items I’d memorized, skipping over the few we’d seen last night. He listened to every word, but other than a sparing glance at what I described, he didn’t look at anything in the cases. His eyes were glued to mine.

As much as I wanted to pretend him being around me didn’t affect me, it did. His gravitational pull was something I’d never be able to resist. And I didn’t want to. I’d gone on exactly one date since leaving and I didn’t even make it until dessert. I felt more in the hour I walked with him mainly in silence, than I had in almost four months away from him. But how could I trust that whatever was driving him, that anger and rage wouldn’t come back?