Page 90 of Tangled Control

I grab her hand, needing the physical contact. Above our heads, fireworks erupt, coating the trees in a magical, flickeringlight that’s reflected in Catriona’s gaze. She truly has bewitched me.

“That’s your parents’ house, isn’t it?” She asks as the small patch of forest opens up to a green lawn in front of us. “I was there once, my first year in KSS.”

“It’s one of the smallest houses in the area, but it has the nicest boathouse,” I brag. “The path on the other side of the house leads up to Leo’s home, Moore Manor.”

“MooreManor?”

“Oh, yeah. There’s more to Leo than meets the eye.”

Instead of walking up to the house, I bring Catriona down to the white-painted boathouse. She smiles as she spots a weather-worn dartboard on the wall. A bench with thick, striped cushions and fleece blankets over the backrest faces the sea on top of the wooden deck. Mum must have expected someone to head down here. Doubt she thought it would be Catriona by my side.

I sit down and gaze up at my woman. The breeze tugs at her skirt and frames her toned legs. The tip of her tongue wets her bottom lip. Heat pools behind my abs as I vow to kiss that lip every day from now to eternity. The bench creaks under our weight as she lowers herself next to me. I drape my arm around her shoulders, tugging her closer, then closer still. My breathing is suspiciously shaky as she rests her head on my shoulder, her body melting into mine.

To think I almost let her go.

I bury my face in her hair and inhale her scent. The dark sea twinkles through the wetness in my eyes.

“You’re it for me,” I whisper and twirl a lock of her hair tightly around my finger, binding her to me. “You’re mine.”

Forty Seven

Catriona

Isnuggle closer to the heat underneath me, pressing the cold tip of my nose to warm skin.

But there it is again.

The sound that woke me.

Someone is clearing their throat.

I’m momentarily confused, but then the memories of last night flood back like an incoming tide of tingles. The heat underneath me is Rian, and we’re lying on the bench at the boathouse, our feet tangled, snuggled up under two blankets. We’ve been lying out here all night, talking, kissing, cuddling like two teenagers in love.

I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips as my eyelids slowly part and the twinkling blue of the sea in the morning sun comes into view. My attention drifts to the right…and I gaze straight into the grey eyes of Arthur Kearney.

Arthur Kearney!

My breath lodges in my throat and I try to scramble to my feet, but strong arms hold me back.

“Hey, where are you going?” Rian mumbles into my hair.

“Rian!” I hiss.

“Ahem, yes, Rian,” Anna Kearney chimes from next to her husband, and finally Rian lifts his head.

“Mum, Dad. What are you doing up so early?” In any other circumstance I would have found his gruff, sleepy voice sexy, but not while icicles of panic pierce my brain. I wiggle, but he doesn’t ease his grip.

“We’re always up this early,” Anna replies.

“Even after a big party?” Rian queries.

“Well, we stayed a lot longer than you. You must have left before the fireworks.” Arthur lifts a bushy eyebrow. Warmth rises up my cheeks. Rian finally sits up on the bench, but he still keeps his arm locked around me when I try to scoot away from him.

“I believe you both know Catriona?”

Oh, Jesus.

“We’ve met a few times in the office. Nice to see you this morning.” Anna’s voice has a teasing edge to it. Arthur doesn’t say anything, just a tilt of his head while his features remain hard.