Page 91 of Tangled Control

“Mrs Kearney, Mr Kearney. Nice to see you both,” I squeak.

“Will you be joining us for breakfast?”

No!

“Sure, Mum.” My head snaps to Rian, and I widen my eyes, but he ignores my silent protest. “We’ll be up in a minute.”

“Don’t be late,” Anna says over her shoulder and grabs her husband’s arm, ushering him back up the path to the house.

“Are you mental?” I hiss as soon as they’re out of earshot. “I can’t have breakfast with your parents!”

“Why not?”

My voice is high pitched. “That’s my boss’s boss, the big boss, and he’s just found out that I have a thing for his son, my direct boss! Jesus and Maria, this is a bloody mess!”

Rian tightens his grip on me as I wiggle to get free.

“So, you have a thing for me?” He chuckles quietly. “Well, if you keep squirming like this, everyone will know that I have a thing for you too.”

“Rian!” I can’t hold back my snicker, despite my mortification. Goosebumps erupt up my neck as he places feather-light kisses at the sensitive spot behind my ear, but even that can’t erase the panic in my chest. With a grunt, he lets go and I scramble to my feet, trying to adjust my top and erase creases from my skirt. Rian stretches his long, toned body as he stands, a strip of skin showing between his shirt and trousers. I run my fingers under my eyes to remove any smudged make-up, but stop when Rian wraps his arms around me, burying his head in my messed-up hair.

“You look gorgeous, Cat,” he murmurs.

“How can you be so calm?” I whine.

Rian pulls back enough to scan my face.

“Yesterday I had the biggest revelation of my life. I realised that my destiny is what Idecide, not what everyone, including myself,expectsit to be.” The morning sun gives his eyes that hint of green, and stubble defines his sharp jaw. He’s so beautiful, my breath catches, but then I gasp as he fists my hair firmly, his words hard with determination. “I’m not going to let my parents or anyone else ruin this.”

My body warms, and while my heart does an intricate Riverdance of hope and nerves, the knot in the pit of my stomach doesn’t loosen.

“Your parents expect you to be with Alexandra.”

Rian sighs and rests his forehead to mine.

“Yes, they do. And they know about my date with her this week.” He makes a face. “Alexandra and I would be the best business deal they ever made. But it’s not going to happen. They’ll just have to get over it.”

I wish I felt as confident as he appears to be as he takes my hand. If I hadn’t eavesdropped on Alexandra and Rian’s break-up, would I have believed Rian? Trusted him when he told me it’s me he wants?

But I did eavesdrop. I saw it, heard it, felt it. I know it’s true.

Oh my God – Rian is mine!

I try to calm the fluttering feeling. There are still so many hurdles to overcome. His parents, work, his friends,my mother.

We track up the path his parents just walked. I fill my lungs with scented air as we pass a rose garden the size of the park where I grew up. The house comes into view, shining like an intimidating mirage in the morning sunshine. Instead of leading me straight to his parents, who I spot seated outside on a patio at the far end of the house, Rian brings me inside to freshen up. I swallow tightly as I take in the sleek lines and colour schemes of the spotless interior, making sure I don’t touch anything.

“Meet me out on the patio when you’re ready.”

In the downstairs guest toilet – that is bigger than my bathroom – I splash cold water on my face and comb my hair with my fingers. The face that stares back at me in the mirror has flushed cheeks and big bright eyes. There is hope in those eyes, hope and anticipation.

And a good bit of dread of what the next hour may bring…

Forty Eight

Rian

“I thought I told you to stay away from Catriona Taylor.”