“Well…” Lily straightened her silverware before flicking her eyes back up to mine, “I think I’ve been properly put in my place. I would love to have an easier relationship with my daughter. With both my kids.”
Things calmed between the four of us after that. Lily asked about Caleb and Hannah, and Lock told her about Elena’s pregnancy. She seemed genuinely thrilled.
I couldn’t get a read on this woman. On the one hand, she made Saoirse stressed and worried. But on the other, there was obvious and genuine love coming from her toward her children.
The one thing I did know was the next time I saw my own mother, she was getting a big hug and “thank you.” I’d never appreciated her more than I did now.
When dinner was over, the check paid, all of us made our way toward the exit. Peter was waiting outside, keeping a safe distance.
He wasn’t a complete idiot. Only three-quarters of one.
Lily took Lock’s hand. “Can I come out to see the kids in the morning before my flight?”
He pushed his shaggy hair off his face. “I don’t think you being at the ranch is a good idea.”
“Why not? Did Connell tell you not to let me? Because if he did—”
“No, Mom.” Saoirse’s hands were balled into tight fists. “Dad would never do that, and you know it. Stop trying to draw us into whatever drama is still happening between the two of you in your mind.”
Lock clamped down on his mother’s shoulder before she could respond. “We’ll meet you at the park in the morning. I’ll text you a time,” he said calmly.
“Fine.” Lily smoothed her palm over her already tidy hair. “Will I see you too, Saoirse? Luca?”
“No,” I answered. There was no chance I’d let Saoirse put herself through more stress tomorrow. Tonight had been enough. “We have to get back home. We’ll say goodbye now.”
Everyone said their goodbyes. I shook Lily’s hand, uninterested in a hug. Lock patted me on the shoulder, giving me a look that told me he appreciated me taking care of his sister. In turn, I appreciated the hell out of him putting their mother in her place when she’d stepped out of line. It pleased me to know Saoirse had people who were wholeheartedly on her side. As of this weekend, I’d put myself in that corner too.
When I finally got Saoirse alone by my bike, I took her face in my hands. “Tell me what you need.”
Her lashes fluttered, falling to her cheeks. “Take me for a long, long ride.”
“You got it, pretty girl.” I planted a firm kiss on her forehead, then handed her her helmet. I needed this ride too. Maybe as badly as she did. My bike was where I straightened my thoughts. Worked out problems. Chose my next step.
With Saoirse at my back, her arms tight around me, long legs pressed against mine, it was the ride that mattered, and all of the rest fell away.
We drove for at least an hour before turning around and heading back to the ranch. It was past Saoirse’s bedtime when we arrived. Climbing off the bike, she stumbled slightly, but I caught her by the elbow, keeping her steady.
“Tired?” I murmured.
“Exhausted.”
We were staying in her dad’s house, which had been built in a similar log cabin style to Lock and Elena’s. The lights were off, so he must’ve been asleep already.
He was a good guy, but I was relieved not to have to deal with another parent tonight.
Our room was on the same floor as Connell’s, so we were careful to be quiet. Saoirse disappeared into the bathroom to get ready for bed while I stayed in the bedroom, shucking off my shirt and changing into pajama bottoms. I settled on the bed we’d be sharing, staring up at the ceiling.
This was supposed to be convenient. A solution to the newfound complexities in my life. But there was nothing convenient about navigating family. Even mine, which was pretty damn functional.
We shouldn’t have gotten married. That much was clear—and had been since day one. But I was in this now, and I didn’t take my commitments lightly.
I’d stick by my vows and promises.
And I’d hope now that everything was out in the open, things would smooth out, and I wouldn’t have to put so much thought into this marriage. We could go about our lives as we’d agreed to in the beginning. Helping each other when needed, lightening the load.
But even with all my regrets, I couldn’t say I regretted being here with Saoirse or standing between her and her mother. It’d needed to happen.
The bathroom door opened, and I sat up, ready to take my turn, when I got a look at the woman who walked out.
She’d changed out of her jeans into a short, flowy nightgown with straps so thin, they were barely more than floss.
“What are you wearing?” I barked lowly.
She stopped in her tracks, pressing her folded clothes to her middle. “My pajamas. Why?”
“Is that what you always wear to bed?”
“Yes, Luca. Either this or shorts and a tank. Why are you looking at me like I have three heads?”
“Jesus, Saoirse.” I strode up to her, took her nape in my hand. “I have patience for days, but there is going to come a time when it snaps. You are stretching it paper thin by standing in front of me in lingerie, your nipples trying to poke a hole in the thin material barely long enough to cover your pussy and ass, looking like you have no idea what effect you have on me.”
Her lips parted, a breathy little pant gusting out. I had to let go of her and walk away before I did something stupid.
Like fuck the hell out of my wife in her father’s house.
Chapter Twentytwo
Saoirse
Luca threw back the sheets to climb into bed with me and came to a dead stop.
“What is this?”
I patted the pillows I’d piled next to me. “A pillow wall for your comfort.”
His brow crinkled as he raked his eyes over me. “You changed.”
“I had some clothes in the dresser. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
I didn’t know what I’d been thinking wearing that nightgown. A long time ago, Elena had gotten me in the habit of wearing pretty pajamas, but I should have thought before packing one for this trip. Of course Luca wouldn’t want to share a bed with me when I was wearing a silk slip. To me, it was comfortable. To him, it probably looked like I was trying to seduce him.
The sweatpants and T-shirt I had put on felt like they were strangling my legs and drowning my torso, but I could suck it up for one night. Especially after Luca had stood by my side while my mother chose to put her worst foot forward.
Luca picked up the pillows one by one and tossed them aside, then climbed into bed, rolling onto his side to face me.
“You didn’t make me uncomfortable, Saoirse. You made my dick hard.” He plucked the hem of my loose T-shirt. “This doesn’t help.”
I shifted to my side too. There was still a good amount of mattress between us. “I can take care of it for you.” Reaching out, I laid my hand on his side, just above the waistband of his sleep pants. “Do you want me to touch you? Suck you?”
He caught my hand, pulling it up to his chest. “You’re killing me.”
“I’m trying to make it better.”
“I know you are, pretty girl. And I want all those things. I want to fuck the hell out of you until we’re both sore. But there is no way I am going to do that with your father sleeping right down the hall. I need to be able to make you scream, and that is not going to happen here.”