I swooped in, planting my lips on hers. Kenna’s body tensed, every muscle taut for a brief moment, as if she were so shocked she didn’t know what to do. But the tension dissipated quickly. Her lips parted and her tongue met mine, the taste of her so intense, so familiar, so inviting, that it was like no time had passed at all. She sighed through the kiss, her breasts smashing against my solid chest, our bodies leaning into one another’s.
There was no body like hers, no taste like hers, no anything like hers.
I ran my hand through her hair, holding her face against mine, our lips sealed together. My heart pounded fast and hard, my hands moving along her curves and hers rubbing the broad V of my upper back. There was no doubt she was as into my body as I was into hers.
Then she froze, pulling her lips from mine.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Without saying a word, she reached into her purse and withdrew her phone. “Shit – they’re sitting the kids down for dinner.”
Fuck. I’d been so drunk off my arousal for Kenna I’d almost forgotten about the party. I leaned over and pulled the curtains back. The sun was dipping below the horizon in the distance. It was later than I’d realized.
“We need to get back down there,” she said. “Before people notice we’re gone and start asking questions.”
“Let them talk,” I said. “Who cares what they say?”
Kenna regarded me, perplexed. “Are you serious? You’re fine with everyone down there thinking we ran off to the bathroom to, um…” She trailed off, and I couldn’t resist.
“To what? Fuck?”
Kenna’s eyes flashed, and I could sense she wasn’t sure whether I’d turned her on or pissed her off.
“Cut it out! What happened three years ago was a mistake.” She was trying to be cutting, to really make it clear she wasn’t having any of it. But there was something about the way she said it that rang hollow.
“Maybe. I don’t know about you, but it was a mistake I was happy to make. And one I’d be thrilled to make again.”
She shifted her weight. Something was on her mind. As much as I wanted her, pouncing like an animal in desperate need of a rut wasn’t the right way to go. I stepped back, my hands still on her hips. She could’ve squirmed away, but she didn’t.
“This is all very strange, yeah?” I asked. “What happened between us happened years ago, and now we’re somehow back in one another’s lives.”
“Are we?”
“Course we are. Maybe it’d be one thing if you happened to come into my clinic, but it’s more than that. My friends are your friends; we live in the same city. And you know as well as I do that we’re gonna have to address this sooner or later.”
“Address it how? There’s nothing to address, Finn,” she said as she wriggled away. As much as I wanted to keep touching her, to keep kissing her, I let her go.
“How about this,” I said. “We see each other again. But not in random mixed company – on a date.”
She chuckled as if she couldn’t believe what I’d suggested. “Finn, we can’t.”
“And why not? Dinner with just the two of us sounds like just what the doctor ordered. And I should know – I’m the doctor, and I’m ordering it.” My words earned a smile in spite of herself.
“It’s a bad idea. And I’m not in the mood to explain myself.” She gestured toward the door. “Now, we need to get back out there unless this has all been some plan to get people to wonder where we’ve been for so long together.”
I shook my head. “Not into underhanded nonsense. I want to see you again, so that’s what I’m telling you. Think it over, yeah?”
She opened her mouth to speak but said nothing.
“Come on.” I opened the door and nodded for her to go through.
Kenna’s eyes lingered on me for several beats. I could sense she was deliberating, trying to figure out what she wanted. But without saying a word, she left.
Once she was gone, I gave my cock a few moments to calm down, then I headed back downstairs. Dinner was ready – a serve yourself kind of affair. I made myself a plate and approached the long table in the dining room. I chose the seat next to Kenna, and she gave me a look that seemed to say “come on – really?”
I grinned at her and took a bite.
What I was really hungry for was the woman at my side.
All I wanted was to eat my fill.
Chapter 10
KENNA
What the hell was he thinking sitting next to me? Actually, scratch that question – the sly expression on his face told me exactly what he was thinking. And damned if I wasn’t thinking about it too. I was still wet from the kiss, my body still tingling from the way his lips felt on mine, from the firm grasp of his hands on my hips. If we’d been alone, if there’d been no reason to stop, God only knew how far I would’ve gone with him – again.
Finn looked as good as he had three years ago. Hell, even better. His handsome, rugged features were the sort that would age like fine wine. I could already picture him as a silver fox, a gorgeous doctor that nurses who worked under him would gossip about behind his back.
That wasn’t what I needed to be thinking about. What I needed to do was to get my head out of my ass, to not look like something was going on. It was a tall order when all my friends were different shades of brilliant.
Duncan, totally comfortable speaking to a group, was seated at the head of the table and talking about some of the doctors in his employ, how lucky he was to have such a great staff.
“And speaking of which, how about a toast,” he announced, raising his glass of red. “To the newest member of the Pitt Medical team – Dr. Finn O’Conner.”
The rest of the table raised their glasses, and they all seemed utterly charmed by the mere mention of the handsome, Irish doctor. I hurried to lift my own glass, not wanting to appear like something was amiss.
“Thank you all so much,” Finn said. “Now, I know the stereotypical view of the Irish is that we have a gift for gab. Hate to break it, but that doesn’t apply to this particular Irishman. Now, raiding my wonderful host’s liquor cabinet for the best whiskey he has – I will admit that I live up to that stereotype.”
The group laughed at his joke, and I forced a smile. The speech so far was pure Finn – charming as hell, while being boyishly charming about being charming. Hell, it was working on me despite still sort of wanting to throw my wine in his face for what he’d pulled in the bathroom.
“Anyway,” he went on. “I’m pleased as hell to be in Denver with some of the most amazing friends I’ve had a chance to meet. And while some of you are still new faces, I can’t wait for the chance to get to know you. So, if Duncan doesn’t mind, I’m gonna steal his toast and make it not about me, but to everyone here.” He raised his wine glass. “To friendships, old and new.”
Hear, Hears came from the group, and we all lifted and drank our wine.
God, why the hell did he have to be so damn charming? This would be so much easier if he were a total prick, some guy I wouldn’t mind deleting from my life. But Finn was most certainly not that. If anything, he was a man who would only made my life, and the lives of my -our- children better for being in them.
Don’t wimp out now, I told myself. You’ve been the most fucking badass mom in Colorado to Sam and Sophie, and you don’t need Finn, as handsome and charming as he might be, to complete the picture. You’ve got this.
My thoughts managed to bolster my spirit enough to make the smile on my face genuine.
“So,” Gavin said once the toast was over, the other guests back to their eating and drinking. “Feel good to be back in Denver after all this time?”
“Oh, of course,” Finn said. “I’m an Irishman at heart, but something about the mountains and the air made me want to get back here as soon as I could. When Doc Duncan told me there was a temporary opening at one of his clinics in town, it was a no-brainer to come on back.”
Temporary. I had to remind myself t
hat this was all temporary. But his words raised questions. What was he doing here? He’d been in Ireland for the last three years, and then all of sudden he dropped everything to come back?
None of my business. All that mattered was that he’d, with any luck, be back in the Emerald Isle before too long.
“When was the last time you were here, Finn?” Gia asked.
“About three years ago. I’d just finished a travel job and went to a medical convention at the end of it before leaving for home.”
“Wait, the International Convention?” Gia asked.
“The very one,” Finn replied.
“Ha, small world. My firm actually organized that event,” she said.
“What an event it was!” Finn said. “I had a smashing time.”
“Doctors aren’t hard to please,” Gia chuckled. “Good food and booze and they’re happy.”
Gavin raised his glass. “No arguments here.”
Chuckles sounded from the group. A thoughtful expression appeared on Gia’s face. “And you were busy with an event of your own that weekend, right, Kenna?”
“Yep. And it was a killer. But it ended up being the best weekend ever, actually.”
“Oh, really?” Annie asked. “What happened?”
“Well, nine months after that weekend my munchkins were born.”
Some “awws” came from the group, and for a moment I was actually pleased with what I’d said. Until the easy smile vanished from Finn’s face and I realized how badly I’d fucked up.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
Either Finn was under the impression he was one of many that weekend, or the pieces were beginning to fit together about Sam and Sophie.
My stomach tightened; I felt sick. The conversation continued around me, as if I hadn’t just blown the biggest secret I had right in front of the man I was keeping it from.
More chatter sounded from the group, punctuated by the occasional round of laughter. But it all felt like a din, like the faraway noise of a dream. Finn didn’t join in the conversation, instead staring straight ahead. I might’ve actually felt better if he’d glanced at me, given me some indication of what he was thinking, how he was feeling. But he didn’t.
I turned my attention to the food on my plate but eating was the last thing I wanted to do. I had fucked up big.
Right in the middle of one of the guests speaking, Finn rose from the table and headed to the living room where the kids were watching a movie. A few of the guests noticed at his strange behavior.
“What’s up, Finn?” Duncan asked, watching him.
“Nothing,” he said, his voice flat. “Just wanna see something.”
Sam and Sophia were in that room. I needed to get up, to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid. I hopped out of my seat and hurried around the table. I could feel the burn of several pairs of eyes on me, but at that moment I didn’t have the luxury of caring what anyone else thought.
Once in the living room, I spotted Finn in front of Sam and Sophie.
“Finn.” I spoke, my voice firm. “What are you doing?”
The kids’ attention was too focused on the Disney movie to care about what Finn might’ve been up to. I watched as he squatted down in front of Sam, placing the tips of his finger and thumb on the boy’s chin.
“The cleft,” he said. “It’s the same as mine. I thought it was just a coincidence, but…”
Fuck.
He turned his attention to Sophie, then back to Sam. “And his hair – it’s the same damn color as mine.”
“Don’t swear in front of them.” It was about the lamest thing I could’ve said. Sam craned his neck to look around Finn and at the TV.
The twins, of course, had no idea what was going on, and I aimed to keep it that way. I hurried around the couch, standing next to Finn, pretending he wasn’t there.
“Kids, we’re leaving now.”
“No!” Sam said, frustration in his tone.
“We watchin’!” Sophia whined.
“We can watch the rest at home.”
Finn didn’t seem to notice the conflict happening between my children and me. Instead, he placed his hand on Sophie’s cheek and tilted her head up. “God, those eyes – they’re mine, too.”
“Don’t touch them.” The words came out in sharp stabs.
“Excuse me?” Finn asked, taken aback.
“Don’t touch my children.”
“Your ch-” He didn’t finish, as if by saying the words it would make it more real.
Neither of us were ready for this.
“Come on, guys,” I said, impatience and fear in my voice in equal measure. “Let’s go.”
Finn’s hand fell on my shoulder. Finally, he locked his eyes on mine, anger flashing in his gorgeous greens. “We’ve got something to talk about, and I’ve got a good mind to think you know exactly what it is. Now, we can go somewhere private and talk about it, or we can have it out in front of the kids and the guests. But this conversation is happening. Now.”
Any hope that this would somehow get swept under the rug vanished. Before I could reply, we both became aware of another presence in the room.
Duncan stood straight and tall at one of the entrances, an expression of concern on his face as he looked between us. “Everything okay in here?”
“Sorry, Duncan,” Finn said. “Kenna and I need a few moments to talk. Is there somewhere we can go that’d be a touch more private?”
Duncan nodded, as if he were curious but knew better than to pry. “Sure. Third floor, there’s an office at the far end of the hallway on the right.”
Finn turned his eyes to me, raising his brow in expectation. I nodded. He looked at Duncan and said, “Sorry about all this.”
“Think nothing of it. Just wanted to make sure you were okay in here.”
“We’re fine,” I said, trying to sound confident. I squatted in front of the kids, who’d begun to realize something strange was going on. “Keep watching the movie. I’ll be back in a little bit, okay?”
They both nodded and returned their attention to the television as if nothing had happened. I turned to Finn, nodding once more, and hurried out of the room and up the stairs. Our conversation would be private, but there wasn’t a chance in hell we wouldn’t be the subject of conversation at the dinner table. Still, it’d be better than having it out in front of everyone.
After taking the endless trek up to the third floor, I found the study at the far end. The room was huge, done up in a classic study style with tall bookshelves, a fireplace, and arched windows that looked out over Duncan and Annie’s vast property. There was a bar too, and I immediately made myself a drink.
I knew I’d need one.
The moment I finished pouring my drink with shaking hands, the door opened. I turned, and there he was.
“Pour me one too,” Finn said, shutting the door as he stepped into the room. “We’ve got a hell of a lot to talk about.”
Chapter 11
FINN
A whirlwind of emotions rose inside of me as I stared at Kenna from across the room. She regarded me with wide eyes, a drink in her hand as she stood in front of the bar.
Pissed. That was the most prominent feeling. I wanted to scream and shout and ask her how the fuck she dared doing what she’d done. But I kept my anger in check. Kenna was the sort of woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself and handling this with anger was the wrong way to go about it.
“I’m gonna ask you this, and I’m gonna ask once.” I started toward her, stepping slowly, deliberately. “Are Sam and Sophia mine?”
She said nothing. She lifted her drink to her lips, sipping silently. If she needed a little booze to get through this conversation, so be it. But there wasn’t a chance in hell I was leaving this study without answers. I took the moments of silence to prepare a whiskey neat for myself.
“No one knows who their father is,” she finally said.
I cocked my head to the side. “What kind of answer is that?
” I asked. “I want it straight as the booze in my hand, Kenna. Don’t you dare fucking dance around a subject this important with me!”
I’d raised my voice, spoken with anger. And the narrowing of her eyes made it clear I’d stepped over a line with her.
“Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” she seethed. “You want to talk, we can talk. But I’m not going to stand here while you berate me.” There was no hesitation in her voice, no uncertainty.
And to be honest, as angry as I was…I admired it. More than that, her boldness, her fearlessness in sticking up for herself – it was a turn-on. But sex, as much as it had been on my mind when she and I were in the bathroom, was the last thing I should have been thinking about at that moment.
I sipped my whiskey, giving myself a moment or two to compose myself.
“Sorry,” I said. “But you have to admit my anger’s more than a little justified considering what’s going on right now.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Excuse me?” I asked. “Are you seriously gonna tell me that whether or not the twins are mine is none of my business? Kenna, I respect the hell out of you as a mother, but you got some nerve saying that to me. If those are my children, I deserve to know.”
She said nothing. I eyed her, trying to discern her thoughts to no avail.
“I’m starting to get the distinct impression you’re stalling for time. Let me tell you this, Kenna – I’m getting the answers I want, and the easiest thing for you to do would be to come clean and tell me what I want to know with the least amount of bullshit possible. You owe me that much.”
The words took a hell of a lot out of me, especially to keep my anger in check, but they’d had purchase. Kenna said nothing, but she knew I was right in being owed the truth.
“Fine,” she said. “But you raise your voice with me, you swear, and you can forget about this conversation.”
“Deal. Now, tell me – are they mine?”
She nodded.
I was a father.
How I felt at that moment…was indescribable. I was thrilled and scared and confused and uncertain all at once. But I was undeniably happy, and it confused the shit out of me. I was a father. Those two beautiful, perfect children down there were mine.
The Irish Doctor’s Secret Babies: A Secret Baby Romance Page 9
