"Keely," he muttered. This was all her damn fault. If she hadn't stumbled into his life and turned everything upside down, he wouldn't have any doubts about ruining Seamus Quinn for good.
All his life, he'd been focused on success, every move calculated to make more money and acquire greater power. He'd thought that money and power would fill the empty spaces in his soul. And when it didn't, he'd decided those spaces could be filled by avenging his father's death. Now, if that didn't work, he'd have to look elsewhere. But he knew that surrendering power to Keely would never be the solution.
If he allowed himself to feel something for her, then she gained the advantage, she held all the cards. He'd change his life for her and, sooner or later, she'd walk away. His mother's psychiatrists might say that his father's death had instilled these fears in him, fears of abandonment. They might also say that, until he faced these issues, he'd never have a normal relationship with a woman.
But that's what he was doing with his campaign against Seamus Quinn-he was facing his issues and putting his life in order. And if Keely was an innocent bystander who got caught in the crossfire, then that was her problem, not his. The truth would set them all free.
Rafe stood up and took a last look at Frog Pond, pushing aside any thoughts of Keely Quinn. His course had been set. This afternoon, he'd drop her off at work and call an end to it. There was no going back. Losing an incredible bedmate was a consequence he'd have to live with.
Rafe just hoped it wouldn't take too long to find someone to replace her.
"PICK ME UP after work." Keely leaned over and kissed Rafe on the cheek. "I'll be done at six. We can go out and get something to eat and then catch a movie." She laughed softly. "Don't we sound like the ordinary couple? Maybe you should leave town without telling me. Or maybe when I get to your place tonight I should find a woman in your bed. That would shake things up, don't you think?"
Rafe ignored her teasing, his expression grim. He'd been in a dark mood since they'd gotten out of bed that morning. Keely couldn't help but wonder if he was tiring of their relationship already. She knew there was every chance that it would happen sooner or later, but she had hoped for later.
This was the risk she took, giving herself completely to him, with no sense of his feelings toward her. Yes, the sex had been good. It had progressed from incredible to earth-shattering and it didn't show signs of letting up anytime soon. Though Keely had enjoyed their time together, she'd also kept her heart well protected. She had refused to allow herself any fantasies of a future with Rafe and, to her surprise, it had worked.
"If you'd rather not do anything tonight, that's fine, too," Keely offered. "I could probably use a full night's sleep. And I have to do some laundry and run errands. I could take a cab home."
"When are you going to tell them?" Rafe asked as he stared out the window.
"I'm not sure. Maybe today, if the time is right."
"You can't put it off forever."
"This is my problem and my decision," Keely said, irritated at his interference. "I'll decide when I decide." She paused. "You know, maybe it would be better if I stayed at my place tonight. I'm paying for a room at the bed-and-breakfast and I haven't been there for almost a week."
"Do what you want," Rafe said.
"Then I will." Keely stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind her. She circled around the front then looked both ways before starting across the street. She turned when she heard Rafe get out of the car and, an instant later, he'd grabbed her arm and yanked her into his embrace.
He kissed her, hard and deep, refusing to allow her a chance to breathe. And when he finally released her, he smiled tightly. "I'll pick you up after work." With that, he turned around and got back into the car. When the engine roared to life, Keely stepped back. She watched him drive off down the street, her mind whirling with both the aftereffects of his kiss and overwhelming confusion.
There were times when she didn't understand Rafe Kendrick at all. Maybe that's what she found so attractive about him, that bad boy beneath the expensive Italian suits. That mercurial man who kept her guessing. She was living on the edge, never knowing what would happen next and she liked it.
Keely ran up the steps to the pub, turning her mind to thoughts of her family. Maybe Rafe was right. Maybe it was time to tell Seamus. She knew her father a bit better now and she was almost sure that he'd take the news well. "I'm going to tell him. I have fifteen minutes before the pub opens and by the time the first customer walks in, Seamus Quinn is going to have a daughter." She pulled the door open and walked inside.
Keely knew something was wrong the moment she saw her family gathered at the end of the bar. They were standing in a tight circle, their heads bent in an intense discussion. A sliver of fear shot through her when she saw the serious expressions on their faces. She searched the bar for Seamus, and when she didn't see him, her fear increased. Had something happened to him? Was he ill? She'd just assumed he'd be around when she was ready to tell him, but he wasn't a young man anymore.
She hung her jacket on the rack near the door, then stowed her purse behind the bar. Her brothers were all talking in heated tones and didn't notice her arrival. She strained to hear what they were saying, moving closer and closer. When Liam finally broke away from the group, she caught his eye. He walked to the end of the bar. "Is everything all right?" Keely asked, her heart slamming in her chest.
Liam turned back to look at his brothers, then raked his hands through his hair. His face was tinged with exhaustion and his brow furrowed with worry. "No," he said.
"What is it? Is it Seamus? Is he sick?"
"No," Liam repeated. "I mean, he's not sick. It's just-" He paused, obviously trying to decide what he would tell her. "He's in trouble. The cops came and got him early this morning and they're holding him for questioning."
Keely gasped. "For what?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. You don't have to worry about it. It'll all get sorted out. But there's something else. Some bad news."
"Seamus in jail isn't bad news?" Keely asked.
"We had an unscheduled visit from the building inspector the other day and he found asbestos on some of the heating pipes. He's shutting us down until it's removed. With the bar closed down, my father won't be able to meet the mortgage. He barely does now and we all work for free. If the bank calls the mortgage in, he'll lose the pub."
"I can't believe this."
"Conor doesn't think this is all happening by chance," Liam said, lowering his voice so his brothers couldn't hear. "He thinks someone is out to get our da. We're just trying to figure out what to do. For now, I don't think we can keep you on."
"I'll work for tips," Keely said.
"It's not that. It's going to take at least a week to get workmen here and a few more weeks to complete the job and then we have to wait for a reinspection and that could take a week, maybe two. We've got to move everything out and move it all back in again. The bar could be closed for a month."
"I could help," Keely offered. A whole month without an excuse to see her father and brothers. This couldn't be happening. She had to find a way to stay in touch. Maybe she should tell them right now.
Liam shook his head. "No, this a family thing. We'll deal with it. We're not going to open today, but you can stay for your shift and help clean up, then collect your pay. Sean will get you cash from the till. We've got your phone number so when things get straightened away, we'll call you. But we won't be upset if you have to take another job. A month is a long time to go without a paycheck." He wiped his hands on a bar towel. "So, I guess that's it."
"Don't worry," Keely said. "Everything will be all right. Why don't you go back to your brothers. I'll wash these glasses and dust the bottles on the back bar."
He reached out and gave her arm a squeeze. "Thanks. You're sweet."
She waited until he rejoined his brothers before grabbing Rafe's business card out of her purse. Rafe would know what to do. He probably knew hundr
eds of good lawyers. And a few contractors who could get the job done in a few days rather than weeks. And a guy like Rafe didn't get to where he was without knowing a few people in the building inspector's office. He probably even knew the mayor. Keely put the card back in her purse. It would be better to talk to him about this in person. If there was any convincing to be done she'd be in a better…position.
She walked over to the sink beneath the bar and grabbed a towel, then washed a glass and wiped it dry. She was family and she was going to make a contribution to solving this problem. As soon as she finished a few tasks, she'd ask to leave, then go directly to Rafe's office to solicit his help. Until then, she'd pick up as much as she could about why her father had been taken into custody.
"None of us knows what happened on that boat," she overheard Brendan say. "And Da doesn't seem to be talking. Conor, you need to take care of the legal end of this. This is probably going to be a federal investigation, but they should be able to tell you something. I'll take care of what's going on with the pub. I've got plenty of cash to cover the mortgage and the contractor costs so we don't have to worry about that."
"You can count on me to help there," Dylan said.
"Me, too," Conor added.
"Brian, you've got some friends down at city hall, why don't you see if we can move that building inspector along. I don't think we can afford to be shut down for more than a few weeks."
"What about Da?" Sean asked. "What if he ends up being charged with murder?"
Keely's heart froze and a tiny cry slipped from her lips. She tried to keep her expression bland as she worked harder at washing the glasses, determined to cover her distress. Murder? Her father was being questioned about a murder?
"Did he say anything about this Kendrick guy?" Conor asked. "I got a look at the statement. This witness claims that Kendrick died on the Mighty Quinn and Da was responsible. There was some kind of fight and Kendrick went overboard. Da swears it didn't happen that way."
For a long moment, Keely didn't breathe. She must have misheard. They didn't really say the name Kendrick, did they?
Brian leaned forward. "Do we know anything about this guy's family?"
"Sam Kendrick had a wife and a kid. His widow was Lila and I don't know about the kid. I guess after he died there was some insurance settlement. But as far as I can tell, there was no investigation. I'm wondering if the family knows anything about this witness coming forward. Maybe we should contact them?"
Keely felt her body go numb all the way to the tips of her fingers. The glass she was holding slipped from her hand and smashed on the floor at her feet. Her brothers all turned to look at her and, with trembling hands, she hurried to pick up the pieces. But in her haste, she cut her palm with a shard of glass.
In an instant, Dylan had hopped over the bar and grabbed her hand. "Here," he said, pulling her toward the sink.
"I-I'm sorry. It just slipped. I didn't mean to-"
"Never mind," Dylan said as he rinsed the blood from her hand. He grabbed a clean towel and then pressed it to the cut. "There. It doesn't look deep. It should stop bleeding soon." He pulled a first aid kit from a nearby drawer and handed her a bandage.
The pain was dulled by the echo of the name in her head. Kendrick. Seamus was in jail because the police thought he murdered Sam Kendrick. And Sam Kendrick had been married to Lila Kendrick, the very woman she met on Christmas Eve. That meant that her father was suspected of killing Rafe's father.
A wave of nausea washed over her. "I-I'll just go take care of this in the ladies' room," she murmured as she rushed past him and through the bar.
When she reached the privacy of the bathroom, she leaned back against the door and swallowed hard, fighting the urge to throw up. What was she supposed to do with this news? And how could she tell Rafe?
A sudden realization struck her like a slap to the face. Maybe Rafe already knew. But if he suspected her father of murder, then why hadn't he said something that night when she'd told him her reasons for coming to Boston? Her mind spun back to that moment and Keely tried to remember his reaction. Rafe had been a bit distant at times since then, but she'd written that off as a bad mood.
For all she knew, Rafe had no idea of the connection between his father's death and the Quinn family. She drew a ragged breath. But what if he did know? Another realization hit her. Keely groaned softly and covered her mouth with her hand. Had Rafe known who she was all along? Even from that very first night on the street in front of the pub? Was their meeting a part of some plan?
"No," she murmured. She was reading way too much into the situation. She pressed the heels of her hands to her temples. The only way she'd know the truth was to confront Rafe.
Keely turned on the tap and splashed cold water on her face, then dabbed it dry with a paper towel. Before she walked out the door, she ran her fingers through her hair and pasted a smile on her face.
Her brothers were still in the same spot, still involved in their discussion, when she walked back behind the bar. Sean joined her and opened the cash register. "Liam explained to you what is going on, right? Rather than wait for your paycheck, I'll just pay you in cash. I'm sorry we can't keep you on, Keely. You were a good waitress."
"That's all right. I understand. You all seem so worried-I wish there was something I could do."
"It'll be fine," he replied. "It's just a family thing."
Tears of frustration pressed at the corners of her eyes and she fought them back. She was tired of hearing it was a family thing! She was family and she wanted to help. But with all that had happened to them today, she couldn't possibly reveal the news now.
Maybe she didn't deserve to be a part of the Quinn family. After all, she'd been sleeping with Rafe Kendrick. But was Rafe the enemy? Did he have anything to do with this whole thing? God, she couldn't think! Her mind was a mess of doubt and speculation. "I think I'm going to go home, if that's all right with you."
"No problem," Sean replied. "Not much to do around here." He handed her the cash and she tucked it in her pocket. "Good luck with everything, Keely."
"Thanks. Good luck to you. And give Seamus my best wishes." Her voiced trembled slightly and when she turned to grab her purse and jacket, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying.
"Bye, Keely," Liam shouted. The rest of her brothers added their farewells, and she turned and gave them a wave, then opened the door. When she reached the street, Keely yanked her jacket more tightly around her to still the tremors that racked her body.
The cold winter air cleared her head and she tried to sort out all she'd heard. But her initial suspicion kept coming back to plague her. Rafe had to be involved. Why had he been hanging out at the pub? And why, during all of their discussions, hadn't he told her about his father? Why was that such a big secret?
Keely glanced up and down the street, wondering how to get back to the bed-and-breakfast. There had to be a bus stop or a subway stop close by. She'd just have to walk around until she found one. And while she searched, she'd decide exactly how to handle her next encounter with Rafe.
One thing she did know-Keely Quinn wouldn't be falling into bed with Rafe Kendrick anytime soon.
CHAPTER SEVEN
KEELY SAT in the dark living room of Rafe's apartment, staring at an elaborate flower arrangement on the cherry coffee table in front of her. The doorman had happily let her in as he'd done a number of times since Christmas Eve. She shivered, then rubbed her arms through the sleeves of her jacket, trying to conquer the apprehension she felt.
The moment he walked in the door, Keely knew she had to confront him, so determined was she to have an explanation for his deceit. As she waited, she had thought about opening a bottle of wine, but then decided against it, certain that she'd need all her wits about her. Besides, with the level of her anger, the wine bottle could be used as a weapon.
The words were difficult to plan. She only knew how she felt-betrayed, confused, hurt. Funny, she'd thought she was immune to those emotion
s. If she didn't allow herself to fall in love with Rafe, then he couldn't possibly hurt her. So what did this mean? Was she in love with him or had the shock of the situation simply overwhelmed her?
The sound of his key in the lock startled her out of her thoughts. She didn't speak the moment he walked in, choosing instead to observe him from the shadows. He looked tired and tense as he threw his keys on a table and dropped his briefcase on the floor. And try as she might, she couldn't see him as the enemy. When he reached out for the light switch, Keely held her breath.
Rafe saw her immediately. "Keely! Christ, what are you doing here?"
"Where did you expect me to be?"
"I-I thought you were going to spend the night at your place. Shouldn't you be at work?"
She swallowed hard, unsure if she'd even be able to form a coherent sentence. "The pub's been closed. Does that come as a surprise to you?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" He raked his hand through his hair, then slowly approached. "Are you angry about something?"
"Should I be?"
"Damn it, Keely, if you're going to answer every question I pose with another question, we'll just quit talking. But if you have a problem, tell me what it is and we'll discuss it. I'm not going to play games with you."
She laughed derisively. "Oh, you're not going to play games? Tell me, what have you been doing from the moment we met? No, don't answer that. First, tell me, what were you doing at Quinn's the night we met?" She paused for a long moment, long enough for her to see the answer in his eyes. "You did this, didn't you? All this trouble for Seamus. You're the one who made it happen."
"Keely, I-"
Her heart ached a little more with every word she said. Suspecting him of such an act was one thing, but seeing the confirmation of it in his eyes was another. "You think Seamus had something to do with your father's death. I heard my brothers talking about it and when they mentioned your name-Kendrick-I couldn't believe it. But then it all fell into place. After all, what would a sophisticated, wealthy downtown guy like you be doing in a working-class pub in South Boston? Unless you had some reason for hanging out there."
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