NATALIA

late for his very important dinner. The most important dinner, in his opin

should have no right to have a fiancée, but acco

nd all my father had worked for would also be safe. The moment the rest

the front seat, and I looked up to find h

smile and said,

o far from okay, but

grabbed the door handle. Stepping out onto the quiet sidewalk, I straightened my

r my exposed skin, but I ignored them an

s I approached him. If I wasn't mistaken, his gaze s

ace. "I have an appointment here," I continued as he moved his

the door for me, saying, "Your Father

already knew who one of

he dimly lit room. My father sat at the far side of the restaurant with his ba

ian

tilted his head to the left. His smile widened before I fo

these years. A shade that made you feel like you were drowning when looking into them for too long.

n him in person, and even then it had

s and most times he only came around when my brother was home for the holidays. But e

mach d

ere they sat, only stoppin

oked to be a man in his early thirties when he was actually in his fifties. My mum used to say I was the exact copy of him. But I begged to differ. When my Dad saw a blank sheet, he

business. And he didn

ate," he

ch on the table before sitting do

y dad, Killian, and two other men sat there.

t my Father. "T

twitch of his jaw told me he

r continued. "Killian, this is my d

ger than they should. I watched as his lips parted, his gaze piercing throu

ough my ears and landed in my stomach, twisting

n flowing through me when I lis

oping the small smile on my face was

he wanted to say more

o are acquainted. Let's

otepad in hand. She looked younger than me, with short blonde hair and blue eyes. I didn't mis

he type of man any woman would crave. I, ho

bered from seven years ago was no

and I couldn't help the scoff that slipped out my l

is seat beside me an

rong?" the waitress a

' My Fathe

ly one, " I said, turning to her with a fake smile. "You

hter sending shivers down my sp

stop acting ridiculo

ponded, ignori

I looked over at Killian as the waitress walked away with our orders. He still had that sa

re him, but it wa

gaze was s

had accompanied him to the dinner. I couldn't find myself to list

right?" Kill

ce and looked over at me bef

hing al

head. "Nat's looking a little pale," he said, g

he cared? "I need to use the restro

uld. I pushed open the door to the ladies restroom, sighing softly

one was in the bathroom with me

ror in front of me. My father's words echoed

're going to be mar

g Killi

ath as I replayed thos

as I going to

think this would e

ople. The Killian I remembered was obnoxious. Cocky.

reath, reaching up to brush m

ear in this very fancy place." I

anned against the back of my neck, followed b

around. "What ar

to check

he lady's

or, and sure enough on the door was

mn

counter, needing a way out of there as fast as I could. He was in front of me

ause I don't t

issed. "In case you for

way my stomach fluttered at how he called my name. There

ill be no friendship and marriage will be for the sake of keeping

ner." He shrugged like the whole matter was something casual. In

care who

g me is a bad thing Nat,

ll me Nat,

hroat. "We both know it is a marriage out of necessity and no

bad if we di

reath right out of my throat. My breathing hitched when they lin

stance was between us. His chest brushed against t

aces were only inches apart, and his

ting his next move. Killian moved his face to the right side of

run down my spine, and it had me ho

e said softly into my ear

h something unfamiliar flashing through his gaze. I couldn't bring myself t

aid. "And think of this arrangement

and walked out

have walked away. Walked away and never looked back. But I didn't. I was young, naïve, and stupid

was all

ere not married. We were not in a re

that lasted for

e only time we had slept together after that night was on

tact with me, even when we bo

civil. The first two months had

ed into a whole year. And then two. And in the third year, I lost Eva to a c