He didn’t know who this man was anymore. Who had such blatant disregard for the woman he’d once professed to love so deeply?

You would think a man who’d been blasted in public after the news broke about his having fathered a child while still married to his wife would be sensitive to keeping a low profile, but the flack hadn’t lasted long. His father hadn’t truly had to pay any price. He had issued some half-ass statement, looked appropriately contrite, and then continued on with his life.

While his mother still got pitying looks and had to deal with randomly encountering his father’s outside woman and child in the grocery. Keiran hadn’t been present, but his mother had calmly mentioned it and gone about her day. Except he’d definitely heard her sniffling silently in the bathroom. They’d never talked about it because that’s what his mother preferred, but Keiran could never and would never forgive his father.

No wonder Cherisse was leery of guys in this industry.

But in this moment of emotions battering his insides, he could admit it hurt. The idea that Cherisse thought he was like his father, another no-good, piece of shit guy. He’d brushed off her coming at him about that rumor, but it had fucking hurt.

Like you’ve given her a reason lately to think otherwise.

He shushed that voice and focused on her in that damn dress. It clung to every curve. When he’d seen her coming up those steps with Tyler, everything had fallen away. His father’s annoying presence, his brother’s uncomfortable stance as he pretended the awkward tension around his parents wasn’t growing thicker by the second.

Hadn’t lasted long. The moment Tyler casually slung an arm around her waist to pose for a photo op, Keiran had tossed back his drink and guided his mother over to check out the desserts.

And now, here they were. He’d word-vomited all over her, and she’d felt enough pity to offer a hug, of all things. Talk about bizarre.

Her body language indicated she regretted her casual offer. Keiran wasn’t about to push. If she wasn’t comfortable hugging him after all, so be it. It was probably for the best. There was something about those startlingly pink heels that was sending his thoughts into overdrive.

Thoughts that conjured up silky sheets, bare skin, and just those bright shoes, heels digging into his back as she wrapped her legs around him.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, nonchalant. As if his mind hadn’t gone there. As if his stomach wasn’t twisting at the thought of exiting this tiny bubble of quiet he’d stepped into, to get away from family drama. Watching his father not give a damn about any of them.

“Hey, no worries. I’ll get me some of those cool-looking treats and not think about pushing my father down the stairs.”

“Shut up,” she said, and then he was wrapped up in her softness. Her bun tickled his jaw, and Keiran allowed himself to relax, drink in the feel of her. Allowed himself to slowly return the embrace as his arms came around her.