Who's the Boss? - Erin McCarthy Page 0,60

astonished to feel tears pricking in the back of my eyes. What the hell? I never cried. I hadn’t cried since my parents funeral. In thirteen years not one tear had formed in either eye.

But I was standing in an empty storefront, a self-proclaimed cynic, a wall built around my emotions, and here Sean had an actual brick building that was a representation of sentiment and dreams. It made me feel like I’d been emotionally frozen for a decade, whereas he had embraced his love for his grandmother.

So there it was– moisture behind my lids. The tears didn’t fall. I was able to blink them away quickly but that they had even attempted an appearance took my breath away. I felt lightheaded and I dropped down into a squat, concentrating on breathing in and out.

“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding alarmed. Sean dropped down beside me and rubbed my arms. “Isla?”

I just nodded. Then when I spoke, my voice was tight. “It’s just… that’s a very sweet gesture. To name it after your grandmother. And I guess I just realized that I run away from my grief. I try to pretend it doesn’t hurt.” I forced myself to look up at him. “But by doing that, I ignore them. It’s like they didn’t exist.”

The tears reappeared. A drop rolled down each cheek, astonishing me. “I never meant to do that.”

There was nothing but compassion and understanding in his green eyes. Sean put his arms around me and pulled me close into a hug. His lips brushed over my lips and it was nice to lean into him, to have him hold me up.

“They know that,” he said. “Trust me, they know. You were trying to be strong in a tough world and you succeeded. You’re a very strong woman.” He pulled back, using the backs of his thumbs to wipe the two stray tears. “But you don’t have to always be strong. You’re not fifteen anymore. You can let people in. Ask for help.”

My throat was tight. “I’m not sure I know how to do that.”

“I’m no expert on letting people in. I hold everyone at arm’s length and blame it on my work hours.”

“Same.” I gave a small, strangled laugh.

Sean stood up, pulling me to my feet. He cupped my cheeks with his palms in a way that almost made me panic, it was so tender. But I wanted to stay in his embrace. Hell, I needed to stay. His voice was soothing, his expression concerned and caring.

“But I want to be with you, Isla, for real. I want to give this, us, a real shot. I don’t want this to be casual. I want to build something with you. Am I way off-base here that maybe you and I could be a pretty damn good fit?”

“No. You’re not off-base.” We were a good fit. Hell, we were an amazing fit. I stared into his eyes. “I think we’re actually a lot alike.” Then because I felt vulnerable I did my usual cover-up. “Besides, I think I’m the only woman who can handle you.”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “True. Likewise. You’re a ballbuster but I can deal with it.”

Sean gave me a soft kiss that turned my insides to oatmeal.

I was mildly embarrassed about breaking down but mostly I was just feeling giddy, like we were on the cusp of something momentous. Together, and for me, personally. It felt like I’d turned a corner in my life. “Show me around Sadie’s,” I said. “I want to hear your whole game plan.”

He stepped back, and took my hand, a smile lighting up his handsome face. I wanted to eat him with a spoon, he was so damn good-looking. I wanted to crawl into a bed with him and spend a whole weekend. I wanted to explore every inch of his body and I wanted to hold his hand.

I wanted to fall in love with Sean.

Maybe I already had.

Twelve

Isla’s reaction had shocked the hell out of me. I hadn’t expected her to get emotional. She was constantly full of surprises. But it touched me that she’d allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of me.

I wasn’t sure what the hell had possessed me to tell her about my mother’s infidelity but what it had done was establish trust between us and had allowed her to confide in me her own feelings about her parents.

Something was happening between us. Something pretty damn big and important and fucking awesome.

Her enthusiasm for