Hot Under His Collar - Andie J. Christopher Page 0,95

stand now because there was a question behind the righteous anger in Patrick’s gaze. He wasn’t sure that she was going to choose him over her family. She wasn’t sure where they would live or how her parents would try to fuck her business over, but she was sure about choosing him. She was sure about choosing love.

“Get out.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “Don’t be difficult, Sasha. Just do what you’re told; say goodbye. We have brunch reservations.”

“I’m not going with you, and I’m not saying goodbye.” When she said that, she felt the tension melt out of Patrick’s body. “You can send accountants and kick me out of here. But if you do that, you know you’ll never see me again.”

“If family means that little to you—”

Sasha put her hand up. “You might be able to convince Marlena to cut me off, but that just means that she doesn’t want to be my family. And, if you don’t want to accept me as I am—imperfect, scandalous, insufficiently cowed into living under your stupid rules—then you’re not my family. That’s not what family does. It’s not what it means.”

“This is your fault.” Moira pointed to Patrick. “Before this, she never would have defied me. I ought to report you to the archbishop.”

Patrick snorted and held up both hands. “First of all, reporting me to the archbishop wouldn’t do any good. I’ve asked for and received laicization and dispensation from my vows. I’m in love with your daughter, and I’m going to be with her in any capacity that she’ll have me. Even if she won’t marry me.”

Sasha turned to her father. “You’re just going to let her cut me out of your lives?”

Her father’s face reddened. He was ashamed, but he wasn’t going to do anything about it. In that moment, she felt sorry for him. He might have more money than he could ever spend, but he was sitting on a throne built of lies and shame. She wouldn’t live that way anymore.

Despite everything, she still hoped that her mother would see how wrong she was. It was a faint hope, but she didn’t want to be the person who lost that hope. “I think, before anyone says anything that can’t be taken back, you should leave.”

Her mother opened her mouth to speak, but her father took her arm to lead her out.

“I’ll make sure to send you the keys and have the place professionally cleaned.”

Her father nodded and turned away. When they made it out the front door, Sasha turned into Patrick’s arms. Happy that he was there to catch her, because she was now working without a net.

* * *

—

PATRICK COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT she’d chosen him over her family. He’d taken a leap of faith leaving the Church, knowing that he could fall flat on his face if she didn’t really want to be with him. He’d pushed that fear away, knowing that it was the right thing to do even if things didn’t work out.

But things could really work out. She wanted them to work out, and that was half the battle. He promised himself that he wouldn’t do anything to make her regret the decision to choose him over her family. That started when he held her as she cried.

When she stopped, he stepped away to get her fresh coffee, realizing when he was done pouring that he didn’t know how she liked it. She sat down at the counter, and it was just like she was sitting down at the bar at Dooley’s. That bit of familiarity in this completely new situation made him smile.

She looked at him and gave him a weak grin. “Just cream, two tablespoons.”

“It’s so weird that I know how you drink a cocktail but not a cup of coffee.” He set down the cup in front of her and poured his own. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, not knowing if he’d ever be able to get used to that. The freedom of not having to watch what he did and trying to control how he thought was staggering.

“We have plenty of time to learn.” She looked down. “When are we going to move into the apartment above Dooley’s—”

“It’s been vacant for a couple of months. We can move in whenever we want.” He worried for a moment that she might be having doubts after that whole scene with her parents. The way she’d drawn a line in the sand had made him even more ready to start