Mr. Holt stood with his gun out and at his side. “I heard the dog barking, wanted to check in.” He gazed at the dog sitting still as a statue then his gaze lifted and came to me. “You good?”
I nodded and grabbed the robe I’d left on the couch earlier and shoved it on.
“I know you’re working and Ms. Jones-Kerrighan did not specify the hours, but it’s coming up on six p.m. Omar and Lance have already taken the ladies to Kerrighan House and are now waiting downstairs to take you home.”
“Oh, wow. Time really flies. I’ll just be a minute!” I called out and dashed to the bathroom, quickly dressing in my jeans, shirt, and flip-flops once more.
I carried the lingerie out and went to the clothing racks and rehung the items. Really, they needed to be washed, especially after things got a little heated during our session, but these would end up being mine to keep. Another thing about having an insanely talented fashion designer sister was I got to keep the clothes I modeled for her. Not usually the case with the other designers I did shoots for.
“I’m ready, I’m ready.” I flip-flopped my way to the guys and skipped them all together and went over to Brutus and crouched down, putting my arms around his solid form. His tail started to flap against the wood floors. “Okay, you be a good baby for your daddy.” I kissed his snout a few times and petted his head. “I’ll see you soon. Maybe I can bring you a treat?” I lifted my gaze to Killian who had his arms crossed over his beautiful chest and was shaking his head with a wicked grin plastered across his handsome face.
“He’s not allowed to eat people food unless it’s meat or veggies. Healthy stuff.”
“Ah, does he get to have dog treats?” I asked.
His lips twitched. “Yeah, if they’re organic.”
“You give your dog organic food? Mama Kerri is going to love you.” I grinned.
“If that’s your mother, I look forward to meeting her,” he commented brazenly, insinuating that he’d be all for a meeting with the parents even though we’d just met ourselves.
A niggle of fear mixed with excitement alongside anticipation blasted through me. Meeting the parents was a big deal. I’d know since there’d never been a man I found worthy enough to meet the woman who raised me. My sisters at bars and events, sure. Not Mama Kerri. For some reason me and the rest of my foster sisters treated Kerrighan House and our foster mother as our sacred haven. Only boyfriends, or girlfriends in Charlie’s case, were invited over after a good period of dating had been completed. We weren’t going to bring guys that we simply dated in and out of each other’s lives. Which is why Jonah’s pretty much the only man seen regularly around our family. Except of course Ryan has been tagging along quite a lot, but I attributed that to him being so closely connected to Jonah.
“Um…I don’t know about that,” I murmured and stood.
“Can we have a minute alone?” Killian asked my bodyguard.
One side of Mr. Holt’s lip curled up and he lifted his chin then shut the door. Before I could respond, Killian reached for my wrist and pulled me toward him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me in his arms, loosely. He didn’t go for my mouth or resume what had started not long ago in front of the couch, which I kind of wish he’d do, but no longer felt bold enough to suggest. The moment had been broken and I felt weird and out of sorts, wanting to leave and get my head together to go over everything that happened.
“We on for tomorrow? We have eleven more outfits to shoot and I have some ideas,” he said running his hands up and down my back in a soothing move that made me melt against him naturally. I pushed my hands into his hair and let my fingers run through the silky strands several times getting to know the feel, weight, and thickness of his beautiful locks.
He crossed his hands and rested his wrists against my lower back above my bum.
I eased my head away so I could see his face. We both stood there staring into one another’s eyes. My greenish blue to his light brown.
“I had a good time today and honestly that’s a miracle. A testament to how comfortable you made me feel,