“Yeah, I know.”

“I’ll be with you—there’s nothing to be afraid of. He won’t be anywhere near you,” Rory assured her, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning over her legs.

“I’m not scared of him. I’m more scared of it all catching up to me.”

“What do you mean?”

“He was right, Rory. I’ve not always been this person. I’ve done so many things I’m not proud of.” She frowned, studying her fidgeting hands.

“Like I haven’t? Everyone makes mistakes. You did what you needed to do to survive.”

“Did I? Or did I do what was easier at the time? Did I lie for him and sell drugs for him just because I needed someone around to take care of me? He wouldn’t have been able to take care of me if he was in jail; maybe that was all I cared about then.”

“I think that’s pretty natural for someone who’d lost her parents at a young age. Plus, even if you were that person once upon a time, you’re not now. You’re unbelievably independent, and have been since I met you.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.” He kissed her.

“Maybe that’s true, but it still doesn’t make it right.” Clare still felt guilty. “I’ve done some really bad things, Rory. You shouldn’t be with me.”

An unassuming smile took over his face. “Clare, I know about your past already.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m a Kavanagh. I don’t have a choice when it comes to people in my life—I have to know their backgrounds before getting involved,” he confessed.

She gasped, putting together the pieces. “You did a background check on me?”

“My dad’s associates did,” he said, nodding sheepishly at her.

“Why wouldn’t you just ask me?”

“Why didn’t you just tell me about it earlier?” he countered, and she nodded, knowing he was right but still feeling a little irritated at the invasion of privacy.

“You should have warned me you have no boundaries,” she scoffed angrily.

“See? I’m not too good for you.”

“Hell, I might be too good for you now,” she said, trying to hide her smile, but failing miserably at the farce.

“Perfect for each other,” he teased.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Unbelievably in love.” He kissed her, and she didn’t pull away. In fact, she found her body betraying her and doing the exact opposite. His lips against hers were perfect, melting away every stressor in her body as she leaned in to him.

“Forgive me yet?”

“I’m thinking about it,” she whispered, goading him, “but I might need more convincing.”

He smiled suggestively before weaving one hand up behind her neck and pulling her to him. His lips caught hers and hungrily devoured them. Her breathing increased heavily as she pressed her chest into his and coiled one hand into his shirt. He nibbled gently at her lip, pulling her to him even deeper. She gasped as his other hand snaked up to find her breast, catering to her body’s needs.

“I should stop,” he said huskily as he pulled just ever so slightly away from her lips.

“Why?” she whimpered, wanting more.

“Because if I don’t now, I won’t be able to at all.”

“I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

He motioned to her arm still in the sling. “You need to heal.”

“What if I get a doctor’s note saying it’s okay?” she teased, tantalizingly.

“Then nothing is going to stop me.” He winked at her, standing up from the bed and pulling open his dresser to find clothes for the day.

She watched him get changed while she finished the rest of her coffee. She was greatly enjoying seeing him partially undressed, then fully nude, as his muscled skin taunted her. She wanted to run her hands all over him. Well, at least my one uninjured hand, she thought to herself.

“I love you,” she said again, watching him. He smiled and turned back to her, warmly surveying her.

“Táim i ngrá leat, mhuirnín.” I love you, my sweetheart.

Chapter 23

Rory gave his mother a greeting hug when he and Clare walked into Dr. Prentiss’s office, where Dee was waiting with Quinn, who must have traded places with his father at some point overnight. “Thank you so much for staying with him, Ma,”

“Of course, baby.” She smiled at him before turning to hug Clare.

“Hey, guys,” Quinn greeted them, carefully avoiding Clare’s injured arm as he, too, hugged her. Rory shook his hand stoically, his worry about Ace not putting him in the mood for social niceties.

“Is Ace doing okay?” Clare asked.

“He’s awake, but still a bit groggy and confused. I’m sure he will love to see you two, though,” Dee told them.

“I’m going to go back and see him,” Rory announced. Clare followed him as he pushed through a door into the back of the office.

They entered a large room containing several kennels and shelves full of medical equipment. A large table to one side of the room was covered in towels, and Ace was lying across them on his side.

“Hey, buddy,” Clare said softly as she came up beside him and stroked his neck. His eyes slanted up at her and he made a small whimpering sound, but didn’t move.

“Jeez, Ace,” Rory mumbled, stricken by the large bandages across his dog’s side. The end of Ace’s tail flickered lightly, but then rested.

Dr. Prentiss joined them a few seconds later. “Hey, kids.”

“Doctor, how is he?” Rory immediately asked as Clare pulled up a stool to the edge of the table and sat with her one hand wrapped around Ace’s paw and her good arm petting his head.

“He’s going to make a full recovery,” the vet reassured them, smiling proudly. “It was touch and go there for a while. Quite a bit of internal damage was done, so the recovery process will be slow.”

“But he’s going to be okay?”

“Yup, he’ll just have another scar to add to the collection.”

Rory surveyed Ace, realizing for the first time how many scars the poor dog had collected over his lifetime.

“He does have a lot, doesn’t he?” Clare solemnly echoed his thoughts.

“He’s been through a lot.”

“He’s a hero; he saved my life. He deserves a medal,” Clare stated, leaning down to kiss Ace’s head. He watched them all intently, his tail flicking slightly every now and again.

“They going to charge the son of a bitch who did this to him?” the vet asked.

“I hope so—he’s in custody now. We’re going to the station after this to make our reports,” Rory told him.

“Good, I hope they nail the bastard.”

“If I have anything to say about it, they will do a lot more than just that,” Rory muttered angrily, remembering everything that had happened. “When can we take him home?”

“Depends. Will someone be there to care for him round the clock? He’ll need a lot of help over the next week or so,” Dr. Prentiss told them.

“I will, yeah—I’ll be off work anyway, thanks to my arm,” Clare said without hesitation. Pride swelled in Rory at how affectionate and caring she was for his dog.

“All right, then, he can probably go home with you tomorrow. Let me monitor his vitals for the next day, just to make sure he stays on this path. After that, he’ll just need a lot of love and care, which we can do here, but I think he would enjoy being with people he knows more,” the vet explained.

“I agree,” Rory said.

“Plus, Clare, it can be a little extra vet training for you. You’re starting school soon, right?” Dr. Prentiss said.

“Yeah, I am…” She sounded lost, like she had forgotten.

“Win, win for everyone, then,” the doctor said, leaving the room.

Clare leaned down and kissed Ace again, whispering something to him in his ear that Rory couldn’t hear. She then continued to caress him affectionately. Rory squeezed her shoulders as he watched and joined in petting every once in a while. They stayed with Ace for another hour or so, before heading over to the police station to give their accounts of yesterday’s events.