“Why are you lying?” he asked incredulously, and my heart picks up in speed. His shoulders are taut, his eyes are blazing with anger, and I hate to say it but I’m a little scared. I shouldn’t have come out here with him. Looking towards the door, I beg Fiona to come out. Glancing back at Casey, I say, “I’m not. I’m sorry that I have upset you and I wish you the best, but nothing can happen between us.”

“I know you want me.”

I shake my head. “I’m sorry, I don’t. I think I was trying to distract myself with you to keep myself from feeling something for the other person. I feel like shit about it, but nothing will ever happen between us.”

“I feel something between us. I know you want it.”

“No, I actually don’t—”

Before I can finish my sentence, my face is in his hands and his lips are moving against mine. My protest is lost against his lips. I try to push him away but he is passionately, with tongue, kissing me. His grip on my face is iron clad. My heart is pounding so hard that it hurts. My eyes sting with tears as I slam my fist against his chest, but he isn’t letting up. His hands tighten on my face, his nails digging into my skin, and I cry out. He takes advantage of that, pushing his tongue farther into my mouth. I want to vomit from the stale taste of cigarettes, but instead, I do the only logical thing.

I knee him in the groin.

Grunting, Casey rips his mouth from mine, pushing me away. I lose my balance, landing on my ass with a yelp, but I quickly move away from him as he yells, “You fuckin’ bitch!”

My heart is in my throat, my eyes blurry with tears, and my face is throbbing with pain.

“Is everything okay?”

I jump as I look to the left to find a figure walking towards us as Casey yells, “Fuck off.”

But the person keeps coming towards us until he is in the light. When I see that it is Kane, I thank the heavens above.

“Amberlyn, are you okay?”

“Yeah, fine,” I say as I slowly get up.

“Mind your own, Kane,” Casey warns but Kane ignores him, looking me over.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fine,” I reassure him, but he must have seen the marks on my face because he whips around to set Casey with a look. Casey’s hands come up but before he can even say anything, Kane’s fist connects with his face. I screech in surprise as he falls to the ground, holding his face.

“Get the fuck out of here, Casey, and don’t come back. Don’t you ever look at her again. Don’t you even mutter her fuckin’ name. I will hurt you if you do, you fuckin’ wanker.”

Casey shuffles to his feet before giving me a look. I think he is going to say something or hit Kane, but honestly, he’d be stupid to. Kane takes a step towards him, making Casey back away, and says, “Fuck off.”

And then, Casey is gone.

Turning to me, Kane cups my face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Fiona is so lucky. Kane is amazing, and I will always be indebted to him for being there for me. I nod as I say, “I am. I promise.”

“He didn’t touch you anywhere else, did he?”

I shake my head. “No, he kissed me, I kneed him in the balls, and then you showed up.”

Kane laughs. “Atta girl!”

I smile as I cup my burning hot cheeks. “I’m glad you came when you did.”

“Yeah, me too.”

When my lip starts to wobble, Kane takes a step towards me, his hands on my arms as he looks at me through his coffee-brown eyes. “What is it?”

“I can’t believe this happened. Why was I so stupid?”

His eyes soften as he wraps his arms around me. “No, you weren’t stupid at all. Don’t worry about it. Tomorrow is a new day, and Casey won’t ever touch you again. If he does, I’ll kill him.”

I smile, but then I shake my head slowly. “Why did I come out here with him alone?”

Kane wraps his arms around me gently, pressing his lips tenderly to my temple. “Shhh, it’s okay. It’s over.”

Yeah, it is over, but I just can’t believe I was so stupid. I should have never agreed to go anywhere with him. I should have told him inside but instead, I took a chance. Now my face hurts, and I feel violated. On top of all that, I can’t help but think about Declan. How he would never do this to me. How I’m positive he’d treat me like I was his princess, unlike how Casey treated me. How did I let this happen? Looking up at Kane through tear-filled eyes, I say, “It’s not only that. I fucked things up with Declan, too.”

A smile pulls at his lips as he shakes his head. “I’m sure you can fix that. He’s mad about you, Amberlyn.”

Hopeful, I ask, “You think?”

“I know, so don’t worry about that. Let’s go in, get your face cleaned up, and then you can restart tomorrow. The sun will shine tomorrow, and so should you.”

I jerk to a pause and look up at him quickly, completely shocked at the words he just muttered. My chest is heaving, my heart banging against my chest, and I almost don’t believe what I just heard.

“My mom always said that.”

His mouth curves into a warm grin as he says, “So does mine. Great moms think alike.”

He wraps his arm around my shoulder and as we walk towards the front entrance, my whole body is tingling. I am still reeling over the words he muttered. My mother’s words. I know some don’t believe in spirits and ghosts, but I do, and I can’t help but think that my mom whispered in Kane’s ear. In return, relief washes over me, and I know that tomorrow will be better.

Because she is looking out for me.

I’m not sure why I’m here, but I am.

It’s become a habit for me. I work through my scheduled lunch, make sure that all my workers are working, do whatever stupid paperwork is sent my way, and then I get in my car to head to the Céad Míle Fáilte. I’ve become a creature of habit, or maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment. I’m not sure but, before I know it, I’m walking up the cobblestone to the door and pushing it open.

And there she is.

She looks as hot as ever in a pair of worn jeans that hug every single inch of her and a green tank that I know would show off a nice view of her breasts if she were to turn to look at me. Her hair is down, reaching all the way to the middle of her back, and as she reaches up to put a bottle on the shelf, I get a glimpse of skin from where her shirt rises.