Page 140 of Fighting Chance

I should be going home, should leave them to have some alone time to bond, but for some reason, with the way Kieran is looking at me right now, I find I can’t say no to him.

Sitting on the other side of Emmy, my heart melts into a puddle as she holds her hands out on either side of her, her little fingers making a grabbing motion.

Smiling, I place my hand in hers as I say, “Of course I’ll stay, are you kidding?Gilmore Girlsplus my favorite person? I can’t resist.”

“Good to know I’m your favorite person.”

“First of all, I was talking about your gorgeous daughter and secondly, don’t forget our rules.”

He frowns, his brows furrowing until he realizes what I mean and gives me a wink, mouthing,Sorry not sorry.

Scoffing to myself, I get cozy, snuggling deeper into the couch as Kieran presses play.

Usually if someone putGilmore Girlson and placed food down in front of me, I’d be able to switch my brain off. But this time, all I can feel are Kieran’s eyes lingering on my skin.

He’s got two bowls of cereal, one on his lap full of Froot Loops and another beside him containing Frosted Flakes. He’s making comments as he goes, pointing things out to Emmy as if this is a major rite of passage, and yet through it all I am hyperaware of the quiet moments. The moments where just the sound plays softly through the speakers, where the logs in the fire Kieran lit snap and pop, because I can feel his eyes on me.

His eyes always seem to be on me.

Emmy’s soft snores started half an hour ago, halfway through episode two and I knew this would happen. No little girl can truly stay up past eleven o’clock at night, I’m honestly surprised she made it this far, but I’m putting that down to the sugar she inhaled.

So that just leaves me, sitting on my boss’s couch, keeping my attention firmly on the TV while I do everything in my power tonotlook at him.

Except, it was completely impossible when Emmy began tossing and turning in her sleep, only to settle the moment Kieran pulled her into the crook of his arm and laid her head on his chest.

Have you ever seen a six-foot-three man with a sharp jawline, dazzling blue eyes, and insane tattoos all up and down both his arms cuddle a little toddler while watchingGilmore Girls?

No?

That’s unfortunate, because it’s the sexiest thing you’ll ever see.

What is it with seeing attractive men care for children? Why does it make something in our brains goding, ding, ding, rail him!

I’m choosing to believe this is a common problem for women because if it isn’t and I’m singled out, then I’m afraid my medication has just formed a new side-effect.

Not only that, but the sight of it makes my stomach flip, and not in the way when I’m turned on. No, this is different, and it’s not a feeling formed by nerves.

Dare I say that Kieran,thisversion of Kieran—the soft, sweet, and gentle side that no one really sees behind his goofy personality—is melting my heart.

I absolutely flatly refuse to allow my heart to turn into a pile of mush for this man because as kind as he is, he doesn’t do serious relationships, and I highly doubt that’s going to change for the girl who will need a lifetime of care and medical support.

Please heart, I beg.Please don’t fall for him.

I can swear I hear a little voice whisper,Too late.

“I’m going to move Emmy into her bed.”

His voice is so deep and intrusive, I flinch. Quickly scrambling to cover it up, I hit pause on the TV, moving to rise off the couch but Kieran’s hand snaps out, stopping me.

“Stay.”

One word.

One plea.

One moment, and suddenly, the tension that’s been brewing snaps.

Our gazes lock and I’m once again swept into the riptide of Kieran Ashford’s ocean-blue eyes.