Redeem Me (Beckett Brothers #2)

42. Caelon

Chapter Forty-Two

CAELON

Isabella’s mother, Jocelyn, is already at the grave when we arrive. It’s not surprising. Her visits are even more frequent and regular than ours. Naturally, she’s ecstatic to see the kids.

‘That looks sore,’ she nods at my purple-tinged jaw.

‘I’ve had worse.’

Thankfully, she doesn’t pry. While she’s fussing over how Orla and Owen have grown, asking about their suntans, and generally lavishing attention on them, I rest my hand on my wife’s marble headstone as gently as if I was touching her face. ‘I’m sorry, Isabella,’ I whisper. ‘Sorry it’s you lying here. Sorry I couldn’t save you.’ I hesitate, thinking of last night, of Ivy in our bed. A fresh ripple of guilt washes over me.

But Ivy is here, living and breathing, and she’s bringing all of us back to life. Owen’s dry sheets are proof of it. So as much as I swore I’d never have another woman in my bed, it wasn’t just me I was depriving of the love of a woman – it was the kids too.

I told Ivy I wouldn’t give her up. It’s true. I won’t. But I can’t give up the idea of punishing Danny Bourke and the O’Connors, either. They‘re going to pay. All of them .

‘What are your plans for the afternoon?’ Jocelyn asks the kids.

‘We’re going to collect Ivy, then we’re going to Uncle James’s house for dinner. Dad said I can take my swimming shorts. James’s pool is even bigger than ours,’ Owen explains excitedly.

‘Ivy?’ Jocelyn repeats, her eyes flipping to mine. ‘You mean your new nanny?’

‘Yes. It’s supposed to be her day off, but she comes everywhere with us now,’ Owen blabs. ‘I thought she’d leave like the others, but she seems to like us.’

‘She adores you,’ I say. And me, apparently. I never dared to imagine I’d find love again, yet Ivy’s bulldozed that notion to the ground.

‘I’m glad you’ve found someone to help,’ Jocelyn quirks a brow.

‘I wasn’t looking for anything. She blazed into our lives like the first rays of sun after a long cold winter.’ I say, stepping back from the headstone, staring at the glittering gold writing. Isabella Beckett. Wife, Mother, Daughter.

‘I’d like to meet her,’ Jocelyn says, patting my arm.

‘Maybe. One day.’ I turn to the kids. ‘Now, say goodbye to your grandmother. Uncle James is lighting the barbecue and if he burns the food, I don’t want him to have anyone to blame but himself.’ I place a hand on Owen’s shoulder, steering him back towards the car.

Jocelyn follows, the gravel crunching beneath our feet. ‘Would you like to take the kids next weekend?’ If Danny Bourke wakes up, I want the kids as far away from Ivy and me as possible because even if Danny takes a turn for the worse, Ivy is going to take a hell of a lot of convincing I had nothing to do with it.

I hate lying to her.

But I can’t let Danny live .

Not just to avenge Isabella, but so they can’t hurt Ivy, or anyone else I love.

She doesn’t realise it, but I’m doing this for her. For us. I don’t want anything or anybody threatening the ones I love ever again. I’m protecting her. I’m protecting all of us.

‘It would be my pleasure.’ Jocelyn’s hand dips into the pocket of her shorts and she pulls out two miniature packets of Haribo. ‘Here,’ she slips them in the kid’s hands, and they squeal.

‘See you next week,’ she pats my arm again.

I hesitate at the car park gates, shifting from foot to foot. ‘You know I’ll never forget her, don’t you? I’ll always love Isabella.’

‘I know.’ Jocelyn smiles, her blue eyes sparkling. ‘And I’m happy for you. I’m certain Isabella is too.’

Rian’s car is already parked on the drive at James’s mansion, along with Sean’s and Killian’s. We’re the last to arrive.

Orla and Owen bound around to the back of the house. I slip my hand into Ivy’s and we follow close on their tails.

‘You okay?’ I brush my thumb over the back of Ivy’s hand. She looks good enough to eat in a lemon-yellow strapless sundress that clings to her curves before kicking out at the waist, stopping a couple of inches above her knee. Is it any wonder I’m head over heels in love with her?

If Rian so much as looks at her, I’m going to drown him in James’s pool. I still haven’t forgiven him for moving in on my woman. Mind you, if he hadn’t, would I have been brave enough to give into this thing between us?

Probably not.

‘I’m fine, just bracing myself in case Rian asks me my favourite sexual position again.’ Her fingers interlace with mine .

‘I’ll tell him you like it any way I give it to you,’ I growl, slipping my arm around her waist. I can’t keep my hands off her.

‘Are we going public?’ Her topaz eyes snap to mine.

I shrug. ‘My mother-in-law has already guessed. My parents know. Dermot knows. And my brothers thought we were sleeping together long before we technically were.’

‘That just leaves Orla and Owen.’ Ivy twists her lips, pausing before we round the corner and face the music. The sound of my brothers greeting my kids carries on the gentle breeze.

‘I know we said we’d wait to tell the kids, but if you’re serious about this, about taking on me and my baggage, I think we should tell them. It’ll save setting alarms and sneaking out of each other’s rooms. They clearly adore you. I think they’ll be over the moon.’

‘Hmm.’ Ivy bites on her lower lip, unconvinced.

‘Are you getting cold feet?’ I push her against the brick wall, pinning her with my hips, my cock thickening in my shorts. ‘I know last night’s conversation freaked you out, and I don’t blame you, but I’m asking you to trust me.’

‘I trust you,’ she says shakily. Her teeth dig into her lower lip. ‘And by the way, there’s nothing cold about me when you are near.’ Her chest heaves and my mouth crashes against hers, our tongues colliding. I savour the taste of her with a moan.

‘Where’s your dad?’ Rian’s voice travels round the corner over the sound of low music coming from the house.

‘Probably smooching Ivy.’ Orla howls with laughter. ‘They smooched all holidays and they think we didn’t see. It’s gross, but it’s kind of cute, too.’

I tear my lips from Ivy’s and roll my eyes. ‘Well, I guess that decision has just been taken out of our hands. ’

‘I don’t want them to think I’m trying to replace their mother,’ Ivy confesses.

‘They won’t. We’re lucky to have you. Lucky you didn’t turn on your heels and run right out the door when you realised your new boss is the guy you let in your panties in a packed bar.’

‘You need to do that again sometime. The sheer badness of it had me coming in seconds.’ She squirms against the bricks.

‘The badness? Not my fingers?’ I yank her dress up and brush a thumb over her silk panties. She gasps.

‘Okay, both.’ Her hips buck against my hand and I slide the silk to the side, slipping my fingers through her wetness.

I run my tongue over her lips, tracing the perfect dip of her cupid’s bow. Her head rolls backwards as she looks up at me.

I’d be a fool to risk this. To risk what we have. But we can’t sleep safe at night until I’ve dealt with the O’Connors once and for all.

Rian rounds the corner, wearing a pair of luminous yellow swim shorts and no top. He’s clutching a beer in one hand and a burger in the other. He stops abruptly when he sees me pinning Ivy against the wall, her dress around her waist and my hands between her legs. His eyes widen and his lips part in a crooked smile. ‘Well, well, what do we have here? Don’t stop on my behalf.’ He raises his hands in the air. ‘Maybe I can help.’

‘She wants it done properly, dickhead.’ I reluctantly remove my hands from my girlfriend’s panties, smooth her dress down over her thighs, and then suck my finger, ignoring Rian’s jaw as it hits the floor.

‘So, you guys are official?’ Rian chuckles, then takes a sip of his beer .

‘We are,’ I confirm, and man, it feels fucking good to say it out loud.

‘Did you tell your best friend you’re fucking his little sister yet?’ Rian’s eyes glitter.

I twist my head, giving him a full view of my bruised jaw.

Rian slaps his thighs and guffaws. ‘That looks sore.’

‘If you so much as think about asking my woman about her sexual preferences again, you’ll find out what sore is.’ I take Ivy’s hand again and guide her past Rian, towards James’s extravagant outdoor living area.

Killian and Sean are lounging on plush sunbeds next to James’s turquoise glittering pool. They’re both clutching beer bottles. Sean sips intermittently, listening as Killian speaks in a low voice. They’re talking shop. I’d bet my life on it.

Owen wasn’t joking, James’s pool is twice the size of ours. Perhaps my big brother is trying to make up for something, although judging by the grin on Scarlett’s face, he’s doing okay with whatever he’s got.

‘Ivy!’ Scarlett beams, rushing towards us. She takes one look at our joined hands and squeals. ‘Ahh! Welcome to the family!’

James turns to squint at us from the barbecue, swatting smoke away from his face. He puts down the cooking utensils and joins us, slapping my back before hugging Ivy.

‘Great to see you,’ he says, but what he really means is, “great to see you happy”. And I am happy. Though, I’ll be happier when our enemies are six feet under, and Dermot has accepted me as his future brother-in-law. Because I am. Even if Ivy doesn’t know it yet.

Killian and Sean stand to greet us. Killian’s gaze flits between Ivy and me, taking in every micro movement. Sean strolls languidly over. He’s easily the most relaxed of my brothers. I’ve yet to see him with a woman, but I doubt he’s short of them .

‘Great to see you again, Ivy,’ Sean says, pressing a polite peck on my girlfriend’s cheek.

Killian nods but doesn’t touch Ivy. He’s never been big on PDAs and since he returned from his last military tour, he’s been a man of few words. ‘We need to talk,’ he says grimly.