“A mistake? I know. You told her as much after her many messages sent to you just begging for more of your dick.”

“It was only once. I turned her down after that.”

“What should that mean to me? It should have never happened.”

“But it’s not what you think.”

“Is it ever? It wasn’t with Jessica Stanton or Casey Whitmore or Brittany Anderson. How strong do you think I am, Keenan? Or do you just think me that much of a fool? No, don’t answer that. I am a fool, but more than that, I’m done.”

“Don’t do this, Shelly.” He begged and pleaded, but I heard none of it. “Don’t walk away again.”

“Keenan, I’m not walking away. I’m shutting the door. Now please get out.”

“I’m not leaving, Shelly, and neither are you.”

“I can’t be with you anymore, Keenan. I can’t compete with your demons. They consume you. I hate you so much that if you died right now, I wouldn’t even care.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

KEENAN

A WEIGHT ON my back had woken me and when I opened my eyes and turned my head, I was met with my own reflection staring back at me.

“Keenan. Up.”

“Princess? Why are you out of bed?”

“I draw.”

“Oh, no,” I heard Sheldon grumble from under my arm. Sometime during the night, I had curled her under with her back resting against my front. We were both completely naked underneath the covers so getting out of bed with Kennedy there was not an option. Especially not with my morning wood that currently rested between Sheldon’s thighs.

“What’s with this?” I asked Sheldon, indicating toward Ken.

“Every morning, she gets out of bed and finds a way to make my morning a long one. Your daughter is a criminal mastermind.”

“I see…” I turned back to Kennedy, who was currently occupied playing with my hair. “Kennedy can you wait for us outside the bedroom, please?”

“Keenan, come now and see my draw.” She pouted.

I don’t know how she did it, but just like that, I caved. I couldn’t let my little girl be unhappy, could I? I would kill anyone who tried so I had to live by it.

I worked the sheet around my waist, careful to hide my hard-on and took her by her hand. I could feel Sheldon’s eyes on me and heard her laughing just before I shut the bedroom door.

“Lead the way.”

I followed after her and into the living room. At first, I didn’t see it, but the faint red coloring on the wall from one of the markers I used to sketch caught my eye. She ran to the spot and pointed, excitement lighting up her face. It was just a bunch of lines and shapes, but to me, it was the greatest creation in the world. Never mind the deposit that I wouldn’t be getting back.

“Pretty?” she asked.

“It’s beautiful.” I thought about it long and hard before asking, “What is it?”

“Mama… me… you.”

A sudden indrawn breath shifted my attention from Kennedy and her wall of art to her horrified mother standing behind me and covered in my dress shirt. She looked ready to collapse. I crossed the short distance between us and pulled her into my chest by the back of her neck.

“Does that scare you?” I whispered against her neck. She nodded against my chest but remained silent. Kennedy tugged on the sheet wrapped around my waist.

“Mama sad?”

I scooped her up and made room for her between us. She rubbed her mother’s head and then frowned when she didn’t lift her head. When her lips started to tremble, I felt my temper rise. “No, baby. She’s not sad. Isn’t that right, mommy?”

The warning in my tone finally convinced her to lift her head from where she was crying softly against my chest. She smiled brightly at Kennedy, and though it was forced, it seemed to appease her.

“Are you hungry?” Sheldon turned her teary gaze on me and only after a second too long did she reluctantly nod. “What about you, mini me?”

“Keenan,” Sheldon scolded. My reference to Kennedy being mine went over her head, so I ignored Sheldon’s warning and set Kennedy on her feet once more.

“I want cereal.”

“Cereal, huh? What kind do you like?” She rattled off an entire list of cereals long enough to include every cereal in the world, but somehow, never listed a single flavor I had. “How about pancakes?”

“Yes, please and cereal, too?”

I looked to Sheldon for help, but she only shrugged and said, “It’s one of her favorites.”