Page 172 of By His Play

I even taught some to a reluctant Kieran. Memories of dancing with him in the bandstand not so long ago come back to me. My nose itches as I battle with my emotions.

That was before anything happened between us, but it was building. I might have been doing my best to ignore it, but I’d never been as aware of the way his body pressed against mine as I was that night.

I let out a sigh, my eyes lifting to the windows and then up to the sky.

Grams would love it.

With a smile playing on my lips, I sign myself up for both classes.

Maybe this is the start of finding myself a life outside of Kieran and work.

Who knows, maybe I’ll find a friend. Or maybe even a boyfriend.

My brows pinch.

No, not a boyfriend.

Before I know it, my alarm is going off first thing Monday morning, so I can do yoga before going to the office for the first time with my coworkers in months.

Today my return to Chicago will no longer be a secret.

Nerves flutter violently in my stomach.

Right now, as far as I’m aware, only Henry knows that I’m back. But the second I step into the KC Foundation offices, all that will change.

Everyone knows the Foundation is Kieran’s. The gossip mill will be rife.

I should have called him yesterday.

I got close. I had his contact open in front of me.

But…I couldn’t hit that button.

I’m a coward.

I hate that he’s going to find out from someone else. He’ll hate me for it too.

Is this really what we’ve become?

I force my heavy, sleeping limbs into my yoga gear before making my morning greens and unrolling my mat.

The sun is only just rising above the buildings, casting the whole city in a beautiful orange hue.

Sucking in a deep breath, I raise my arms above my head and let everything go.

This is my time. Nothing in the world matters but me right now.

42

KIERAN

“And how are you feeling for the upcoming season after the way the last one ended?”

I stare at the woman interviewing me.

It’s meant to be about the summer camps, but as always, they manage to spin things around.

Forcing a smile on my face, I tell her what she expects to hear, what Kat will expect me to say—not that I owe her anything right now.

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