More Than Scars (25 page)

He turned his face into my palm and kissed my palm.

My breath hitched. I swallowed.

“I don’t want your pity,” he said softly.

“You have my respect,” I argued. “And my admiration.”

He chuckled. “Well, that is a bit better.”

I again traced the path.

“It’s healed now,” he said gently. “Your touch isn’t going to make it go away.” He pulled my hand away and kissed my fingers. There, again, mixed signals. I know he struggled with our closeness but there was no denying the draw when we were near. He had to touch me as I had the desire to touch him.

“I wish I could have been here for you to help you heal.”

I heard the smile in his voice as he murmured, “Would you have kissed away the hurt
Nerissa?”

My name on his lips did funny things to my heart beat. The idea of kissing away his pain was a wonderful thing. Unthinkingly, I leaned in and my lips touched the edge of the scar on his face just as I had kissed the scars on his knuckles. He froze, but did not pull away. “I would have,” I whispered. “I would have kissed every one of them.” I followed the now memorized line with my kisses. My hands buried deep into his dark hair to hold him still…though he did not fight me. I felt the tears spring to my eyes as I reached the end right above his eye. I followed back down the line with my lips, and as I reached his cheek, I tasted his tears too. My heart lurched painfully. He tensed now and shook his head.

“Stop,” he whispered. “You have to stop. Not now…this can’t happen now.” He rose to his feet and hurried to his office door. He opened it, his back to me. “Please.”

I drew in a breath and stood shakily to my feet. I understood. I walked to him and touched his back gently. “I will give you time…and I will stay out of the way. But I care about you. I will respect whatever decision you make. I promise you that.”

He gave a nod.

I bit my lip and passed into the hallway. The office door shut softly behind me. I had to bite my lip against the tears. He hadn’t pushed me away…he had said not now. I would just have to trust that he would come around.

Now I had to say goodnight to the girls and assure them I was friends again with their Daddy, but to understand we may be playing hide and seek for a while!

Later, after all was settled with the girls, I was just slipping into bed when my phone went off. I groaned, but crawled out of bed to get it.

It was Ian! How much did I tell him? Oh Lord this could get complicated.

“I already know!”

“Hello to you too,” I said grouchily. “And what do you know?” I lowered my voice and stared at the opposite wall. I eyed the door that I knew Liam had once burst through to go save his daughter.

“I just spoke to my brother.”

“And you are calling me on the phone he owns. He can see this Mr. Ian. Oh what could we be talking about?”

He chuckled. “You like conspiracy theories don’t you
Rissa?”

I smiled.
“Maybe.”

“Don’t give him space,” he growled.

“What?”

“Don’t give him space,” he repeated the words I had heard clearly the first time.

“Ian.”

“
Nerissa,” he mocked my tone as he always did.

“I really think I should.”

“And I really think you shouldn’t.”

“What is another week?”

“It’s another week for him to talk himself out of being happy! Hug him kiss him…back his ass into a corner until he gives in! I love my brother and he needs to stop being so stubborn! You already have the girls won over! You just need him.”

“Ian! I have not even decided what I feel,” I growled.

“You love him,” he snorted. “Please! Don’t play that game with me! You want to jump his bones and you haven’t even set eyes on his face! “He chuckled. “I love that about you and it’s why I won’t let you escape him! He needs you!”

My heart skittered. “Can we just give him space?”

Ian sighed. “Fine…then we keep him on his toes!”

I didn’t know if I liked the sound of that. “Okay…I will bite. What does this mean?”

Another chuckle came through the phone. “Well, he was pretty pissed I had you out for coffee today. I say I take you out a bit more often. I’m gonna show up at the house unexpectedly…you know, to see Rissa…my friend. And I think you should come to church with me next Sunday!”

“Ian!”

“Yes…say my name really loud,” he laughed. “Maybe he will hear through the wall and…oh there is so much we can play with the jealousy card!

“You are a child,” I laughed. “And I do love you my friend.”

“Love you too Riss! And hey…that masquerade is coming up in December. Liam told me it will be a winter ball. Since it’s a month away…I will need to RSVP…I know you are invited…but how about we just be one another’s dates? One month away…”

I bit my lip. “I wanted to invite my brother Al as my plus one. I was torn between him and my Mom.”

I heard the smile in his voice. “Why don’t I ask your Mom? Truth be told…Liam would ask her in a heartbeat…but I want to be the hero! Can I meet her this weekend…you know, after church?”

I couldn’t help my smile.
“Seriously? Don’t you have a girl you want to ask?”

He snorted a laugh. “Do you know how many single girls will be there that night?”

I giggled. “Okay…true.”

“Sure, they will be there to try to snag my billionaire brother…but when they see he is smitten with the nanny they will settle for the slightly less rich brother.”

Suddenly my hackles were up. “Wait, what?”

“Oh
yeh sweetheart…there will be competition. They will not all be like you…caring for his beautiful soul and his equally beautiful daughters. They will be looking at his dollar bills.”

I shook out of the anger. “Liam would not fall for that.”

“He would more readily believe someone was after his money than after his heart.”

I worried my lip. “Does he think that about me? That I…”

“Oh, never Nerissa! Never! You would never ever do that to someone.”

“But he would he be so willing to be with someone who would accept him for his money verses someone…”

“He’s lonely.”

“He’s worth so much more.”

“He doesn’t want pity. He wants respect.”

“I don’t pity him.”

“So don’t give him space,” he growled.

I sighed. “Ian Byrne.”

“Nerissa Meadows.”

“I want his trust,” I whispered. “It’s all I want from him. If he gives me that I will never give him space…ever!” I smiled. “I will be too busy kissing him, loving him, adoring him,” I teased.

Ian chuckled. “He’s handsome with a scar Rissa…not Fabio on a romance novel cover.”

I giggled.

“But I know what you mean baby girl. I know you care about him. I know he cares about you. I know you both think this is really fast! But I am going to tell you what I told my brother. When you find someone who gives you the reaction that the two of you have for each other under the circumstance that the two of you have…you jump on it. Cause it ain’t going to happen like that again…ever!”

I pulled in a breath to prevent the tears.

“I also told him…and this was just to stir the alpha male in him…that if he did not sweep you up…I was going to go after you. He thought I was teasing. Well…if it takes a little jealousy for him to get his head out of his ass…I will use it. Do ya feel me?”

I sighed. “Yes, Ian. I feel you.”

“For all he knows, you are being your sweet self and being my friend. I will be the predator and I will take all of the flak. You got that?”

“Yes,” I whispered. I felt ill at ease about it but Ian seemed to know what he was talking about so I would trust him!

“It will work out Rissa, I promise! Just follow my lead!”

“Ian...I am sleepy.” I murmured. “Monday always comes early.”

“Just say you trust me,” he chuckled. “And then I will let you sleep.”

“I trust you,” I laughed. “I will see you on Tuesday…after piano lessons! The girls can’t wait to see you!”

“Good!” He drew in a breath. “Sweet dreams Nerissa. Let the games begin.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sweet dreams Ian.” I hit end and turned out the light.

Chapter 13 These Games

              “You are a cheat!”

             
Ian shook his head.

             
I lifted a brow. “If I frisk you will I find hidden cards?”

             
“No ma’am I promise,” he laughed. “I am just that good at Gin Rummy. Which I haven’t played since I was a kid by the way! I used to kick Liam’s ass too!”

             
I almost reached across the table to cover his mouth for using that word and then remembered the girls were now in bed.

He noticed and started laughing. “Uncle Ian said ass,” he mimicked.

I smiled and threw down a card.

We were down in a downstairs sitting room, enjoying some wine and rummy. It had been nice having Ian around for the day.

              “Liam was pissed I took the day off.”

             
I looked up at him now.

             
“I told him it was a mental health day and that I wanted to see the girls. He is not convinced.” He shuffled the cards in his hands.

             
I took a sip from my glass, waiting for him to continue.

             
“He thinks it’s just to see you…which is brilliant if our plan is to work.”

             
I laid my cards down. “He said that? That he thinks you are here for me?”

             
Ian nodded. “And yes…he’s jealous. He almost asked me to leave. I could sense it but he wouldn’t have had an excuse. How would he have explained away asking me to leave because he wanted you for himself?”

             
I blushed.

             
“He does Nerissa. He just doesn’t think he deserves you.”

             
“He doesn’t know what he wants,” I said softly.

             
“He does, he’s just scared. We need to show him it’s okay to want you.”

             
“By making him jealous?” I shook my head at him. “He already has a complex Ian. I will only make it worse if he thinks I am playing with him and his affection.”

             
Ian reached for my hand. “It’s all on me then. I will be the one pursuing. You just play the sweetheart you are. You are just being kind to me and oblivious to my advances. You have no interest in me! The whole point of this is to get him so worked up he gets beyond his own thinking and pursues you himself.”

             
I stared into my glass.

             
“You will show him he is desired beyond his money.”

             
I drew in a breath. “It would break my heart if he decided he needed to find someone for the girls and he chose someone who…”

             
“He has found someone for the girls,” Ian growled sternly. “He needs someone for himself! Luckily, you are capable of filling both roles very nicely.” He regarded me kindly. “He doesn’t even want me taking you from this house! He asked me a half dozen times this evening if we were staying in…if you had your phone on you.”

My chest felt
a warmth. It was nice to be cared for. “It’s because of the girls Ian, not because of some fascination he has with me.”

His brows lifted. “You are his prize. He isn’t going to settle
Nerissa. I won’t let him settle.”

             
I smiled. “What about you Ian? You need a girl.”

             
He grinned. “You know I play the field.”

             
“I know you are too sweet to be a player.”

             
His blue eyes twinkled. “You are my friend. I am always nice with my friends. If you weren’t my brothers…”

             
“I am no ones,” I laughed.

             
He rolled his eyes. “If I could consider you another way I may not be so nice to you. I may have already taken you out…tried you out and already been ignoring you by now.”

             
I shook my head.

             
He lifted a brow.

             
“It’s not in you.”

             
He smiled sadly. “You think too highly of me my friend. I will be sorry when my reputation is fully unveiled to you. I know you have heard the murmurs. You don’t know all the stories.”

             
My eyes held his. “I just don’t understand how you can be like this with me…with your nieces…with your brother and be anything else with anyone else. You have such a good heart Ian.”

             
He cleared his throat. “I have a high libido and a wandering eye. It does not add up to long term relationship.”

             
My voice softened. “The right girl could change that.”

             
He smiled. “Where am I going to find her?”

             
I shrugged. “Not in the conference room or in the kitchens of your brother’s mansion,” I teased.

             
“I should go search for her?”

             
I shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe you should put yourself into something that gives you an outlet other than your libido. Maybe that sort of investment would draw the right girl. Get outside of the business and everything Byrne related.”

             
He grinned. “Maybe if I had my brother’s talents…You should have seen him Nerissa before…He could have had any woman he wanted. He didn’t fly like I do though. He’s always been the gentleman. Women threw themselves at him. I have to believe they would do it still.”

             
“And it wouldn’t be just for the money,” I added. I hadn’t even seen his face with the scar and I was drawn physically to him…to his voice…his very nature.

             
“Yeah, if I had his talents I may have a chance,” he chuckled.

             
“You have talents,” I argued.

             
He nodded and gave a humble shrug. “Liam plays a beautiful piano…you know this. But did you know we both play guitar? He better than I do…but I’m not bad.”

             
This surprised me. Ian was always downplaying his talents. “Will you play for me some time? I can tell you if it will win a girl over!”

             
His smile was beautifully happy.

“I’m sure you are every bit as good as he is.”

His smile widened now. “Let me borrow Liam’s. I will show you tonight!” He leapt to his feet and hurried from the room before I could even respond.

His action surprised and delighted me.

He was soon back and grinning. “The look on his face when I told him I was playing for you! Oh this worked out quite lovely! He asked if we were leaving again…you didn’t threaten to run away did you?”

I laughed and shook my head.

He sat down with the case and pulled out the well cared for but well used guitar.

I should have noticed callouses on his fingers before. My attention was drawn to them now as he thrummed the strings and pressed the frets. You didn’t get those callouses from playing now and then. This was something he did often. He made beautiful sounds come from the instrument.

I sat back with my wine and watched as his dark head bowed over the guitar and he seemed to lose himself. I could not see how Liam could be any better at this. Just as I could not see Ian touching the piano keys as I had heard Liam touch them. Clearly no one had ever told Ian how wonderful he was at this.

He grinned at me when he was finished. “I’ve been practicing for years,” he said softly, as if he had read my thoughts. “I’ve always loved the sound of the guitar. Piano too…but the piano is its own monster…the guitar I can hold in my arms. I’m good at that.”

I smiled…seeing how he twisted his own words to cover his feelings. “You play amazingly Ian.”

“I surprised you?”

I nodded. “You could get a girl that way.”

He chuckled and set the guitar back in its case. “I will start playing the street corners.”

“So much musical talent in this family. I’m jealous. I can’t play anything!”

“You should join the girls in lessons,” he teased. “Maybe Liam will teach you!”

I warmed at the very idea of sitting next to him at the piano watching his hands move over the keys. Being that close to him while he created that kind of music could get overwhelming!

“Maybe I will tell Liam I am teaching you guitar? And then I can really show up more often,” Ian spoke up suddenly. His brows rose. “I can tell him you really want to learn. He will probably insist on hiring someone for you though.” He frowned. “I know my brother.”

“What if I insist I want you?” I felt good about this idea. I wouldn’t mind learning the guitar and it did play into our plans!

Ian held out his hand for a high five.

I laughed at him and complied. “Now I am really going to be hated by the female help,” I sighed.

“Yeah, they think you have both Byrne brothers after you!”

I rolled my eyes. “So how will we work this?”

“I will come over…like today, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for lessons. Sundays I will come for fun day and we will do our Sunday thing.”

We had been attending his church together. Under his protection I had little bother and after we had made it to my Mom’s house. It had been nerve wracking bringing someone so affluent into my Mom’s little apartment but Ian fit right in. The Byrnes were rich beyond belief but they were not snobs.

“I like your family by the way.”

I smiled. “They like you too,” I admitted. “Mom is hopeful and I am hoping this doesn’t backfire on us. I think she is already planning our wedding.”

He chuckled. “Maybe we let her in on the plan? She seems like the type that would understand?”

I nodded.

“And Alonso too…before he breaks my legs.”

I burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, my brother is protective.”

“Yeah, he took me in the other room and had a talk with me. I about wet my pants
Nerissa. He’s a scary dude.” His blue eyes danced.

I nodded. “We can tell Al too…but not all the love stuff…just that we are playing a part to help Liam through something. He will accept that. He respects Liam. He knows his story and he appreciates what he’s been through.”