Arranged by the Stars Read Free Page A

So I am
correct?”
    Cowardice was not
something Ash was good at. For years she had to live down what had
happened at the pageant but having to answer for something she
wasn’t responsible for in front of Kieran, felt so many kinds of
wrong. Her cheeks were on fire. She could taste the blood from
where she had chewed her lip. Forcing her gaze up, she met
Kieran’s.
    If she saw pity in his
eyes then she was ready to turn and leave, if she didn’t, well if
she didn’t, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.
    “ Ma, no. You
have it all wrong. Ash is not—” His fingers brushed through his
hair giving him an unruly, sexy come-get-me look. He was totally
and utterly lost.
    His mother took the box
from him. “I know you. I really don’t know what is happening here
son, but this ring explains some of it. Why won’t you tell me? If
you are finally going to settle down then it’s a good thing, even
if it’s with her.” Julie Kanna turned her back as she said the last
words.
    He shrugged. The rebuff
sliced through Ash. Her shoulders dropped and her eyes burned.
Kieran was at her side in an instant and he tipped up her chin.
Confusion was all she could muster.
    “ Ma, please
leave.” He placed his hands in his pockets.
    Kieran’s mother sighed
before taking her son aside. Her voice softened and for a moment
Ash felt a moment of jealousy. “You’re grown man and I don’t need
to know what you’re up to, but if this girl is the reason you’re
staying then I can try and be happy for you. Your father will be
pleased you’re settling down and maybe it’ll help his recovery. If
this is what you want, then I’ll accept it.”
    Ash turned from mother to
son in fascination. She should have left but family drama was not
something she could resist, having not had any personal family
drama herself.
    Kieran then turned to
face his mother. Ash wasn’t sure when he had taken her hand or why.
She also wasn’t sure why she was suddenly part of this family
equation, but she stood there silent, mesmerized by a decision she
wasn’t sure she had a choice in.
    His mother’s smile was
bitter sweet. “This isn’t something I approve of Kieran. With your
father so ill, I’m willing to try anything to help him get better
and I do think something like this to look forward to will help
him.”
    She watched Kieran
massage the side of his neck. She almost felt sorry for
him.
    Kieran exhaled and his
gaze went from her to his mother. “How can I, being engaged help
Papa’s recovery? One thing has nothing to do with the
other.”
    His mother nodded. “He’s
been so worried about you being overworked and not wanting to
settle down.” Julie placed her hand on her son’s
shoulder.
    They stood there facing
each other. Kieran’s grip on her hand tightened.
    “ We don’t see
you for years at a time. We’re getting older and your father wants
grandchildren. He wants to enjoy these years. When he had that
heart attack, it scared him.”
    Kieran rubbed his palm
against his thigh. “Ma, you know I will do anything for Papa and
for you.”
    His mother wiped away a
tear. “Then give him something to look forward to. It would be such
good news.”
    Ash was hoping to avoid
the whiplash when she turned to Kieran after his mother’s last
comment, but his stoic expression gave nothing away.
    “ Ma, go back
to Papa and take care of him. Leave everything else to me.” Kieran
looked down at their entwined hands.
    Unsure of what took
place, Ash stood there in silence. She waited for Mrs Kanna to walk
away before she raised an eyebrow to the man who was confusing her
with every second that passed.
    “ What just
happened?” she asked wrapping her arms across her chest. “Tell me
we didn’t get engaged because it sounded very much like it to
me?”
    She watched as he let his
fingers comb his hair giving him that tussled look. He knew exactly
how to play dirty. She shook her head.
    “ We’re
getting married, the least you could do is call me