"What happened?"

When I made it to the living room, Shannon was sitting in the armchair by the window with a crying Aisling in her lap, staring daggers at RJ as he paced the room.

"I only offered to take her shopping," RJ said. "Apparently, that was wrong."

"We don't need your money," Shannon snapped.

"Easy, easy." I held my hands out in what I hoped was a calming gesture. "Look, this has been a tough twenty-four hours for everyone. Shannon, RJ isn't trying to buy you. He's just trying to help."

Her narrowed eyes said she didn't believe me.

"He likes to buy everyone little gifts. I mean, only last week he bought me lingerie and fancy shoes. Isn't that right, honey?"

I batted my eyelashes, and this time Shannon's mouth twitched while RJ gave me an evil glare.

"How about I go shopping with you tomorrow, and RJ can take Rania? Would that be easier?"

I didn't remotely want RJ going shopping with my girl, but neither did I want him to get his nuts ripped off. And Shannon didn't display quite the same antipathy towards me.

Silence.

"Or how about you go with Rania and we'll both stay at home?"

I could give Rania money. Hey, I still had an overdraft.

Shannon's face crumpled, sending her from stunning to sobbing in two seconds flat. I looked at RJ and he looked at me, hands out, helpless as he gave a panicked shrug.

"Shit," I muttered. "Rania's in the shower."

I crouched in front of Shannon and RJ did the same, but five feet back, out of slapping range.

"Shh, don't get upset. We'll sort everything out."

"You must think I'm such a b-b-bitch."

"It's okay. I'm not your type. I get it," RJ said. "But that doesn't mean we're going to leave you without clothes."

Shannon glanced up from under her eyelashes as RJ stood and took a step towards the door. A long glance. Too long.

And in that moment, I got it too.

RJ was exactly Shannon's type. She just didn't want to admit it.

And now they were stuck in the same house together. A snort of laughter worked its way out of my nose, and I turned it into a cough. I already knew how much Shannon intrigued RJ, but his usual "act smooth and toss cash around" approach wouldn't come close to working with her. He'd have to come up with new tactics, and I bet Shannon wouldn't make it easy for him.

Oh, this promised to be entertaining.

"On second thoughts," I said. "I need to talk a few things over with Rania. Work stuff. We can take care of Aisling while you guys head out tomorrow."

RJ shot me a look that was part thanks, part what-the-fuck-did-you-say-that-for? And when I took Shannon's hand and squeezed it, the look turned into a glare.

"And while you're in town, you can stop off at that homeware place next to the library. RJ was just saying that we need a new set of baking trays."

"I was?"

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Oh, yeah. I was. Baking trays. And those things with the holes for cakes."

Shannon gave one last sniffle and looked up. "You like to cook?"

"I like to eat."

I started to stand, and when I got halfway, I gave Shannon's hand a little tug. Distraction seemed like a good option here. Her emotions had to be all over the place after last night's close call, and while I'd seen her sweet side and her fiery tongue, she didn't have that same core of inner strength that ran through Rania.

Although I hated to think about why Rania had that core. Every piece of trouble life threw in her direction had made her both more resilient and more broken at the same time.

I wanted to be the person who put her back together again.

Perhaps that thought should have scared me, but no. The closer I got to her, the more complete I felt myself.

"Why don't we make dinner?" I suggested to Shannon. "None of us have eaten today, and I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

"Do you have turkey?"

"Sorry. There might be something edible in the freezer. We can buy proper food when the shops open tomorrow."

She yielded and let me pull her to her feet, still with Aisling balanced on one hip.

"I'm sure I can put something together."

"We'll help. We'll all help, okay?"

"Okay."

***

Lasagne. We ate lasagne for Christmas dinner. Part of the stash I'd bought last month when the Met Office forecast snow and RJ was panicking that the pizza guy wouldn't be able to reach us.

Shannon used the oven rather than the microwave, dressed the food up with garlic bread and salad, and after we'd managed to eat without RJ and Shannon killing each other, Aisling helped Rania to spoon ice cream into bowls for dessert. Okay, so the kid mostly spooned it over her face and the kitchen counter, but the effort was there.

Speaking of dressing things up, Rania looked unbelievably hot in my clothes. Sure, an oversized sweater and tracksuit bottoms shouldn't have been sexy, but they just were, okay? Call me territorial. I should have given her one of my dress shirts and pretended I didn't have any spare trousers. That smooth, tan skin against crisp white cotton, just begging to be unbuttoned. Shit. I adjusted my cock under the table and focused on the food. Now wasn't the time to be getting a hard-on, not with a child in the room.

And after dessert came the awkward conversation about sleeping arrangements. Although Rania hadn't elbowed me in the balls when she woke up this morning, I didn't want to assume we'd be sharing a bed tonight.

"Tired?" I asked.

She yawned as I closed the dishwasher, and I parked all those filthy thoughts about what I'd like to do with that mouth at the back of my dirty mind.

"Exhausted. I don't know why. We only got up three hours ago."

"The body shuts down after a trauma."

"It never used to. I just got more and more wound up."

"But you were living in a war zone, Rania. You're safe here, and I reckon your body understands that."

A smile flickered at her lips. "Where should I sleep?"

"In my bed?" A guy had to hope.

"It's not fair that you should have to take the sofa in your own house. I'll sleep there."

Well, you win some, you lose some. But I'd never give up. "I meant my bed with me in it."

And no matter what she said, she wasn't going anywhere near the sofa.

I'd seen Rania many things, but until now, flustered wasn't one of them. But a hand came to her lips as she gave an adorable gasp.

"Oh! I didn't know... I hoped, but..."

"Didn't know what?"

"I guess I still don't understand why you're interested in me. Beyond the obvious, of course."

"The obvious?"

"That I can talk to Helene."

Talk to Helene? Good grief. Tell me she didn't think I was using her for work purposes? I took a few steps forward, pinning her against the counter with my hips and preparing to duck if that pissed her off.

"I haven't even thought about Helene for the last twenty-four hours."

She looked down at where we were touching, but she didn't struggle. A good sign?

"But Shannon said you wanted to talk to me about work."

I dipped my head, pressing kisses up her cheek until my lips reached her earlobe. "An excuse to get her and RJ to spend some time together. And so I can spend some time with you."

Rania leaned back an inch, breaking the connection. "Is that a good idea?"

"That I spend the day with you? Absolutely."

"No, Shannon and RJ. She's not his biggest fan."

"Oh, she will be. Trust me. Do you trust me, Rania?"

A million-dollar question, but if there was one thing my asshole of a father taught me, it was go big or go home.

Only my pounding heart broke the painful silence between us. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Thump-thump-thump.

A nod. Rania's head barely moved, but it was enough for the balloon of tension that had filled my lungs to burst.

"My bed, then?"

Another nod.

"I won't touch you if you don't want me to. I'll be the perfect gentleman."

That brought laughter, and I didn't know whether to be happy or insulted. Ah, well. I suppose I had earned that reputation.

"I didn't mind you touching me this morning." She burrowed against my chest as she said the words, unable to make eye contact.

Ah, thank fuck. "We'll do whatever you want, Nia. You're the boss."

"You're sweet."

"My cock is in your hands."

"You're also an asshole." Her voice grew sleepier. "My asshole."