Free Irresistible by MacKenzie McKade Page A

and caress each and every hidden muscle, one by one.
    “Me,” she whispered. “I am.”
    “That makes me the luckiest man on earth.” He took her into his arms and captured her mouth with his. He smelled of warm sunshine, soap and aftershave. She lolled her head back, neck arching to receive every drugging kiss he offered.
    “Damned if I’ll stand here and watch you two make out like two randy teenagers in public,” Cameron squawked.
    “What’s good for the goose isn’t good for the gander?” Sean laughed.
    Subtly Cameron rubbed her extended middle finger up and down her cheek, flipping her brother off, before she winked at Sydney. “I’m out of here.” Spinning on a boot heel, she headed straight for the rest of their party seated and waiting.
    Sean twirled a dark lock of her hair around a finger and slightly tugged. “You know Mom is expecting us at her house for dinner tonight. Did you want me to tell her about us or do you want to do it together?”
    Sydney’s throat tightened, and a knot formed as her confidence plummeted. “W-whatever you think is best.”
    He brushed a tendril that had worked out of her ponytail behind her ear. “Why don’t I talk to her first?”
    “You don’t think Mom is going to be happy, do you?”
    “In all honesty, I don’t know.”
    Reality gripped Sydney in its tight grasp. Would their unexpected relationship break this family apart? Unease forced her from his arms.
    “I think I’ll use the restroom before we board.”
    Sean lightly kissed her. “You better hurry.”
    As she made her way through the throng, anxiety crept over her skin. She loved the Duncans and would never do anything to cause a rift in their family. Was she being a fool, thinking she could have Sean and a family?
    When she entered the bathroom, the strong scent of antiseptic filled her nose and her stomach churned. She sought the first available stall. Without thinking beyond the moment, she unfastened her jeans and pushed them down to her knees and froze. The rusty spot, not yet blood, against the stark white cotton patch of her thong heralded the bittersweet news.
    Sydney didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
    She wasn’t pregnant.
    It took her a moment to clean up and get her emotions under control. As much as she wanted—needed—to believe that Sean was marrying her because he loved her, a sliver of doubt rose. What if this news changed everything?
    Exiting the restroom, the first person she saw was Sean. As always, her heart started to beat fast. People were already boarding as she hastened to join him.
    His brows dipped. “Are you okay?”
    She briskly nodded, moving past him with her head down. She wasn’t ready to talk.
    Sean handed their tickets to the flight steward and followed her. When he settled in his aisle seat, she was gazing out the window.
    “Syd?”
    “Yeah.” She bit her bottom lip.
    “Baby, look at me. Are you—” He stopped midsentence, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
    She raised her eyes to meet his. “I’m not pregnant.”
    His nonplussed expression was difficult to read. “You sure?”
    Was he happy? Sad? Relieved?
    When he didn’t say anything more, she raised her chin, steadying herself. “Now there isn’t any reason for us to marry.”
    Sean’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think that’s what matters to me?” He cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, Sydney. Baby or no baby. I want to be with you .”
    Tears burned behind her eyelids. “Really?”
    Slipping the armrest between them up, he pulled her into his arms. He rested his chin atop her head as he held her close. “Really.”
    That’s when Sydney realized that the love she’d found was real. She snuggled against him and within seconds drifted asleep.
     
     
    Beyond the tension that had surrounded dinner, for the first time since Sean returned home, his world felt right. For years he had watched Sydney interact with his family, but it was different tonight. They fit as a family—she fit.