Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters.  

And it fucking sucks. 

Because the moment I sat down at the table for dinner with Alina and her father, I knew I would never get a family dinner as close to this again. 

I would return to having meaningless small talk with women at the dinner table and check into a hotel for some sex before leaving first thing in the morning. 

Would I even want to sleep with any other woman after Alina and I were done? 

“So what’s your plan after you’re done playing with my daughter?” Mr Simmons spat out and Alina choked on her red wine. 

I glanced at Alina and handed a napkin to her. My expression remained the same as Mr Simmons waited for my reply. 

“I’ll probably resume with my work schedule. I don’t have much to do outside of that. Alina has been great company throughout the week, I’ll never forget the times I’ve had with her,” I took a swig of the flavourful wine, letting it distract the beating of my heart. 

“I'm sure you will. You don’t intend to continue this relationship with my daughter?” 

“Dad!” Alina scolded and I placed my glass down. 

“Maybe if our paths cross again in the future, I don’t think we’re ready to take things seriously yet. Am I right Alina?” I diverted my attention to her and she blinked a few times before straightening herself. 

Her defences are up. 

“He’s right dad. Besides I have you around to take up all my spare time anyway,” she finished her wine and her father shook his head. 

“I’m not going to have grandchildren any time soon with you hovering around me Alina. I’m sure Kieran can help with my lack of grandkids.” 

She choked again and a small smile slipped on my face, “Are you okay darling?” 

She glared at me and snatched the second napkin from me, wiping her lips. 

Lord knows how much I want to taste those lips again. 

“I’m glad the doctor discharged you from the hospital but I’m wondering if he missed out on the part to check if you’re sane,” Alina mumbled and refilled her glass. 

“This girl is more old-fashioned than me my boy, I swear she didn’t even know kids existed until a few years back when her mother started pestering her to get married,” Mr Simmons rolled his eyes and shoved another piece of meat into his mouth. 

Alina’s mother? I’ve never heard any news about her. 

“Mum never forced me to have kids or to get married. You have this blissful fairy-tale going on in your head for me but I’m not your regular Princess dad. I’m a fucking Queen,” Alina drank her wine up and poured more into her glass. 

I raised a brow, she is a Queen. But she’s also borderline drunk. 

“Alina sweetie, stop chugging your alcohol down like that. I want to talk to you, not the crazed drunk version of you,” her father pulled the bottle of wine away and she eyed him. 

“I’m not getting married to Kieran dad, or have his kids. Commitments suck and I don’t want to miss him every damn day, every hour, with his stupid face in my head on repeat. Connor was nice to me dad, I thought that was enough. It’s not, nothing is ever enough. I don’t have enough time, not with you, not with Kieran and not with mum. I don’t want to be left heartbroken again dad please,” her eyes were fiery as she stared at the glass of wine. 

The air was still and unbelievably uncomfortable. For an outsider. 

But as a stone-hearted man who spent close to a week with her, I wasn’t bothered. I knew she needed the support even before I met her in Hawaii. I wanted to be there for her, she wouldn’t let me. What could I do? 

Mr Simmons scoffed, “You’re being so serious about this when you say you don’t want anything serious. And no one is perfect Alina, I’m sure you’ve hurt Kieran somewhere along the week with your constant rejections.” 

I looked at him, curiosity sparking in my veins, “Has she always been like that?” 

He nodded, “She doesn't accept people easily Kieran. You're the first guest we've had since Connor. You're really lucky.” 

“I’m still here you know, just because I’m a little tipsy doesn’t mean I can’t communicate like a proper human being,” Alina pushed her empty glass away and fiddled with her fingers. 

The simple nervous gesture made me feel as empty as her ring finger.  

Was there a way for me to rectify it? 

“Well I’m glad she didn't kick me out of here. It's a big win for me,” I gazed at her and her eyes glimmered with unspoken emotions. 

I barely ever heard the ticking of my watch, but tonight, I could hear every second pass. It haunted me. 

I helped to clear the dishes from the table and Wilson nearly chopped my head off when I insisted on helping. He was adamant about letting the maids wash the dishes so I gave in on that aspect. 

The three of us then went to the living room for a movie but eventually settled on watching ‘MasterChef’. Alina dozed off on the couch while having mindless banter with her father over butter and oil. She leaned against my shoulder, her arms around my waist. I brushed her hair away from her face and she snuggled close, tightening her hold on me. 

“She likes you Kieran, I’m glad she does,” Mr Simmons continued staring at the chefs beating egg whites with sugar and I kissed the top of Alina’s head. 

“I’m not as good of a man as you think I am.” 

“A man who can acknowledge that he’s not a knight in shining armour and who doesn’t make promises he can’t keep is good enough for my daughter. No pun intended by the way.” 

“I’m sure Connor passed the test on that but he turned out horrible.” 

“Nah, he made Alina fall in love with the idea of him. He wasn’t a nice guy, I could tell. But you know how Alina is when she gets absolutely stubborn with something. She couldn’t see the negatives and that’s why she’s being so hard on you.” 

“I’m not going to continue this with her Mr Simmons. We had a mutual agreement and I can’t promise her a life of bunnies and rainbows. I’ve gone through things that will prevent me from loving her to what she deserves.” 

“Goodness just call me Alexander, Mr Simmons is so extravagant. And just so you know, she hates rainbows. Give her some time, she’ll come to her senses. For you on the other hand, you care for her. You’ve been truthful with me about your intentions, it’s time you’re truthful with your own conscience.” 

My heart pounded, as if Alina's father was acknowledging its presence, “I can’t give her enough.” 

“It’ll be more than what I can give her. The only reason the doctor let me return home was because he wanted me to spend some quality time with my family before I go. But I can tell Kieran, my time here is coming to an end. Say I’m desperate for someone to take care of her, but I know a good man when I see one. She’s going to be devastated once I’m gone, I just hope you’ll be there for her.” 

He continued staring at the screen and I sighed heavily. 

Promises. Could I keep to them? I told Alina I would never disturb her again the moment our week was up. Midnight was only minutes away to our last two days. 

I brushed my thumb across her flushed cheeks, her lips slightly parted in deep slumber. 

I looked up at her father, his worn out expression of fighting for his life now a peaceful calm. Acceptance for what was to come. 

So I made a pack with the devil in me, the darkness in my heart rebelling against the mere thought of staying with the girl in my arms, “I’ll try.” 

The beach was warm and sunny, the salty breeze flowed through my hair and carried Kieran's cologne with it. 

I squeezed my father's arm a little tighter, still unsure why he insisted on taking a walk with the two of us when he didn't have the energy to stand for more than a few minutes at a time. 

My father chuckled, "Goodness Alina, you're really clingy today." 

I tucked my head in the crook of his neck, feeling Kieran's gaze searing into my back. It felt weird, different.  

Kieran was lying on the sofa in my room when I woke up this morning. The way he looked at me, I didn't know what to feel. I only knew something was brewing and I wasn't sure if I could accept it. 

Not after my heart decided to run ahead of my brain and take matters into its own hands. 

"Why did you bring us out here dad? Kieran has work to do and I'm missing my first day at the bank." 

"You have an incomplete honeymoon sweetheart. And from the looks of it, if I don't step in, I won't be seeing any grandkids in my lifetime." 

I puffed my cheeks and released an annoyed breath. It was going to be so hard to leave Kieran once this was over. 

"I told you, I'll spend my time with you." 

My father stopped walking and faced me, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead from the short walk. He looked behind at where Kieran was standing and pointed between both of us, "She sounds exactly like you, in denial." 

"Dad-" 

The roar of a speedboat made us turn and my father patted my hand before letting go, "My ride is here. You two play nice alright?" 

Wilson waved at us from the safety of the boat and I huffed. Once my father climbed in, they sped off, leaving me with a very handsome Kieran. 

I could almost feel his heat from behind me, his comforting presence. 

He wrapped his arms around me, pressing his lips to my neck. 

I shivered even with the heat of the sun. 

"I'm sorry about my father." 

He shook his head, "Don't be." 

His lips trailed up to my ear, then back down my neck to my bare shoulder, "I can't seem to get enough of you." 

I placed my hands on his, feeling my body swoon momentarily over him, "You and I both." 

"Your father will be disappointed if we don't work out." 

The small smile I had wavered slightly and he kissed my cheek, squeezing me a little tighter to him, "Kieran, we had a deal." 

"I know and I will make the most of it." 

He carried me and before I could register what he was doing, he ran straight for the water and threw both of us into the waves. 

I spluttered and stood up in the shallow waters, wiping my face down with my hands. Kieran was laughing his head off a distance away, his own body soaked through. 

I couldn't help but smile even in my drenched state. His low yet light-hearted laugh, I could never get tired of it. 

I laughed along, splashing water in his face, hearing him choke and chuckle at the same time. 

I doubled up with laughter and he shot me a playful deadly gaze. I made a mad dash for the shore, feeling him close behind. The moment my body left the density of the water, I ran and he ran after. 

I turned back for a moment and squealed when he caught me. We fell forward into the sand, his body enveloped me and took most of the impact. 

We laid there for a minute or so, letting our breathing return to normal. I lifted my head off his chest and froze. His dark eyes seemed to sparkle, it was beautiful. 

I reached a hand out and cupped his flawless cheek, seeing him snuggle into my touch. 

"Are you okay?" 

I nodded and he winced slightly before pushing himself off the ground. All the while keeping an arm around my waist. 

He sat up and positioned me to sit on his lap. 

Just like in Hawaii. 

He took my hand and pressed his lips to my palm, "See, that wasn't very hard was it?"  

I smiled, letting his kiss sizzle on my skin.  

Stop falling for him Alina. 

I traced the outline of his lips, feeling my heart clench painfully as my mind memorised the shape of him. 

His gaze sought mine and I held it. Anything, I would do anything to see that glimmer in his eyes. 

He rested his forehead on mine, "One more day, I'll make you smile for one more day." 

And he kissed me like there was no tomorrow.