The last week has been a blur of activities to keep Ari's mind off the inevitable task lying before her family today. Her father and brother will escort her to say their final goodbye to Nonna.

I dress and grab the two motorcycle helmets from the kitchen table. Taking the narrow winding path through the trees, I head to the house to start my day with Ari.

I have slept alone in the bed her grandmother meant to be hers, and Ari has stayed in her room at the main house. She hasn't found it in herself to sleep in the cottage, and I can't sleep under the same roof as the overprotective men in her life.

I knock on the back door before walking into the kitchen. Rob sits at the counter with the paper and a cup of coffee. "Morning, Kade," he grumbles.

I don't take offense to the tone of his voice. Robert Carmichael has been welcoming since he said his peace that first morning. He must figure one threat will suffice, and he's correct—I'd be a madman to cross him.

"Morning," I say, placing the motorcycle helmets on the counter and walking to the coffeemaker to pour two cups.

"I haven't heard her move up there this morning," Rob says, setting down the paper, taking off his baseball cap, and rubbing the top of his head.

I nod as I sweeten the coffees. "I'm not surprised. She refused to go to bed last night. We sat through three movies before she was so exhausted that she didn't argue anymore."

"I would've hated to see her condition if you hadn't come. Thank you for being here for her."

I'm sure she would have been all right without me. She has an amazing family, but I'm humbled by his kind words. "You're welcome. There is nowhere else I'd rather be. I'm glad things worked out so I can be here for her."

With the conversation taking a sentimental turn, it's my cue to go. I don't want an awkward silence that leaves us looking at anything but each other. Taking the cups, I walk upstairs to Ari's room.

The dark curtains over her windows mute much of the light, but a sliver of the sun has found its way through a crack, falling on her face. She looks otherworldly, and I have second thoughts about waking her. She'll face one of the hardest days of her life today, and I pray I can make her forget for just a couple of hours what's to come.

I place the cups on the nightstand and sit on the edge of the bed. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, I kiss her pink cheek where tears have dried in streaks. My chest tightens at the thought of her waking up in the middle of the night and crying. It's a helpless feeling knowing today will hold more tears, and there's nothing I can do to stop them.

I take a deep breath and shake her shoulder. "Ari, wake up."

If I let her sleep any longer, we won't have time to do what I have planned. She's begged me for days to teach her how to drive the motorcycle. I ignored her numerous requests; her on the bike and something terrible happening don't settle well with me. But I'm limited on what I can do to make today bearable for her, and it's brought me to my breaking point. If she wants to learn how to drive the bike, I'll teach her.

My first attempt to wake her is a failure. I imagine how I'd want her to wake me before leaning over and pressing my lips to hers. She remains unresponsive until I suck her bottom lip, and that does the trick. Her arms wrap around my neck pulling me close.

I trail a series of light kisses over her face and say, "You need to get up, I have something planned this morning."

"Just a few more minutes. Why don't you just..." She pulls me into the bed, and I laugh as she returns the kisses I gave her.

"I suppose we can stay here all day. I would be much more comfortable knowing you're not driving the motorcycle anyway," I say with a forced sigh as she repeatedly presses her lips to my neck.

Ari stops in the middle of her sweet assault and jerks her head up to look at me. "You're going to teach me to drive the bike?" she asks with wide eyes.

"Don't worry about it. You want to stay here; it's fine."

She jumps out of bed, runs to her dresser and starts pulling out clothes. I cross my arms behind my head and admire how cute she looks in her oversized sweatpants and a tank top. The girl has an effect on me unlike anyone else. One minute, she's bound and determined—completely stubborn, and the next, she has me laughing and aching to hold her close. I love every second I get to spend with her.

With her clothing for the day selected, she skips to the bed and pulls me up by my shirt.

"Get out so I can get dressed," she demands, pushing me toward the door as I reach for my coffee mug.

I laugh as I walk downstairs to wait for her in the living room.

The living space is decorated with many family photographs, but one captures my undivided attention. A younger Ari has her arms lovingly wrapped around the neck of her mother. The woman's haunting blue/gold eyes match her daughter's, who wears the mischievous smile I've grown to love over the past months. A pang of sadness hits me in the gut; I wish I had the chance to meet the woman responsible for creating the girl I love.

A throat clears from behind me. I quickly place the picture back on the shelf and find Nicky with a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and both the motorcycle helmets in the other. He places them on the coffee table and sits down on the couch. "I see you brought the helmets with you this morning. It's good to know I won't have to break your neck," Nicky says with a smirk.

I take a seat next to him and lean forward looking at my folded hands. "Yeah, a broken neck would make it hard to sing." I glance at him from the corner of my eye and smile.

I've always liked Nicky. He's a carefree soul people enjoy being around, and if others benefit, great, and if not, it's their problem. In many ways, he's the complete opposite of his sister, and the two balance each other out nicely.

After a few minutes of quiet, I glance over at him. He sips his coffee and stares at the picture I was admiring when he came into the room. "You know, she was so gangly as a kid. I felt like I had to always look out for her because she was so fragile. I remember when Mom went into labor with her. A.J. was a month early, and Mom was in tears when she called Dad and told him to hurry home because they couldn't let anything happen to their baby boy. Of course, everyone was surprised that she was a girl...well, everyone but Nonna." He sets his mug on the coffee table and leans forward with me. "Mom, Dad, Nonna and I have done everything in our power to keep her safe and happy, maybe too much so."

"I love your sister."

Nicky stiffens.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been so forthcoming, but his concern was written all over his face; I just wanted to alleviate it. "Look, I'm not sure what you want me to say. There is nothing I won't do for her. Whatever she needs, I want to provide." I sit up straight and look him dead in the eyes. "You have my word that I will always do what's best for her."

For several seconds, he stares at me, and I release the breath I'm holding when he nods and extends his hand. "Don't doubt I will pulverize you if you ever go back on your word, Slone."

"I know," I say shaking his hand.

"Seriously Nicky, don't be such a dick-weed," says Ari from behind us.

I look over the back of the couch to see her with her hands on her hips. She's dressed in jeans and black combat boots with her hair tied at the nap of her neck. I question whether I'll be able to teach her to drive the bike or will I opt to take her back to the lookout and resume what I stopped the other day.

I stand, toss her my helmet, and grab her brother's.

"You better wear your helmet this time, you little twat," Nicky says, turning on the television.

She flips him the middle finger, grabs my hand, and leads me out of the house.