Marriage by Mistake

stairs, she saw a bunch of suitcases. Kirk was standing next to them in the front entry, talking to Jackson.
    Kelly bit the inside of her cheek. It seemed Dean was following through on at least one determined course. He was getting rid of Kirk.
    Warily, she approached the pair talking in the entry. Would Kirk blame her for getting the boot? And if so, would he be justified? She really should have gotten Dean to talk last night. If she had, he might have tried dealing with his father, instead of getting rid of him. That would have been healthier.
    Kelly was wondering what she could say to Dean's father when there was something in the nature of a small explosion behind her.
    "Kelly! Kelly!"
    She turned to find Robby bounding down the stairs.
    "Didja hear? Didja hear?" he shouted.
    Kelly couldn't help smiling as Robby ran up to her, grinning from ear to ear. He grabbed hold of her hands. "Didja hear the news?" he asked, and squeezed. "I'm going to Greece!"
    "G-Greece?" Kelly's smile dropped and she blinked several times rapidly.
    "Yup, Greece," Robby repeated. "My Dad is taking me, on his yacht ."
    "Oh. I—" Kelly was dumbfounded. Kirk was taking Robby? "I— What? How?" she asked.
    "On a plane." Robby took her question literally. "It's going to take all day, and part of tonight. Then we have to take a bus and then a boat."
    "Ah." This was all moving too fast for Kelly. Kirk was taking Robby to Greece? No. Robby was supposed to be getting a dose of much-needed stability. Dean had agreed.
    Or had he?
    Kelly frowned. "Uh... Does Dean know about this trip of yours?"
    "Dean knows." It was Kirk's voice. He came up to throw an arm around the still-glowing Robby. "Not to worry, he's given his hearty approval."
    "He has?" Kelly couldn't believe it. At the same time she felt a blow to her mid-section. At least a part of her could believe it.
    Kirk smiled his charming smile. "Dean knows what's good for him. And Robby, as you can see, is delighted."
    Yes, Kelly could see that. Robby was practically walking on air. But she wouldn't accept Dean had willingly agreed to this. He'd committed himself to Robby.
    Hadn't he?
    "Wait here," she told Kirk.
    He raised his brows. "Jackson's got to leave with us in fifteen minutes."
    "This won't take long." Kelly gave him a sickly little smile and backed away. No, it shouldn't take long because the whole thing was impossible. Dean wouldn't give up his responsibilities. Besides, he'd come to admit he loved Robby.
    Hadn't he?
    Kelly was panting by the time she got to the morning room. Dean was there, leaning against a windowsill. His expression as he looked out at the view was as cold and remote as Alaska.
    Kelly's heart sank. She tried valiantly not to believe any of what Kirk had told her—but Dean looked just like the person he'd been when she'd first come to the house; a castle unto himself.
    "I— What's going on?" she asked, still panting.
    Dean turned his head. "Excuse me?"
    Kelly gestured in the direction of the front door. "You're letting him take Robby?"
    Dean shrugged. "Kirk is Robby's father."
    "Huh! Technically."
    Dean raised his brows. "Technically is enough."
    Kelly crossed her arms over her chest. She evened her breathing. "Is this what's bothering you? Kirk demanding Robby? 'Cause you don't have to put up with it if you don't want to."
    Dean gave her a strange look. "You think Kirk taking Robby to Greece bothers me?"
    "Well, yeah." Kelly swallowed. How could he act so cool? "I think it bothers you, because in every real sense of the word, Robby is your son."
    Dean hesitated. Then he laughed.
    Kelly felt her face heat. He was being difficult, and they didn't have a lot of time. "You don't have to put up with this. If you set your foot down, Kirk will leave him here."
    Dean pushed off the window frame. "Kirk isn't doing this to piss me off."
    "Oh, come on."
    "No, really. He's trying to help."
    "To help?"
    Dean stepped toward the table. "He wants to give us some time alone, to enjoy our marriage..."
    Dean's voice trailed off and Kelly's brows knit as she tried to follow this. To enjoy their marriage?
    Dean smiled. "While it lasts."
    Kelly's lower jaw dropped. It took her a while to raise it up again. When she did, she had plenty to say. "Why, of all the arrogant, interfering, cynical—"
    Dean leaned his palms on the tabletop. "Is he?"
    Kelly's jaw dropped again. She blinked. "What?"
    Dean straightened. "Is Kirk being cynical? Or is he being...realistic?"
    " What ?"
    "Come on."