Page 12 of Hidden Desire

Grace stiffened. “Oh, I’m fine. I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”

Taylor snorted. “For one thing, it’s no trouble at all. I enjoy cooking. Secondly, I’m going to insist on you eating three meals a day.”

God, when was the last time she had that?

“I am, too,” Robert said as he walked into the kitchen.

Grace watched him bend and kiss the top of Hannah’s head, stood, and looked at her.

“We want you to be healthy, and that means eating all three meals and probably snacks every day. Can you handle that?” he asked.

Just the thought of all that food was mind-blowing. “I … yes. I think I can do that.”

Robert nodded. “Good.”

Grace walked over to the table and sat next to Hannah. “How did you sleep?”

Hannah smiled. “Good. Daddy says I sleep like a log, and I have to remind him I’m a little girl and not wood. He alsomistakes me for a gremlin sometimes.”

Grace bit her lip to keep from smiling when the girl sighed dramatically. For a three-year-old, she seemed to act smarter than any other. Although it was hard for her to tell since she’d never been around one before.

“You have to be patient with him,” Hannah said seriously.

Grace nodded solemnly and about lost it when she looked over her shoulder to see Robert grinning.

“Grace, would you like some French toast? I’m making some for Robert.”

“Oh, um. Yes, please.”

Robert walked over to a cabinet, grabbed a few glasses, got the orange juice out of the fridge, and sat down with them.

He sat beside her like the night before, and her anxiety rose, making it hard to swallow. She wasn’t used to eating with anyone, especially a man. She’d always eaten alone at a small table in a corner of the kitchen or locked in her room. That was if she was allowed to eat at all.

When Taylor set plates in front of her and Robert, she knew she looked shocked at all the food. Besides a thick piece of French toast, there were scrambled eggs and bacon. She’d never seen so much food except for the night before.

She listened to the others as she concentrated on her food. Grace was able to get half the toast, most of the eggs, and one slice of bacon down before she had to stop. She waited anxiously to see if she got in trouble for not eating everything. How could she explain she wasn’t used to full meals and sometimes went for days without food? It was only when she was older, maybe eleven or so, and her father locked her in her room for some transgression she supposedly did, that she secretly started to hide food and books in her room to pass the time.

Most of the time it was enjoyable being by herself and not having to deal with her father and his abuse. Or having to watcheverything she said and hide her expression all the time.

“Are you done, Honey?” Taylor asked.

She could feel her face heat as she nodded. “Yes, thank you. It was delicious.”

Taylor ran a hand down the back of her head before taking the plate away. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Just that touch was enough to feel like she wanted to cry. The only touches she’d had since her mother died hurt and left marks on her skin.

“I’m going into the office for a few hours,” Robert said.

“Do you have a schedule for me, Sir?” she asked.

“Yes, I made a list, but it’s okay to change things. Just ask Taylor, and she’ll answer any questions you have.”

“Thank you, Mr. Crenshaw.”

He looked down at her. “Call me Robert, Sweetheart.”

She bit down on her lip to keep her mouth from dropping open in shock and nodded.