Page 22 of Hidden Desire
Robert sighed. “All right. We’ll wait until later to talk about your father. But eventually, you’ll answer all my questions.”
They got dressed, and he walked her through the hallwayto her room. “Pretty soon, we won’t have to be apart,” he said and hugged her against his chest.
“Why are we waiting?”
He ran his hands up and down her arms. “Because I want to make sure you’re ready. I don’t want to pressure you in any way.”
“I don’t feel pressured.”
“I want to make sure, Sweetheart. Because once I’ve got you in my bed, that’s it. You’ll be there for the rest of your life.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes. I’m not going to let you go.”
She smiled and hugged him. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to be with you and the others.”
“Then let’s see if we can’t make it happen,” Robert said. He kissed her again. “Get some sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
“Okay. Good night.”
“Good night, Sweetheart.”
Later in bed, she couldn’t settle enough to sleep or get the smile off her face. She would tell him that she was ready because she couldn’t imagine what she needed to do to be with him.
Chapter Ten
Robert looked up as he sat in his office chair at work. “Come in,” he called out when the person knocked.
Three men he didn’t know walked in. Ones he’d never met but could tell were bad news.
Claire pushed past them. “I’m sorry, Sir. I told them to wait.”
Robert waved his hand. “It’s okay, Claire. Go back to your desk.”
When the door closed behind his secretary, he focused on the men. All three looked like thugs and vaguely familiar.
Robert relaxed back in his chair. “What is it, Gentlemen?”
The one in front spoke up. “Emmet Nichols sent us to talk to you.”
Robert’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, really. About what, and why couldn’t he just call me?”
“It seems you have his daughter, and he wants her back. He told us he’s tried to get in touch with you and tried to see his daughter, but you wouldn’t let it happen.”
Robert shook his head. “And he won’t. The man was extremely abusive. He’d make her stay in her room for a week without food and just the water from her bathroom sink. He also left bruises. A lot of them. They are healed now, but I’ll never forget the sight of them.”
The one in charge shrugged. “That’s not our problem. He says if you give her up peacefully, he’ll let her come back to nanny for you.”
Robert snorted. “He can’t have her. She’s twenty-four years old. An adult who can make her own decisions.”
The one stepped forward after pulling an envelope from his breast pocket. “He said you might say that.”
Robert opened the letter and ran through it quickly. Itwas something he thought the man would do to get his power over her again. He laughed, making all three men glance at each other. None of them had expected this kind of reaction.
“This says she’s clinically depressed and needs help.” Robert shook his head and grinned. “Really? She’s been with me for five months, and I haven’t seen any sign of mental illness.”
“It doesn’t matter. He’s her guardian…”