Page 41 of Hidden Desire

He whistled, and one of the men came for the suitcase.

When he dumped her in the back seat and followed her, he pulled her tightly to his side. “Get us home, Rafe.”

“You got it,” Rafe said. “I already called and told the men they need to be ready.”

“Good, because that bastard will come to the house,” Robert said.

She buried her face against his chest, and he let her hide. There was plenty of time to deal with her later. Right now, they needed to get her to safety.

When they got home, Robert got out, reached for her arm, and pulled her out. He led her into the house, directly into his office, and shut the door.

“Your father is going to come here,” Robert said. “Andyou’re going to tell him you changed your mind and you want to stay with your husband.”

Grace looked down.

“Is it that you just don’t want to be here?” Robert asked.

Her head jerked up. “No. Not at all. It’s the right thing to do.”

“For who?” he asked.

“You guys!” she cried.

“Bullshit. Can’t you see what you mean to us? We’re all a family, and you’re going to tear us apart.”

Grace frantically shook her head. “No! I’m protecting you.”

Robert sighed. “It’s my job to protectyou, Love.”

“Be honest. You didn’t want to marry me, right? You’re just doing it to keep my father from taking me.”

Robert shook his head. “Oh, I was planning on marrying you. I just moved it up.”

“I heard you,” she murmured.

“Heard me what?”

“You said that when the threat against us was taken care of, you didn’t know if you wanted to stay married to me.”

His brows snapped together as he thought about where she could have gotten that idea. “I’ve not thought for a moment that I would let you go because it’s not going to happen. You had to have misunderstood whatever you heard.”

She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I don’t know what to do. The only thing I can think of is protecting Hannah and letting you off the hook.”

“You do neither of those, Sweetheart.” Robert walked to her and grasped her shoulders. “I want … no, Ineedyou here. I finally have the family I’ve always wanted, although a few more kids wouldn’t hurt,” he said and grinned.

He loved her look of surprise and happiness. Now, if hecould just keep it like this, he’d be a happy man.

Chapter Nineteen

Grace studied Robert’s face and could only see concern, need, and love.

“I don’t ever want to go anywhere,” she said. “I never thought I’d be able to have a family. Now that I’ve got you guys, I’m afraid I’ll mess it up somehow, and the thought of you guys getting hurt because of me makes me sick. I’d never forgive myself.”

“You don’t have to worry, Sweetheart. I’ve got everything under control. You never have to see your father again. Well, except for tonight.” He smiled.

Grace exhaled. “I’m sorry I ran from you.”

“You’re forgiven as long as you don’t do it again. If you try, I’ll chain you to our bed and fuck you until we’re both raw and exhausted.”