Page 5 of Hidden Desire

Grace felt sweat gather between her breasts and on her forehead when the door opened. The man standing there was several inches taller than her father and looked like he had muscles over muscles. One smack from him could kill her.

Her father shook the man’s hand.

“Thank you,” the man said.

“It’s my pleasure,” Emmet said. “She needs something to do. She’s a bit lazy. If she becomes a problem, call me, and I’ll come and get her.”

The man frowned. “We’ll see how it goes.”

The man turned toward an older woman. “Taylor, can you show our nanny to her room?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Grace picked up her bags and followed the woman. Shefelt freer with every step away from her father.

“I’m so glad Robert found you,” Taylor said. “I was helping take care of his daughter, and I have to tell you she has more energy than six puppies altogether.” She laughed and opened a door.

Grace couldn’t remember hearing laughter before and prayed she’d hear more. She looked around the room and smiled. It was very bright because of the two windows. The walls were a pretty blue. The curtains and the bedspread had a floral design that matched the color of the walls.

Her bedroom at home was a drab tan. Everything was the same dull color, and she had been forbidden to put anything on the walls, so they stayed blank.

She looked through one door and saw a bathroom of the same color, and there was another door she guessed was the closet.

“How about I help you unpack?” Taylor said.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Grace said.

“Nonsense. You and I are going to see each other every day. I hope we can become friends.”

Grace felt her eyes fill with tears, so she turned her head away. She sniffed. “I’d like that very much as long as you don’t get in trouble.”

“In trouble for being friends?”

Grace nodded, carried her undergarments into the closet, and arranged them in one of the drawers.

Taylor pulled the shoes out, and the food Grace had tucked into them fell out. Grace felt her face burn in embarrassment when the woman looked at her in confusion.

“Oh, that’s nothing,” Grace said and stuffed the bars and fruit in one of the other drawers. “I get hungry a lot.”

Taylor grabbed her by the shoulder and then scowled when Grace flinched and cried out.

“Are you hurt?”

Grace tried to smile. “Not really. I bumped into a door. I’m very clumsy.” Grace didn’t think the other woman believed her. “Really.”

“Okay. We’ll leave it for now. I want you to know that I don’t care when you’re hungry. You come to the kitchen and help yourself to whatever you want.”

Grace’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “Okay.”

Taylor hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she said.

Grace hugged her tightly. “I’m so glad I have a friend.”

Taylor leaned back and smiled. “Yes, you do. I bet Mr. Crenshaw would like to introduce you to his daughter, Hannah. She’s very sweet but has a lot of energy.”

Grace giggled. “I can handle that.”

She followed the woman back the way they came. Grace was relieved to see her father was gone. Maybe if she wished hard enough, she’d never have to see him again.