Page 43 of Forbidden Cowboy

“You can start by letting my daughter go,” Eliana all but spat.

Anna hugged me tighter at this. The blanket fell away, and Anna shivered lightly. What time was it anyway?

“Anna,” I said softly to her, “it’s time to get up.”

“I wanna stay here,” she said so only I could hear.

“I know,” I muttered to her. “I want you to stay too, but you have to get up. I think your mom has something planned.”

I said the last part louder, and that fake grin of Eliana’s that looked almost rictus appeared.

“I do, darling!” She clapped her hands together. “I’m going to take you shopping!”

Anna gave me a pained grimace as she pulled away.

“Can we get our nails done?” she asked her mother.

“Of course! Now go get dressed,” Eliana said, obviously delighted that Anna was playing like she wanted to spend time with her.

Anna slouched down the hallway, and I saw Wyatt’s look of concern follow her.

“Please leave my bedroom, now,” I said.

“Excuse me?” she asked, indignant at my brusque tone.

“I asked you to leave,” I said, standing. “Because while you might think you have everyone under your thumb, this room ismine. It is written into my contract with Wyatt, and until he finds a legal reason to nullify or break the contract, then I am well within my rights to tell you, someone who is not my employer, toleave.”

I saw a flush rise up on her cheeks, and Eliana’s mouth opened and closed like she was a goldfish. She turned to Wyatt like she expected him to help her, but he just shrugged.

“According to the contract, this room is hers to do with as she pleases. I can’t even enter if she tells me not to.”

“So get out,” I said, with more force this time.

Eliana left—no, stomped out—and I heard her practically growling at Anna to hurry up and get dressed. I felt bad for the little girl. I really hoped her mother’s mood wouldn’t be directed at her.

“I should have stayed calmer,” I said, closing my eyes.

Amusement was sparkling in Wyatt’s when I opened my own.

“It was brilliant,” he said. “I don’t think anyone’s ever told her off like that before.”

“Maybe they needed to,” I said. “But now Anna is going to have to deal with her attitude.”

Wyatt shook his head and held up a hand, motioning for me to listen.

“If you’re going to be mean and angry all day, then you can go alone!” Anna’s voice filtered down the hall, rising in a way I’d never heard from her. “I don’t need to spend time with a bully!”

There was stunned silence, and then, Eliana sounded calmer.

“I’m sorry, darling. I promise I’ll calm down. This isourday.”

I didn’t miss the obvious intonation in her voice, but it was a lot better than how she had sounded before. I looked at Wyatt with wide eyes.

“After she started showing up here, I told Anna she is allowed to yell at her mother if her behavior makes her feel bad, and the minute she feels nervous about something her mother is doing, she is to call me, and I will be there in minutes.”

“It’s good to hear her stand up for herself, but I really wish she didn’t have to,” I said, picking up the blanket from the floor and straightening up.

Wyatt looked away.