Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Rage burned through me. I wanted to hurt Nathan.
“We had an issue at the cottage. A … a flood.” The impromptu lie slipped out. “So, we’re going to stay with Ms. Howard in her house on the estate for a few days.”
Callie scowled up at me, her blue eyes bright with anger. “You’re lying. You’re lying!” She pushed away from me, her little mouth trembling as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Stop lying to me!”
When Callie cried, I cried. Our connection was so deep. Everything she felt, I felt too. I sobbed as I reached for her, but she kept batting my hands away and screaming that I was a liar.
I glanced helplessly through my tears at Walker, noted his expression of distress, before he turned on his heel and walked away.
For some reason, watching him walk away gave me strength.
I got down on my knees and gripped Callie’s arms to pull her to me. “You’re right, you’re right.”
It took her a second, but she calmed, her chest rising and falling with her softening sobs.
“Baby girl, I’m so sorry. I was … I just want to protect you.”
“From what?”
“Someone … someone broke into the cottage and vandalized it.”
She grew still in my arms. “Why?”
“We don’t know.”
Her eyes narrowed.
I hurried to say, “It might be your dad.”
Callie stiffened, fear entering her expression.
I hated Nathan.
I loathed him with every inch of my being.
“He’s out of prison?”
Nodding, I pulled her closer. “But we don’t know for sure it’s him. Okay? We just … we’re taking precautions. So we’re going to stay on the estate, and Walker and his team are going to look after us.”
My daughter slowly relaxed, and she nodded calmly. “Walker won’t let anyone hurt us.”
“No, he won’t,” I promised. “Neither will I.”
“I know.” She threw her arms around me, and I hugged her tight, probably squeezing too hard. “Sorry I yelled at you.”
“It’s okay, baby girl. I’m sorry for lying.”
“I understand.”
She shouldn’t have to understand. I took a deep breath to bury my seething. He wouldn’t do this to me. He wouldn’t make me bitter and angry. I’d worked too damn hard to make sure of it.
When we walked back into the living room, Callie burrowed shyly into my side, embarrassed the Adairs had heard her outburst. Lewis hovered near the island, concern marring his face as he watched Callie like a hawk.
“We better get going.”
“Call if you need anything,” Thane insisted.
“Thank you. We will.”
Regan looked like she wanted to rush Callie and hug her, but Thane held her back, which I thought was for the best. Even Eilidh, who was not known for her tact, remained quiet, her expression troubled.
“See you later, Cal?” Lewis asked quietly, gaze questioning.
She nodded. “Yeah.”
He nodded back, still not taking his eyes off her.
“Let’s go,” Walker said from the doorway.
In answer, Callie left my side to hurry over to Walker’s. She looked up at him and reached for his hand.
Tears choked me as Walker took it without hesitation. He made her feel safe. And I knew it should make me happy. But it scared the crap out of me.
I murmured my thanks to the Adairs again as Regan handed me Callie’s overnight bag and then I followed my daughter and Walker out to the car. Callie held tight to his hand the entire way, and I heard him murmuring reassuringly as he helped her into the back seat.
We didn’t speak on the drive to the estate. I’d never been as far as the Howards’ home. The road led away from the castle, passing the building that housed the spa, and then turned left. Soon the woods cleared and we were driving down a private lane. I could see the shadowed outline of four large homes sitting on the coast overlooking the North Sea.
We pulled up outside the biggest of them all, and I stared numbly at the New England-style house with its wraparound porch. Exterior lights lit it up in the dark.
A shade of embarrassment warmed my skin as I realized we were taking charity from my boss.
“The house is protected by the drone perimeter around the estate. An intruder would need to bypass security on the estate side or the massive dune cliffs on the beach side, neither of which is possible. So you’ll be safe here,” Walker announced matter-of-factly before he jumped out of the car and helped Callie. He took hold of our overnight bag, too, and I fumbled with my seat belt.
As I slid out of the car, the house’s huge front door opened and Aria stood in the doorway. She wore jeans and a sweater, looking casual and so unlike herself. We were intruding on her privacy. To my surprise, she walked down the porch steps to give me a hug. She enveloped me in her warmth and expensive perfume.