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“Yes, really.” His dark brows drew together as he studied her. “May I get you a drink?”
She shook her head, not trusting her mouth as it kept betraying her at every turn. There was something about being close to Mr. Tall, Tanned and Toned that disengaged her mind from her mouth. Then remembering the manners her mother instilled in her, she said, “Thank you.”
“If you change your mind, help yourself to anything in the kitchen. My housekeeper keeps it well stocked.”
“Thanks. But I meant thank you for everything.” She knelt next to the dog, who was now sitting beside her. “The puppy and I appreciate you opening up your home to us.”
He glanced away and started looking at the teetering stack of unread mail on the console table behind his black leather couch. “It’s no big deal.”
She had the feeling it was a very big deal. She’d be willing to guess he didn’t invite many people into his home. The place definitely didn’t look lived in. She’d hazard a guess that this apartment was his housekeeper’s favorite place to work as there would never be much that needed to be done.
“I’ll just let you get settled. Your room is down the hall to the right.”
“Oh.” She didn’t move.
“Is
something wrong?”
“I was just hoping you’d tell me more about your uncle—”
Ric shook his head. “He’s not your father.”
“How can you be so sure?”
He opened his mouth as though to argue but then wordlessly pressed his lips back together. The frustration glinted in his eyes. But even he couldn’t definitively reject the possibility that his uncle was her father.
Ric sighed. “You aren’t going to give up on this, are you?”
“No.” There was a firmness in her voice. She wanted him to take her seriously. He had no idea how hard this was for her.
Not so long ago, she’d had a family. A mother, father and two siblings. And now it’d all been shattered. She needed to find the truth about herself—about the past. It was the only way she could move forward.
“Why is this so important to you?”
“Really? You don’t think it’s important to know who your father is?”
“Yes.” He drew in a deep breath. “I meant, why now? Why not seek him out years ago? I mean, the timing would make anyone wonder.”
“The timing?”
“Yes. You know my uncle passed away and you’re looking to challenge his will.”
She ground her back teeth together as heated words clogged the back of her throat.
Never speak in the heat of the moment.
Her mother’s sage advice filled her mind.
How dare he think she was some gold digger here to steal his money? She liked him much better when he was just a really hunky guy on the big screen with no shirt—ripped abs on display and his mouth closed.
“You might be used to dealing with gold diggers, but I am not one.” That was it. She was done with him. She gently picked up the puppy.
“You’re leaving?”
“Looks that way. This was a mistake. I’ll take care of the dog. Don’t worry.”
Without waiting for him to say a word, she turned and headed for the door. He was a stranger—a famous stranger but still a stranger. And now she was certain she didn’t want to know him. And she certainly didn’t want to share her painful secret with him.
