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“Grace,” Cassandra said. “Can I have coffee to go?”
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Shopping for this weekend.” When she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek, Emmie glanced at us. “I need to get my hair and nails done too.”
“I need a favor,” I said. “I want you to take Emmie shopping with you.”
“Sure.” Cassandra looked at Emmie. “You could use a spa day too. Maybe some new clothes.”
“That’s okay.” Emmie shook her head. “That’s not…”
One stern glance from me and she stopped speaking. I grew tired of her resistance and she needed to know it.
“Get her whatever she needs.” She needed plenty, and Cassandra could get the job done.
“And whateverIneed.” Cassandra looked up at me from her long eyelash extensions.
“Doesn’t that go without saying?” I sighed.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you to the moon and back.” I patted her hand.“Luke, can you have someone accompany them today?”
“I want to take the Mustang,” Cassandra whined. “We don’t need a babysitter.”
Emmie studied the room like a trapped animal trying to find an escape route.
There isn’t one.
“Humor me today,” I said.
“Fine.” Cassandra dramatically huffed. “I’m buying new boots.”
I was pretty sure Emmie would return with my daughter this afternoon because I had what she wanted. But if Caleb was ready to make good on his threat to auction her off, I needed one of my men with them until I had time to figure out what to do with my new friend.
“I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” Cassandra said to Emmie before darting back upstairs.
“Can I speak with you for a moment in private?” Emmie asked, barely above a whisper. “Please.”
I stood from the counter and motioned for her to join me in the hallway. She followed, keeping pace a few steps behind me.
I stopped when we were far enough away from the kitchen. I didn’t care what Grace and Luke overheard, but I wanted Emmie to speak freely.
“I appreciate you giving me a place to stay last night, but I have to go now.” She rocked back on her heels until she hit the wall behind her. “It was very generous of you to offer the shopping, but I travel light. I don’t need anything.”
“Your wardrobe suggests otherwise.” I ran my finger along the tattered hem of her shirt as she frowned over my harsh assessment. “You need new clothes.”
“No,” she whispered.
“I don’t really like that word, and if you are going to used it in response to something I’m telling you to do, you should probably be a little more forceful.” She flinched when I traced my finger down her cheek. “I’m not going to strike you.”
She nodded as she averted her gaze away from me. She didn’t believe me. The pain in her expression scratched at my tough exterior, but not enough to persuade me to let her go.
What is it about you that intrigues me?
“Would it be such a bad thing to have a nice day out?” I placed my palms against the wall, framing her face between them. It helped suppress the urge to touch her. “You’ll shop, get your hair and nails done, and have lunch. When you return, I’ll have a plan in place for you.”
“I don’t understand.” Her breath caught in her throat when I leaned into her. She smelled of the rose body wash I had left in the guest bathroom last night. “What do you want with me?” Her full bottom lip trembled, tempting me as it had when she licked the pineapple juice from it.
