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“You know about them?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” He tapped his fingers on the countertop. “They don’t do a very good job of sneaking around. Did she ask you to keep it a secret from me?”
“Ah, well, I don’t really know what’s going on between them. It’s none of my business.”
Didn’t Cassie realize her father would know about her and Josh? He kept tabs on her, and now he was probably tracking Josh’s every move.
“If it’s happening in my house, I should know about it.” He trapped me between his hard frame and the island counter. “My daughter can be persuasive. She gets that from me. From now on, no secrets.” He gripped my upper arm in his strong hold. “If Cassie asks you to keep something from me, don’t. She has poor judgment when it comes to men. She knew I wouldn’t approve of Josh, but she’s eighteen, and reckless, so I have to protect her in my own way.”
“I didn’t mean to keep anything from you.” I swallowed hard, but my throat was dry and my spit got stuck in my voice box, making it difficult to talk without coughing. “She asked me not to say anything about the two of them, and I didn’t think it was my place.”
“Your loyalty lies with me.” His emerald gaze burned into mine. “Always.”
“Can I tell her not to confide in me?”
“I don’t need a spy, so whatever makes you feel more comfortable.” He released my arm. “Don’t let my daughter manipulate you, especially not against me.”
“I won’t.” My heart raced, not just because of the way he stared at me, but because I had let him down. The disapproval in his expression left me empty, and worried. “I’m sorry.”
“Good.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “I’ll take care of you, Emmie, but you can’t lie to me.” He wiped the tear that slipped from my eye away. “I don’t want you to cry, but I want you to understand I don’t forgive easily. Don’t give me a reason not to trust you.”
I was afraid to speak.
“I have something for you,” he said.
“What is it?”
“I’ll show you.” He motioned down the hallway, the one that led to his study.
I followed him down the hall, much like I had done the first night we met. I was still uncertain, but less afraid of what might happen to me. When we passed his study door, my curiosity grew stronger.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Here.” He stopped in front of the door a few feet down from his study. “I thought you might like your own space.”
“For what?”
He opened the door and pointed for me to go inside. The room was bright and had the same view of the backyard that his bedroom and study had. I could see the stables in the distance. What a pretty picture that would make.
Once I entered the room, I saw that it was filled with drawing supplies. Large, medium, and small sketch pads, several easels, pencils, paints, and paintbrushes.
“What is all of this?” I walked around the room, inspecting the supplies. Everything was new, untouched, untapped. The possibilities to create were endless on these blank canvases.
“I can’t have my budding artist drawing on bar napkins, so I ordered you some stuff to help you create.” He waved around the room. “If the supplies aren’t right or you need something else, let me know. I can get you whatever you need.”
“This is for me?” I looked around. “All of this?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.” I picked up the medium-size sketch pad and flipped through the blank pages, visualizing it filled with my creations. I wasn’t sure what to say. “I’ve never had anything like this before.”
Why is the man holding me hostage being so kind to me?Our relationship became more confusing every day. No complications, no strings—his words. But why did this gift make me feel like something had shifted between us?
“I didn’t ask if you ever turned your drawings into paintings before. I didn’t know what you preferred, so I bought it all.”
“I painted at school before I had to drop out, and I liked it, but I haven’t picked up a brush in a while.” I glanced at the easel with a blank canvas on it. “This is amazing. It’s like…” I shook my head, because I didn’t want to ruin such a perfect moment with a crappy memory.
“What were you going to say?” He came and stood next to me. “It’s like what?”
