She wrapped her arms around him, feeling comfort and anger and a million other emotions, too many to count. Too many to handle.
She belonged here, with him. And Charlotte. How could he not see that?
“I know, sweetheart,” Noah said. “I know how hard this is for you. I don’t mean to be cruel, but the news vans are outside, and?—”
“Are you kidding me!” She wrenched out of his arms and stepped back. “Is that what this is about?” Her voice was too loud and she didn’t care. “You’re going to break my heart—and Charlotte’s—because of your fear of scandal? Your niece has beenkidnappedbecause of that stupid merger, and now you’re worried my being here is going to…what? Cost you a little money?”
His eyes filled with ice. “You really think I care about that right now?”
“Apparently, if you’re sending me away.”
He pressed his lips closed so tightly they paled. He breathed in through his nose. Finally, he blew the breath out. “Delaney, do you really think so little of me?”
She didn’t know what to think. She swiped her fingers across her cheeks to remove the moisture, though her tears continued to fall.
He stepped close again and reached for her.
She crossed her arms, not willing to give in to him when he was being so cruel.
He ducked to meet her eyes. “I care about you. You know that, right?”
She’d thought so, but now, she didn’t know what to think.
“What happened to Charlotte…it’s killing me. It’s all I can think about. But in the back of my mind, humming like a song I can’t get out of my head, is the fact that I care about you, too, and everybody knows it.”
“So what? Is that so awful?”
“What if they hurt you?” His voice broke. “What if they try to take you too? I can’t…” He swallowed hard, staring into her eyes as if to impart some important knowledge.
Suddenly, she understood.
He wasn’t trying to get rid of her. He was trying to protect her.
“Please.” He gripped her elbows and stepped closer, lowering his forehead to hers. “Please go home where you’ll be safe until this all blows over. If I’m afraid for your safety, I won’t be able to think straight.”
“But I love Charlotte too.” She squeaked the words through her tight throat. “I need to be here?—”
“I know you do, and as soon as she’s safe and her kidnappers are in custody, you can come back. But until then, please?”
She didn’t want to leave. She desperately didn’t want to leave.
“Do you promise to take care of yourself?”
His lip twitched at the corner, a smile that said he knew he’d won the battle. “You know I’ll try.”
She also knew he’d do whatever it took to get Charlotte back, even if it meant putting himself in danger.
“I’ll go if you promise to keep me updated.”
“I promise.” He pulled her into another hug and whispered in her ear. “I love the way you love, Delaney Wright. I love the way you…are.”
Love. He’d used the word more than once. He hadn’t told her he loved her, but…but was that what he meant?
Could he possibly return her feelings?
She stepped back to meet Noah’s eyes. Even if this was love, now wasn’t the time for declarations. “Charlotte will never be far from my mind or out of my prayers, and neither will you.”
He embraced her again, and she melted against him. Yes, this was love, much stronger and deeper than anything she’d felt for Owen. Noah was a good man.
