Her heart began to thud.Her gaze dashed around the room and landed on her laptop on the coffee table.Spread out around it was her presentation and all the supporting documentation for her used-toy concept.It had to be a sign.This was her chance.This was her opportunity to show him what she could really do.
“Your brothers and sisters…” Julian tossed his hands in the air.“They try, but they’re young.Inexperienced.But you…” He picked up the crystal paperweight from off the mantel.He turned it over in his hands and scowled in distaste.Setting it back over the fireplace, he crossed his arms over his broad chest.“Come home, Alexandra.”
Lexie’s excitement froze as her gaze stuck on the paperweight.The beautiful, multifaceted crystal.He’dscowled.
“Lexie?”
She pulled her gaze away from the mantel.“What about me?”
“Excuse me?”
“They’re young and inexperienced, but what am I?”
He frowned again, and something sour pinched in her chest.
“You’re hardworking and dependable.”He waved his hand as if they needed to move things along.“Come back, sweetheart.Together, we’ll put our company back on its feet.”
She stared at him for a long, quiet moment.“I’m not coming back, Father.”
This time the endearment came out easily—and so did her decision.She unclenched her hands from behind her back and wrapped her arms more lightly around her waist.The moment the words were out, she knew it was for the best.As hard as she’d fought Cam, he was right.She needed to move on.The hurt in her chest eased.She watched Julian standing in the middle of her bunker, her secret hiding place, and was no longer uncomfortable having him there.
“It’s time I ventured out on my own,” she said more steadily.
The color that had been brightening his cheeks faded.“This is about the disagreement we had.”
“No, not really.”She realized she meant that.For once, she wasn’t trying to play peacemaker.The fact that he thought what had happened between them on that veranda had been a simple disagreement showed how little they really understood each other.“It’s time for me to spread my wings.Every child has to strike out on their own eventually.It will be good for me to work someplace other than the family business.”
“But I don’t want you to go.”
She blinked and then swallowed hard.Finally.He was finally talking about himself rather than the company or the family, but the emotion in his voice was so raw it made her want to give in.For him, she normally would have.For herself, she held firm.“It’s just work.I’ll always love you and Anne Marie.I’m upset with you, yes, but I hope you’ll still consider me part of the family.”
His mouth compressed.To him, work and family were inseparable.“Fine.Go out and explore, but you can come back when you need to—or want to.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.“You’ll have my written resignation in the morning.”
A muscle in his cheek flexed, but then he nodded.His footsteps were heavy as he crossed the room.The three steps up to the entryway seemed to take more out of him than he had.Walking towards her, he straightened his tie.“You’ll still have your seat on the Board.I’ll expect you there for meetings.”
“Of course.”
He pulled the door open but stopped when he was halfway through.“I’m sorry I…” He cleared his throat.“I’m sorry I couldn’t be the man you wanted me to be.”
She frowned, thrown by the statement.“What do you mean?”
He glanced over his shoulder, and this time the pain in his eyes was clear.“After we brought you home, you always seemed to pull away from me.I didn’t know that splitting you apart from your sis— Well, I always thought it was me.”
Tears pricked at Lexie’s eyes.“I don’t understand.”
“You’re having trouble calling me Father now.”His blue gaze wavered.“But once we adopted you, you never called me Daddy again.”
Chapter Fourteen
Julian Underhill was a piece of work.
Cam stared at the ceiling as Lexie slept in bed beside him.The penthouse was quiet as she lay tucked up against him, all soft curves and warm flesh.The moon glowed through the slits in the blinds, and the cool light illuminated the bed.It made her dark hair shine almost blue.He slid his fingers through the soft waves and felt his own body stir.
He’d loved her long and slow after she’d told him about her father’s visit.She’d needed the patience and the attention.She’d neededhim.
His fingers tightened in her hair, but he made them relax.He hadn’t thought that Julian would have the audacity to come here to the penthouse.He hadn’t even realized the bastard knew where he was staying, but to come here when he’d known she’d be alone?The man might be her father according to the law, but Cam still wanted to protect her.From what she’d told him, though, she’d done just fine on her own.
