Only I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I didn’t trust myself alone with her, and based on the way she’d reacted earlier, I knew she was as sweet and innocent as I’d always believed. Kitty had done a damn fine job sheltering her from the world. Emily had never even been kissed before me. And there was no mistaking that knowledge provoked my possessive instinct, made me want to own her in every way possible. Knowing no other man had ever had the pleasure of touching her … it was a powerful thing.
And that acknowledgment was what made my decision for me.
As much as I wanted Emily, I wouldn’t do that to her. She needed time to grow up, time to explore the world and live a little. Come tomorrow, she would get that chance.
With a sigh, I headed into my room, pulling out my phone. I dialed my pilot, told him to be ready to leave in an hour, then called my driver to come back and pick me up. There was no sense staying here any longer. It was obvious Rhett and Kitty were going to do this the hard way.
I grabbed the single suitcase I’d brought, the one I’d never unpacked, just in case. As I stepped out into the hall, I gave Emily’s door one last look.
She would be fine.
No matter what happened with her father and Kitty, I would make sure that she was taken care of.
I only hoped one day she could forgive me.
8
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Emily
I can feel the sun shining onmy face, the warmth urging me awake.
Even as I lay here, eyes closed, I feel different. Older. Wiser.
A knock sounds on my door and I turn my head toward it, smiling. Today is my birthday and already I have a visitor. Someone who wants to wish me a happy birthday, no doubt. Someone coming to shower me with gifts, with love.
“Come in,” I call out, pushing myself to a sitting position in the bed, pulling the comforter over my thighs and smoothing it out.
“Are you decent?” comes the dark thunder of his voice.
I smile, ridiculously happy that he remembered my birthday. “I am, yes.”
“Good. Because I brought you breakfast in bed.” He motions and Elsa, one of the morning staff, steps into the room with a tray of food.
Breakfast in bed? My stomach twists with excitement as I stare at the silver dome, the glass of orange juice, a mug of coffee, and a single white rose in a crystal vase that is set in front of me.
“Thank you,” I say softly as she sets it all up, adjusting everything so that it is perfect.
“You’re very welcome, Miss Emily. I hope you have a lovely birthday.”
Ah. How sweet. Even Elsa remembered.
“This is wonderful,” I say with a smile, peering up at the sexy man looming over me. It’s then I notice the heat in his eyes as he stares back at me. The glimmer I witness connects directly with the warmth that’s been churning inside me all night long. Ever since our dinner last night.
“Happy birthday, Emily,” he says kindly as he moves to take a seat at the end of the bed near my feet.
I stare at his handsome face, swallow the lump of emotion that forms in my throat, and rasp out, “Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome.” He nods at the tray, eases onto the edge of the mattress by my feet. “Now eat.”
How can he expect me to eat when he’s sitting so close, staring at me like that? It doesn’t go unnoticed that we are both sitting on my bed. Sure, there’s a comforter between us, but still. He’s close enough I can touch his warm skin, smell his musky scent.
“If you prefer, I could feed you.”
I narrow my eyes and pick up my fork, poking at the waffle on my plate even as I feel a strange flurry in my belly.
“Did you know that Belgian waffles are my favorite or is it just luck?” I ask, still smiling at him.
