Page 22 of Her Fiance’s Father

But just as I’m about to step back off the elevator, a voice comes over the speaker. Robert’s voice.

“Where are you going, angel?” I can hear the smile on his lips. “Step back inside.”

He’s hypnotic. My legs move on their own, backing up onto the elevator. “Robert?”

“Look up.”

I do and find myself staring at a screen with his face on it. A live-stream from his office in the penthouse. His eyes are so focused and intent, filled with just the right amount of tenderness, that I start melting. “Even on this tiny screen you’re gorgeous.”

Emotions spin through me like a blender on high speed. On one hand, his words go straight to my heart, warming me all over. But on the other hand, I still can’t shake what Clarice said. About Robert just wanting me as arm candy.

“It won’t let me up,” I tell him.

He smiles. “I will.”

His hand finds a button on his desk, and the elevator doors shut. The elevator begins to rise, and my heartrate rises with it. By the time I reach the penthouse, I’m actually sweating. I’m nervous. I have to ask Robert for the truth, but I don’t want to. I just want things to keep going like they have been. Can’t they?

The doors slide open to reveal bags and boxes and racks of clothing. I instantly recognize some of the dresses we picked out yesterday.

“It arrived right after you left.” Robert smiles as he slides up to me and slips his arm around my waist. My cheeks blaze, and goosebumps spread all over. His touch still lights me on fire.

He leans close and gently wraps his lips around my earlobe. Pointing to the dresses, he whispers, “I can’t wait to see you in some of those.”

He’s impossible to resist. I’m this close to throwing myself into his arms and letting him have his way with me.

But then Clarice’s snake-like voice hisses in my head, and I tear myself away. He stares at me, confused, as tears stream down my cheeks. I’m panting, gasping for breath as my mind forces me to watch every possible doomsday scenario of our relationship play like it’s actually happening.

“Katie, what’s wrong?”

“I’m not just…” My voice trails off before I can finish my sentence. This is crazy. I’m on the verge of a breakdown when less than an hour ago, I could barely even bring myself to leave the penthouse.

But my mind will not stop torturing me.

I close my eyes, but it just gets worse. So I open them again and look back at Robert through the blurred world caused by my tears.

“Katie, what is it?” he asks again. I can hear the concern in his voice. This is a disaster. Why did I have to run into Clarice?

“Robert…” Don’t say anything. Just hug him. That’s what I tell myself, but I just can’t. I have to know. I have to be sure. “I’m not just…arm candy, am I?”

A genuine look of disbelief comes over his face. His shoulders roll back as he examines me like he’s just been asked an unanswerable question.

“Arm candy?” he repeats. “Katie, what are you asking me?”

My jaw is trembling. So are my legs. I’m on the verge of collapse.

“When I was at Kyle’s house…I saw Clarice—”

“Oh God,” Robert groans. “And let me guess, she said something terrible to you?”

“You could say that.” I nod. “She said you don’t really care about women. About me. And that you just want a young girl as arm candy that you can take to events and…and show off.”

Shaking his head, Robert takes a step closer. My instinct is to back away, but this time, I let him. Even now, in this pivotal moment, I can’t stop myself from letting him in. Letting him closer. That’s the kind of hold Robert has on me.

“Katie, you are beautiful,” he says firmly, his voice filled with sincerity. It fills me like sparkling gold. “But you’re so much more than that.”

My cheeks smart with pins and needles. I know I’m red as a tomato as I look up at him, my eyes drooping with vulnerable expectation.

“Really?”