Embracing the Wolf (Ritter Werewolves #2)(24)
Author: Catherine Bybee

“You didn’t think I was asking you to leave did you?”

“Well…”

Richard lowered his mouth to hers, wiping the worry from her face. Her hands clenched his shirt and her lips parted to accept his probing tongue.

She was honey, thick and sweet. He could taste her all day and never bore.

He reluctantly moved away when he hardened.

“We can finish that later,” he promised.

A light knock on the door turned their attention to James. “I’m sorry to interrupt. There’s a Mr.

Davis at the gate to see Miss Kate.” Kate’s hand went instantly still and cold in his.

Pivoting, he brought both her hands to his. “You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to.” Sending him a quick shake of her head she said,

“It’s okay. I knew this day would come eventually.” Richard nodded to James who left to let Kate’s father onto the property.

She shuddered and took a deep breath.

“I could send him away.”

“No. I could use a minute. Would you mind

showing him in?”

Oh, wouldn’t I? “No problem.” I’d like to give Mr.

Davis a piece of my mind. Maybe even give the man Kate’s current address and ask if he would allow his dog to live there, let alone his daughter and grandson.

He turned to leave.

“Richard?”

“Yes?”

“Stay with me… when I’m talking to him.

Please?”

Saddened by the forlorn expression on her face he stepped to her side, took her hands in his again, and kissed her fingertips. “I won’t leave you.” The chime of the front door told them both that he stood outside.

“Take your time.” ****

Her hands shook while she splashed water on her face. Why was he here? What could he want? She leaned against the cold porcelain pondering the thoughts while the water ran freely into the sink.

She had to pull it together. This self-defeating behavior would get her nothing but heartache.

Pushing away from the counter, she cut the water off and reached for a towel.

Looking into the mirror, Kate saw the seventeen-year-old girl she once was, pregnant, scared and completely alone. Her father’s voice booming over the halls, he laid blame for the pregnancy squarely on the shoulders of her mother.

“It’s your fault! She never would have ended up this way if you didn’t choose that stupid charity to dedicate so much time too.”

“Calm down, Jack. She can go away to have the baby and return after the adoption. Everything will be fine.”

“See what I mean. You’re talking about our daughter, Elizabeth. Not some whore on the street

that has babies like cattle.”

“Stop yelling. She’ll hear you.” Kate lay on her bed sobbing into the pillow while her parents went at it.

“I don’t care. She is just as irresponsible as you.” Jack slammed the door. Footsteps pounded in the hall as her mother chased after him.

“Well maybe if you were around once in a while instead of hung up at your precious office all the time, you could have been more of a father for her.

Maybe she wouldn’t have slept with the first boy who showed her some attention. Don’t lay this at my door.”

Kate pressed her eyes closed and shook the painful memories from her head. She was twenty-four years old. The time had come for her to face her demons. Below her the wooden floors creaked, she cast a pained glance at the floor. One of those demons was currently downstairs talking with her lover.

She dried her hands, straightened her shoulders, and left the sanctuary of her room.

Jack Davis’s voice traveled up the stairs, stopping her in place. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Once I learned who you were, I saw no need to own any stock in your company.” Richards’s voice was thinly controlled. The tension in the room grew thick. “Do you have any idea how your daughter has been living, Mr. Davis. Where your daughter has been living?”

Kate’s eyes widened and her hand flew to her throat in surprise.

“If it wasn’t for the newspaper article I wouldn’t have found her,” Jack said.

“Right.”

Kate’s feet moved faster. She hurried downstairs. The sounds of her steps echoed on the hard floors. From the steps, she could see into the living room. Her father stood by the door. Richard

gave him very little room and appeared as if he was about to pounce on the man.

His desire to protect her sent a small shimmer of pride straight to her heart. Still, she didn’t want him coming to blows with her dad. Stepping off onto the floor, the boards squeaked announcing her presence.

Jack’s head popped up. He had aged. His dark hair now sprinkled with grey and silver. His eyes narrowed when they found her watching them.

Kate swallowed the lump in her throat and with an unsteady voice said, “Hi, Daddy.” His shoulders slumped. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came.

Finding strength in Richard’s eyes, Kate stopped beside him. He laced his fingers with hers, giving no doubt as to their relationship to her father.

“I see you’ve met Richard.”

“Yes, yes I have.” The mighty Jackson Davis skirted his eyes to Richard. “Would you mind if I spoke to my daughter… alone.”

Kate felt Richards’s fingers grip hers.

“Anything you have to say can be said in front of Richard,” she told him.

“Very well. Can we sit?”

The three of them moved over to the two large sofas that sat in front of a massive fireplace dominating the room.

Jack stared at them both.

“Why are you here?” Kate asked after a minute of awkward silence.

“I wanted to see you. Make sure you were all right.”

Was that concern in his voice, or were her ears playing tricks on her.

“I’m fine.”

“I read in the paper that you were shot.” She glanced down at her arm, which only wore a large bandage at this point. “It was nothing serious.”

“Good.”

Odd, her father, the master negotiator, owner, and CEO of one of the largest companies in Southern California was reduced to one word sentences.

He was just as frazzled as she was.

“Why are you really here?”

“Can’t a father check on his daughter?”

“You lost that right when you shunned me,” she snapped

“You ran away.”

“I wasn’t going to give up my baby.”