Hot Knights by Rue Allyn & Jaye Shields & JM Stewart

Author:Rue Allyn & Jaye Shields & JM Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Published: 2017-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

With a heavy sigh, Cat leaned her head against her father’s shoulder, a combination of worry and sheer nerves, leaving her stomach a turbulent mess. The two of them stood side by side at the front counter of his small bookshop, staring at the newspaper laid out across the counter.

Most days she loved being here. She always felt the most at home among the books. She loved research and had worked in the library in town until it closed two years ago. Now that she’d quit her job with Nick, working for her father felt like coming home again.

Today, however, Cat wished she could be anywhere else. Unfortunately, her father already had the newspaper out when she entered the shop five minutes ago and had seen the picture on the front page.

His continuing silence proved hell on her sanity. Her father staring at those pictures made her want to crawl in a hole. She enjoyed her night with Michael. Enjoyed how feminine and wanted he made her feel. It had been hers and hers alone. Now it was all over the front page of the town newspaper. Would people remember her mother? Wonder if this meant she’d become just like her? Or would they give her the benefit of the doubt this time? She wasn’t sure she wanted to find out.

“Was he nice to you?”

She turned to her father. His eyes held nothing but gentleness and understanding, but the look did nothing to ease her nerves. “He was a gentleman, yes.”

Her father nodded before turning back to the newspaper. “That’s all that matters.”

She turned to a box of books on the counter and pulled the flaps open. Was it really that simple? Could it be?

“Do you think it’ll affect sales?” She asked more out of a need to fill the uncomfortable silence than an actual need to know.

He let out a quiet laugh, his shoulders shaking. “When you moved into town nine years ago, it actually increased sales. They all came in here to gawk.” Her father joked about it back then, too. He always seemed to take things in stride. Not much ever bothered him. It was a personality trait she wished she shared, but unfortunately she hadn’t been able to laugh about it nine years ago and she couldn’t laugh now, either.

She let out a heavy sigh. “They really are shameless about it, aren’t they?”

Her father threw his arm around her shoulders, drew her gently against his side. “You worry too much, sweetheart. It’s just a kiss.”

“Dad, the entire town now thinks I . . . ” Her cheeks grew hot, the words refusing to leave her mouth. She swallowed and tried again. “They know who Mom was, and this is just another ugly reminder.”

“I should never have let your mother leave with you.” Regret etched from her father’s voice. His hands gripped her shoulders. He turned her toward him and cupped her face in his palms. “You are not your mother, Catherine. Don’t you ever forget that.

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