Seeking Refuge by Lenora Worth

Author:Lenora Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Love Inspired
Published: 2020-07-20T16:13:06+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Josie’s worst nightmare had come true. Now Tobias would know her dark secret and her great shame. Would she have to leave again and never see her family? Give up on seeing Dinah grow up? Or, worse, would Drew’s parents take Dinah and never let her return to them?

“Josie?”

She looked up and into Tobias’s eyes. He deserved the truth. She would hurt him again, but at least he could move on knowing he had done nothing wrong.

Tobias pulled up a chair and took her hands into his. “You have to tell me everything.”

“I do not want to, but, yes, now I have no choice.”

“What did he do?” Tobias asked, the tone of his voice edged with anger.

Josie took in a shuddering breath. “It was at that big party at his house a few weeks before Christmas. He always flirted with me and said vile things about you and me and how we were so square and not cool.”

Tobias’s hands squeezed hers. “I told him not to tease you in that way. What else did he do?”

When she tried to look away, Tobias touched a finger to her chin so she had to look into his eyes. “Tell me.”

She took in another gulp of air, her lungs burning with the need to scream, her heartbeat throbbing through her pulse. “He gave me a glass of punch then told me you were looking for me.” She stopped, the memories as bright as the red geraniums blooming in a huge pot by the pool. “He pointed to the back of the house, so I went to find you. He followed me.”

Tobias let go of her hands and stood, his elbows bent, his hands on his hips. “What did he do, Josie?”

“The drink had something in it. I only took one or two sips, but it made me dizzy and I felt sick. He pushed me into a room and... I couldn’t get away, Tobias. I couldn’t get away.”

Tobias stared at her as if he hadn’t heard correctly. But realization covered him in a rush of bright anger that darkened his cheeks and changed his expression into a hard-edged, grisly acceptance. He backed away and went to the glass door leading out onto the terrace.

Leaning his forehead against the glass, he shuddered. “No,” he said, his voice rising. “No.”

Josie held her hands to her face, her head falling as she tried to hide her shame and the horror of what had happened. The vivid memories she’d tried so hard to bury came back in full-forced clarity. “I’m sorry. I did not want you to know. I couldn’t tell you.”

“So you left me?” he said, his voice rising as he turned to face her. “You left me and let me believe the worst—that you didn’t love me, that I had failed you?”

“I had no choice,” she said, her body numb with pain and grief. “I had no choice. I didn’t think you’d love me anymore if you knew.”

He stood pressed against the door in the same way she’d stood when she’d gone to see him in her old home.

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