The Unknown Daughter by Anna DeStefano

Author:Anna DeStefano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

CARRINNE STOOD before Eric, shaking, watching her worst nightmare come to life. His anger, his outrage, were everything she’d expected. His determination to see Maggie a forgone conclusion.

“Is something wrong?” Nina asked as she stepped to Carrinne’s side.

“No.” Carrinne gave Eric a pointed stare, praying he wouldn’t reveal Maggie’s existence to Nina or anyone else until they’d settled things. “But the sheriff and I need to discuss something in private.”

“Why don’t you use your grandfather’s study,” Nina offered. “I’ll have some lunch ready around noon.”

Carrinne picked up their daughter’s picture. Her stomach knotted as Eric’s eyes burned holes straight through her.

“All right.” He swept his arm in the direction of the kitchen door, waiting for her to lead the way.

Carrinne somehow got her legs moving. Eric was an angry presence behind her as they walked back through the dining room, toward the front of the house. Was it just a few hours ago that she’d begun to relax around him? They’d discussed being friends. They’d kissed like lovers.

All that was over now. Forever.

They stepped inside her grandfather’s study, and the grandeur of the room brought her to a halt. The ancient mahogany desk was still as solid and unbending as its owner. Large bay windows offered some of the best views of the property’s magnificent gardens. And the walls. They were still lined with shelves, covered in books. It was the books that called to her more than anything else. They tempted her with escape. Reminded her of the worlds and dreams she’d left behind. Fantasies that had fed her when she was a child, and destroyed her when she’d finally grown up.

Eric shut the door behind them, leaning against it. “We have our privacy. Now what?”

“I don’t want Nina or anyone else to overhear us.” She walked around the desk and sat, running her hands over its gleaming surface. The chair’s butter-soft leather surrounded her as she drew up her feet and curled them beneath her. “You have to understand. A revelation like this would destroy Maggie.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly. You think our child would be traumatized by having me as a father.” His clipped words were menacing in their softness. “I assume your grandfather’s known I’m the father all this time. He knew when he demanded you terminate the pregnancy.”

“Yes, he knew. After the way we flaunted our relationship, it’s not like there was much doubt. And yes, I didn’t tell you because back then I was afraid of what kind of father you’d be.” No use avoiding the cold, hard facts at this point. She cleared her voice. “But I know differently now. I’ve seen what you sacrificed for Tony. How you stuck it out here and gave him everything he needed. You’ve been wonderful for him.”

She could sense him processing her words. He remained at the door, his distrust more of a distance between them than the five feet separating them. She had to make him understand.

“You always wanted to be anywhere but here,” she said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.