Page 52 of Keeping Kaitlyn

I look at Went.

He doesn’t seem surprised.

“Thanks, Jerard.” Flicking the concierge a quick look, Went refocuses on me. “Let them know we’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Very good, sir.”

As soon as Jerard disappears, I sigh. “Did you know he was coming?”

“For sure?” Reaching for my hand, Went picks it up out of my lap to lace his fingers through mine. “No.”

“But?” There’s abutin there, somewhere. I can hear it.

“But Damien texted me to let me know that your father got back from his trip yesterday and that your parents left the valley, early this morning.” Looking down at our hands, Went, skims the pad of his thumb across the back of mine. “I didn’t want you to worry, so I didn’t say anything, in case it was nothing.”

Nodding my head, I let out a long breath. “Is that what was wrong this morning?”

“One problem at a time, Sunshine.” Standing, he pulls me to my feet. Lifting his other hand, he slides it around the back of my neck, pulling me closer. “Ready to cross offtell my father to fuck offon your bucket list?”

Even though I’m teetering on the edge of a panic attack, I smile. “As ready as I’m going to get.”

“Excellent.” Leaning into me, Went presses his lips to my forehead. “Don’t forget your pen.”

TWENTY-NINE

WENTWORTH

I’d been hopingfor more time.

If I’m being honest, I’d been hoping that Kait’s father would just be glad she was gone and let her go, but I know better. Men like Tom Barrett don’tlet go. They hate to lose and they hate being made to look like a fool even more.

Whether it was my intention or not, that’s exactly what I did when I left and took his daughter with me. I made him look like a fool.

Hands still linked, Kait and I ride the elevator back to the penthouse in silence. When it bobs to a stop, I reach out and press the button to keep the door closed because I need more time. Not because I’m afraid of facing Kait’s father. My mother is Astrid Hawthorne. If I can hold my own with her, I can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone.

No—I’m not afraid of Tom Barrett. I’m afraid because I already know what’s going to happen—he’s going to demand she come home and I don’t know if Kait is strong enough yet to tell him no.

“Went?”

When she says my name, I look down at her and almost say it.

I love you.

I still haven’t said it out loud—not to her—because I listened to my father use those words to control women my entire life and I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to manipulate Kait into staying with me and sayingI love youright now, true or not, would be a manipulation.

“Let’s go downstairs for dinner tonight,” I say instead, nudging my thumb against the wedding band I slipped on her finger a week ago. “We can celebrate our anniversary. You can wear that sexy little black dress Kota talked you into buying.”

She frowns up at me. “People might see you.”

I give her a smile. “I’ll risk it.”

Still frowning like she’s weighing the potential risks, Kait shakes her head. “I don’t?—”

“I want to take my wife to dinner.”

When I say it, the crease in her brow smooths out and she sighs. “Okay.”

My smile shifts into a grin. “Okay.” Dropping my finger away from the button panel, I give her hand another squeeze, just as the elevator doors slide open.

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