Page 65 of I Would Beg For You

My eye is now twitching. Doesn’t he care? How can he think of food and cooking right now?

He presses his hands on the counter, leans on his forearms, then shakes his head and comes my way.

His hands settle on my shoulders, and he peers into my eyes.

A lick of fear erupts from the base of my spine, slithering its way up. There’s no expression on his face. His eyes are dead. It feels threatening, like he’s going to shake me like a rag doll next.

“Are you okay?” he asks softly.

I have to blink to register his words. My focus also breaks on his expression, and I can see concern in his eyes, in the deep eleven-lines in between his furrowed brows.

“No,” I mumble. “Of course not.”

“Oh, darling.” He pulls me into a hug.

I don’t resist, and I melt against him. “He has to go, Dad.”

My words come out muffled against his shirt. He runs a hand over my back.

“Of course, my girl. You won’t have to see him again.”

He put me first! I want to jump around in joy and vindication. Suddenly, I feel like a little girl again. Daddy’s precious little girl. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t make right when I was younger. Except for bringing my mother back, that is.

I stiffen when I think of her. He pulls away at my reaction. His face is rife with worry, body tensing up.

I turn away and flop onto the booth. He comes sit opposite me.

“What did he do?”

I blink. I can’t tell him in detail how that pig assaulted me.

My expression must’ve conveyed my thoughts, because he lifts his hands up in a placating gesture.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make you relive that. It’s just…”

I frown. “You can’t believe it?”

He sighs. “Frankly, no—”

Fury rips up like an instant storm inside me. Anya was right. I can’t believe it!

“So, it’s my word against his?”

“No!” He looks aghast now. “Well, Thad assured me he loves you. He asked my permission tocourtyou. That’s why I allowed him so much into our house.”

I shake my head. “And you didn’t think to ask what I want?”

“I…I thought it would be harmless. I never thought…”

“You seriously thought I would fall for him? That I’d marry him?”

“I…He’s not your type?”

“No!” He sounded so baffled asking this question, I almost laughed aloud.

He frowns now. “Naomi, is there someone?”

“Hmm?”

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