Page 20 of Touch My Shelves

I can’t stand to see the worry on her little face and then her lower lip begins to tremble. “Yes, she’ll be fine, but I need you to understand this could have had an entirely different ending. Someone could have been seriously hurt or worse.”

With her lower lip still quivering, she nods. “Yes, sir. I won’t go to the caves again.”

I glance at the nearly empty bottle on my desk. “Tell me about this bottle?”

Her eyes light. “It’s treasure the pirates left. At least I think so. The first time I went down the tunnel, I found them. There’s a lot more.”

I pick the bottle up and turn it in my hands. It’s old, but I have no idea of its exact age. Rum has never been my drink of choice. “Did you open any of them?”

Her hair flies as she shakes her head. “No. I opened one of the crates but there was just bottles inside. I bet pirates hid the crates down there.”

I can’t disprove that theory. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

I’ll contact the treasure hunting crew. They should know about the bottles at least. I don’t even want to think of bootleggers using my land to store their alcohol. The bottle looks old enough that I don’t think this batch was spirited away anytime in the last few decades.

“Daddy, is Poppy going to leave?” Freeya asks.

She should… but not for the reason my daughter thinks. After her trip down the tunnel, she might leave on her own. Putting two and two together, I can deduce what really happened. Most of the blame lies at my daughter’s feet. “I don’t know, sweetie. After what happened to her, I’m not sure she will want to stay.”

Her blue eyes grow large and fill with sorrow. “Can I see her? I’ll apologize and tell her how sorry I am. I really like Poppy and I don’t want her to leave.”

I look at my suddenly remorseful child. She hasn’t been this connected to a nanny since Lena. Another reason I need to get myself under control where Poppy is concerned.

A smile plays around the corner of my lips. After Poppy threw up on me, she’d passed out cold. From the overindulgence of rum or from the fright of covering me in her stomach’s contents, I’m not certain.

During the time it took for me to carry her from the cave to the castle, she’d woken briefly and the things that came out of her mouth, in another context, would have been hot as hell. I chalked them up to drunken, unfiltered ramblings. Just like that night in the alley. She’d hoped I could find her clit then too. I assured her I could. Pity she won’t remember.

“I suggest you wait for Poppy to get up and shower before you talk to her. Whether she stays or goes is up to her. Now, for your part in this fiasco, Freeya, we’ve talked about this before. You know going into a dark and potentially dangerous cave is wrong. And evidently that cave is one you often visit since you planted a flashlight by the entrance. From now on, the cave is off-limits. To make it clear,allcaves are off-limits.”

She sniffles and nods. “Yes, Daddy.”

“I love you, Freeya, and it scares me to think of you getting hurt and needing me, and I’d have no idea where you are. If you’d fallen down that tunnel and broken a leg, you could have died there and I never would have known what happened to you.”

She swallowed. “I won’t go near the caves anymore, Daddy. I promise. I won’t go anywhere without Poppy.”

I’m not sure that makes me feel much better.

There’s a knock at the door. “Come in,” I call out and I’m stunned when the door opens and Poppy stands cautiously in the doorway. The fact that she is up and—judging by the damp state of her hair—showered is astonishing. I thought she’d sleep it off til noon.

Tentatively, she steps inside with slow, careful movements. Her face is a few shades lighter than ash and tinged with green. Her usual vivid blue eyes are glassy and bloodshot. I know she’s feeling it this morning. Freeya runs to her and wraps her arms around Poppy, who winces and gingerly returns the hug.

I decide to take pity on her. “Freeya, go ask Chef to serve your breakfast. I’ll be there soon.”

“But, Daddy…”

“Not now, sweetie. You can talk to Poppy later. Go on now.” Reluctantly she leaves, but not without giving Poppy another hug, which causes Poppy to swallow deeply.

With delicate steps, Poppy takes the seat Freeya vacated. I turn to the sideboard and pour a cup of coffee and set it on the desk in front of her. Her hands shake as she reaches for it.

“Thank you,” she says softly. “And thanks for the ibuprofen and water on my bedside table.”

I wait for her to take a few sips before saying, “I didn’t think you’d be up this early.”

She swallows the mouthful of coffee before placing the cup back on the table with two unsteady hands and raising her red-rimmed eyes to me.

CHAPTER 7

POPPY

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