Page 41 of The Widower
The calm, almost gentle way he said it threw me off completely. It was—dare I say—kind of sweet.
“What?” he asked when he caught me staring at him for a bit too long.I was trying to figure out why he’d been so open, so willing to talk. In my opinion, he missed talking about his daughter—but knowing him, he’d never admit that out loud.
“I just thought you’d bite my head off for asking.”
“That’s exactly what you deserved for asking something that personal. But, like I said, you would’ve asked it anyway at another time.”
“I can—”
“You can’t,” he cut me off. “The Q&A session’s over. Like I told you, I’ve got work to do, and I don’t want to be interrupted. Was I clear?”
“Yes. Got it.”
It would’ve been wishful thinking to expect him to open up any further. I know I tend to expect too much from people—but hearing Colin talk, even a little, about his family… gave me hope for something I couldn’t quite name.
CHAPTER 10
“Sometimes all we need is a kind word to make everything fall into place…”
COLIN ADAMS
I’d been tense all morning, buried in work.
Even the things that used to give me pleasure were now testing my patience.
“Damn it, Colin!” I snapped at myself, frustration boiling over. I didn’t know what else to do—if I didn’t finish this part of James’s project, everything that came next would fall apart.
I decided to take a shower, hoping it might help me calm down. But the moment the water hit my skin, my mind drifted straight to Isabelle.
Why does she keep showing up in my head? I can’t stand how easily she slips in, how impossible it is to block her out even in my own home.
Our first kiss never should’ve happened. Nor the second. Maybe not even the third…
I’m losing control. I had to threaten her job just to make her stay at a safe distance. It’s not the right thing to do—but it’s the only way this won’t destroy us both.
It has to be.
I thought back to her questions this morning. Sometimes Isabelle’s curiosity drives me crazy; my eyes and my face give me away every time. But deep down, I know she doesn’t mean any harm. She actually cares.
“What an idiot,” I muttered, looking up at the ceiling, my chest tightening with anger. “Thinking anyone actually gives a damn about me.”
And once again, I felt that familiar sting of being left behind—by him, of all people.
I tried to keep working, but the block was still there, hanging over me like a fog I couldn’t shake. It’s been this way ever since... well, that’s obvious enough.
Three knocks hit the door of my room. That kind of knock always means one thing—someone from the staff needs to talk to me.
“Come in.”
Jeanne, one of the housekeepers, stepped inside, pale as paper and clearly uncomfortable, her eyes fixed anywhere but on me. I know I come off as a monster most of the time—I can’t even blame her for it.
“What is it?” I asked, watching her tremble.
“Uh... it’s just that... the girl... she’s asking for you.”
I narrowed my eyes, and Jeanne flushed even redder, fumbling with her words.
“The girl...?”
