Page 28 of Royal Surrogate 2

“Indeed,” I say, attempting to step around Renae, but she juts an arm across the doorway, blocking my path.

“Over my dead body,” she seethes. “I told you I wanted some space.”

“And I’ve given it to you,” I say. “Seven days’ worth.” I nod at her father over her shoulder. “We’ve taken plenty of time apart, and now it’s time for us to reconcile.”

I doubt that her father can hear the near-growling sound she makes as she glares up at me. If she didn’t look as though she might tear out my jugular, I’d lean down and kiss her.

“Renae, why don’t you give us a few minutes?” her father says from his bed as he turns the television off with the remote control. “I have a few things I’d like to say to this man.”

“I have a few things I’d like to say, too,” she says, almost under her breath. She glares up at me for another moment before something softens in her gaze. “Fine. I was going to go across the street to the bakery over there anyway. Can I get you anything while I’m there?”

“A scone would be delightful,” I say. “Or any pastry, really. I couldn’t eat on the flight over?—”

I try not to wince when her foot stomps on mine, but she doesn’t even acknowledge my words. “Dad?”

“Sure, one of those fancy filled pastries would be great. And you can bring our starving friend here something, too.”

“He doesn’t need to eat,” she growls up at me before turning back to her father. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. Text me if…”

Her father laughs. “You think I can’t take him? Even with these puny little legs of mine, I’d give him the beatdown of his life. I don’t think any of us doubt that, do we?” He looks between Renae and me.

All I can do is give him a slight shake of my head. The man really does look as though he could kill me—perhaps not so much with his physical strength as with his determination. And why wouldn’t he? I betrayed his daughter’s trust. I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same if someone hurt Renae.

Renae seems satisfied with this and leaves her father and me alone in the room. It takes a moment, but the man finally motions to the chair beside his bed.

I nod and walk over to him, extending my hand. “It’s good to meet you, sir. I’m?—”

“I know who you are,” he interrupts. “Sit.” He nods toward the chair without taking my hand.

I do as I’m told, sitting beside him. “I presume Renae told you about our…troubles?—”

“You don’t have any troubles,” he says, staring up at the dark screen of the turned-off television. “Not really. You had a misunderstanding. Communication issue. Nothing a conversation couldn’t have solved.”

My mouth falls open, and I’m certain I look as though I’m a fish out of water, my mouth opening and closing. It isn’t often that I’m at a loss for words, but I certainly am now.

“You seem like a good fellow, Caspar. I know what you did.” He stares at the blank screen for another long moment before turning to me. “With the whole rehab payment thing.”

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” I say. It isn’t a complete lie. The payment for his rehabilitation came from Renae—technically speaking, of course.

“I know this facility had a waiting list a million miles long.” He shrugs. “I guess if you don’t want to take credit for helping make that a little shorter for a guy like me, then don’t. You don’t have a whole lot else going for you at this point, though.”

I frown. “I may have made a call. Perhaps two. It was nothing.”

“It was something,” he says. “And it’s probably the only thing that’s keeping me from reaching over and strangling you right now, you know that, right?”

“I suppose I have some idea, yes.” I rub at the back of my neck. I suppose I hadn’t realized how close I was to being murdered, so all the better that I had the idea of helping her father a few months ago.

“Good. You hurt my little girl again, and I will kill you. This was your one get-out-of-jail-free card, you got that?”

I gulp, nodding.

“Did you cheat on her?”

“No, sir. I would never.”

“Good. You better keep it that way.”

I’m silent for a moment. The thought of cheating on Renae makes me physically ill somehow. The thought ofherbeing with anyone else is even worse.

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