Page 81 of Daddy By Design

Nolan slid around me at the bottom of the stairs and my breath stalled as his hand brushed my ass. He met Gideon at the door and from what I could hear, Rob had arrived, as well. Since TJ was more in the know of those kinds of things, I waved on to go talk with all of them.

I’d had a feeling Harriette would show her face, but not so quickly.

Maybe that really had been her secret room. I’d found a diary in the Crescent Cove library, but I hadn’t had time to sit in the archives to read it. Now I was definitely making time for it.

What if there were more in that room?

I sneaked a look over my shoulder. The four of them were outside, deep in conversation about the porch and all manner of structural things.

Maybe I could just go back in there and take a little looksee. I crept back up the stairs, wincing when one of the stairs squeaked. I paused, but when no one came looking for me, I quickly made my way back up to the second landing.

Dammit, where was the lever again?

There were all sorts of intricate carvings in the bookcase. My fingers brushed over something that looked like a pair of acorns and it moved. I heard the latch give and the bookcase opened. I patted my pocket to make sure my phone was in it and slipped inside.

It was a hell of a lot darker this time without the other side open to offer some light. With shaky fingers, I pulled out my phone and put on the torch. Something skittered and I swallowed down a shriek.

Nope, I wouldn’t be thinking about that, thanks.

I followed the turn from before and filtered sunlight tinged in green urged me closer. I pushed open the bookcase that was still partially cracked opened to find the rounded room. It echoed the turret room that I’d found Nolan in before. One of my favorite aspects of the house.

But a secret library?

Could there be anything more amazing?

“Harriette?” I called out. “I don’t mean any harm to your space. In fact, I’ll do whatever I can to make sure no one touches it.”

A book flew toward me, and I ducked.

Not good enough. Got it. “Okay, I’ll make sure of it. Is that all right?”

Nothing came for my head, so I figured we were making headway. Slowly, crept down the spiral staircase. I expected more dust, but it seemed as if this space had been nearly airtight. Or did a ghost do the dusting? A few dust motes swirled on the air in the shafts of light from the above stained glass.

Once I stepped on to the floor, I stared up at the beautiful green and gold glass. Tiny red roses along with tight little rosebuds were interspersed with the intricate stained-glass work. It was a large circular piece with vines spiraling into the center where a baby bassinet was encased with thorns and heavier vines.

I almost didn’t see the cradle until I spotted a tiny clear heart in the center of it.

Instantly, my heart stopped.

The artwork spoke of love and loss and so much grief.

I could feel it in the room. I had to hold onto one of the bookcases as I swayed with the overwhelming pain.

“Oh, Harriette. What happened?”

I crept closer to the bookcases near the leather chair. There were dates on the spines. Each book seemed to be in six month increments and there seemed to be nearly a dozen of them.

“Hellcat! Get the hell out of there!” Nolan stood at the top of the stairs, his fingers gripping the wrought iron railing.

I glanced up at him.

A book slid forward, and my attention shifted to the shelf. July 1876.

I refocused onto Nolan. His midnight eyes went from rage to worry. Quickly, he started down the stairs, but Harriette wasn’t about that. Books flew at him like missiles, each one bigger than the last.

Nolan ducked down on the spiral staircase and covered his head.

“Harriette! Wait.” My hair, which was up in a ponytail, fluttered around me.

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