Page 24 of Mine to Keep

“Yes.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her down the stairs. She caught sight of his father in the older man’s office doorway. She couldn’t understand the peculiar look in the man’s eyes. She looked up at Roland to find he hadn’t spotted Warren yet.

Roland stopped when they came to the main floor, turned, and kissed her passionately.

“I’ll see you later. Come to me if you need anything.”

Laila smiled and watched him walk away. She caught a glance at Warren and found he almost looked furious as he watched his son walk away. Now, why in the world would he be mad? She would bring it up to her husband later that night.

“There you are,” Betsy said when she walked into the kitchen. “Do you still have time to bake?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Betsy handed her an apron before they got to work. Any thought about Warren disappeared from her head.

Chapter Eleven

Laila walked into Roland’s office. Her husband wasn’t at his desk, so she set the papers down that she wanted him to look at. She had wanted to talk to him to see what had been bothering him over the last few weeks. He still made love to her every night, but she could sense he was holding a part of himself back. His standoffish attitude hurt worse than she ever thought it could.

She turned to leave and gasped at the man standing on the other side of the room.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there,” she said and pressed a hand to her heart. She forgot the man’s name, but the few times she’d had to be in his presence, he had given her the creeps because of the way he watched her. She had never told Roland that because she hoped never to see the man again.

“Ah, I’m so glad I could see you,” he said in a smooth, dark tone. “I was hoping I’d be able to catch sight of you.”

Laila ignored his comment. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name,” she said.

She caught the flash of anger before he hid it. She was stunned by it and didn’t understand.

“It’s Julian Buchanan.”

“Okay. Hello. My husband should be here soon. Have a good day.”

She was a few feet from the door when Julian grabbed her upper arm and stopped her.

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “Let me go.”

Julian closed the door. “Not until I get a kiss. I want to feel your lips, even if it’s just once.”

She looked at him, horrified. “No!” she shouted.

He pulled her against his body and held onto her tightly. She fought and tried to scratch him, but he was too strong. Hegripped her face to hold it steady as his head descended.

“Roland will kill you. Let me go.”

She couldn’t stop the tears from sliding down her face as his lips touched her. She felt bile climb up her throat as she continued to fight. She used her fists and legs to try to hurt him as much as possible.

Julian pushed her away from him when the office door slammed against the wall.

Laila pressed on her stomach with one hand and wiped the tears with the other. She had never been so relieved in her life.

“I tried to push her away when she came at me,” Julian said as he smoothed his clothing.

Her mouth dropped open. “What? No!” She looked at her husband and saw distrust and an emotion she’d never seen before. It was a dark, blistering look, and it made her stomach cramp in fear. “Roland, he’s lying.”

“Go to our room,” Roland demanded.

“God, you can’t believe I’d do something like that,” she cried.

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