Page 23 of One Week With My Dad's Best Friend

Scarlett pulls back, her blue eyes wide with panic. “My father. Oh god, what if she tells my father?”

“Hey.” I cup her face between my palms. “Your father needs to know about us, anyway.”

Her mouth drops open. “What?”

“I want you forever, Scarlett. Not just for now, not just in secret.” My thumb traces her bottom lip. “I want a life with you, and that means being honest with everyone, including your father.”

Fresh tears spill down her cheeks, but these aren’t from fear or sadness. Her smile lights up her entire face.

“You mean that?”

“Every word.” I press my forehead to hers. “Now please, go home and rest while I deal with this mess. I need to know you’re safe and taking care of yourself.”

She nods at me. “Okay.”

I don’t want to let her go, but I have to handle Cassandra before she can cause any more damage. Before she can hurt Scarlett again.

“I’ll be home soon,” I promise, kissing her forehead. “Don’t leave the house and don’t answer the door to anyone. Especially Cassandra.”

I pick up my phone and call a driver to take Scarlett home.

“We’ll be fine.” Despite my words, she still looks like she is going to throw up.

“Promise.”

I press a kiss on her lips, murmuring, “I promise.”

My cell chimes with a message that the car is ready.

I press my hand on her lower back and walk with her to the elevator, where we descend to the company car park.

I press a key into her hand. “It’s yours.”

She looks at her hand and nods. I kiss her once more, before I open the car door, and gesture for her to go inside.

As the car starts, Scarlett casts one last look at me before the door clicks shut with her inside it.

I want to follow her home and hold her. First, I have an ex-wife to deal with.

I shake hands with my client. I’ve spent the rest of the day in and out of meetings, at the same time I’ve been on edge. I know Cassandra’s words have worried Scarlett and now all I want to do is get out of the office and make sure she is okay.

“Mr. Hawthorn.” I turn to my secretary Penny as she catches me as I leave my last meeting. “Your wife... sorry your ex-wife has tried to contact you three times and now she is going to your home. I tried to tell her you were in meetings all day, but she wouldn’t take my word for it.”

“Reschedule my last appointment, please. I need to deal with her.”

She nods, but I’m already pacing back to my office. I need to get home because Cassandra is dangerous when stoked and I have the feeling I lit that fire.

I thought I made my feelings quite clear. But perhaps I shouldn’t have gotten a car to take Scarlett home. I should have kept her close to me.

After I finish as much as I can manage, I grab my keys and call my driver.

I need to get home as quickly as I can. I can’t let Cassandra ruin what I have with Scarlett. I know my angel will run if she gets scared. That’s her coping mechanism because of her terrible father.

It doesn’t take me long to get to my car and travel the short distance home. Cassandra isn’t there. At least her car isn’t. I pull into the garage and walk into the house.

“Scarlett,” I shout. There’s no reply and blood rushes through my veins at what Cassandra could have told her. I shout hername again as I throw my suit jacket on the back of a chair and search around.

“Scarlett.” This time my voice is a bellow, and I’m almost scared to turn the corner. “Scarlett. Are you home, beautiful?” I shout, and I put all the power I can behind those words.

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