Page 30 of One Week With My Dad's Best Friend

She wouldn’t go there.

Would she?

I slam the car into gear and speed down the road. Her walk from my home to the house would take half an hour, but it’s only minutes away by car.

The wipers across the window-screen flash in front of me as I check every person I pass. But don’t see my angel.

I reach the street her parents live on and slow my speed to not draw attention from the nosey neighbors. After parking my car on the road just outside the house, I scan the windows to see if I see light.

My hand holds the handle as I shut the car door with a low thud and walk across the gravel pathway, trying to recall the alarm code correctly. I grimace as something cracks under my foot, hoping the sound hasn’t traveled into the house. I don’t want to scare my angel, nor give her the time to flee.

I need to find my princess. I’m not leaving without her.

I push my hand in my pocket and take the key to her parent’s home from my pocket. Once inside the house, I disarm the code. Luckily, I remembered the birthday of Scarlett’s younger twin sisters.

I look around for signs she is here. There are no wet clothes or shoes lying around. But my nostrils flare at the unmistakable scent of her.

She’s here.

I don’t want to scare her. For her to think she can hear a stranger downstairs, that would freak her out. Silently, I creep up the stairs. Ready to go to her room.

I know which is her bedroom. She rarely joins her family downstairs when I visited her home. And as I couldn’t stand the thought of not seeing her before I left, I would make the excuse I was saying goodbye.

But today I’m not expecting to see my friend’s daughter doing her homework. I’m hoping to see my future wife asleep in her bed. When I do, I’ll coax her out of her sleep. Take her in my arms and tell her everything will be fine.

I push open the door and step inside her bedroom. Her bed is made, but she isn’t under the sheets. My heart thuds as I glance around the room.

“It’s me, baby. It’s Anton, don’t be scared.”

There’s no sound. I step outside the room and stare down the hall. Then slowly close the door behind me. I know she is here because Ifeelher.

“Scarlett, talk to me?” I walk towards the bed and look around. I can hear her breathing, but she doesn’t answer. “We need to talk.”

I stand at the edge of the bed, inhaling her scent. The smell of strawberries and a hint of vanilla.

“It’s over now, angel. Cassandra is being charged for trying to blackmail me.”

I swallow because she still doesn’t answer. I hope Cassandra hasn’t ruined my one shot at happiness with Scarlett. “You can’t leave me again. You’re mine now. I’m going to marry you and have lots of babies with you.”

She gasps. Her hand slaps over her mouth, and I smile, knowing she is listening.

“I can’t let you ruin your business or your reputation. I have to let you go. You need to go back to Cassandra,” she whispers.

“I don’t want Cassandra. I want you. I love you. Now get out here and talk to me.” My words sound brutal, but there’s nopower behind them. I can’t, not to her. I just want to make it right.

“But the video, she will destroy you,” she says. Not caring about her father finding out about us. If Scarlett can be selfless, then so can I.

“I don’t care who finds out, your father... my clients... my employees... Nobody matters but you. But I think I’ve dealt with it sufficiently that nobody does.”

“You don’t care if my father finds out. He’s your friend.”

“I love you, Scarlett. And I want to shout it from the rooftops. Even if the video is released, it doesn’t change things, but I don’t want to ruin your future as a brilliant lawyer, and that is the only reason I’ve made sure nobody finds out.”

“You think that?” she whimpers.

“Yes, you are going to be brilliant, Scarlett. At everything, your career, at being a mother, and being my wife. But I need to see you, angel.”

Chapter 11

---