Page 31 of The Hermit

He takes the plate and stares so intently at me that I start to fidget and quickly turn around so I can get my butt back to the mansion.

I don’t even make it past the roses that are planted around the cottage when Dominik falls into step beside me. I don’t see the plate of food and glance over my shoulder at the shut door.

“You’re not going to eat?” I ask.

He only shakes his head.

“But you made all the food,” I argue.

“For you,” he mutters.

Huh? Why would he make all that food for me?

When we enter the mansion through the French doors, he orders, “Get your sister and meet me in your father’s office.”

My feet come to a standstill, and I watch as he walks across the foyer.

Worry gnaws at my gut as I head up the staircase, and I quickly knock on the bedroom door before pushing it open. Ciara’s standing in front of her window with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Dominik wants to see us in Dad’s office,” I tell her.

“Why did you take him food?” she asks as she turns around.

“Because he made it.”

She gives me a worried look. “You’re not giving in, are you?”

“No!” I rush forward, and when I reach her, I rub my hand up and down her arm. “Of course not.”

She nods and gives me a relieved smile. “Okay.” The smile doesn’t last long and fades as she asks, “Do I really have to go to the office?”

I nod. “Let’s show a united front. We need to squash this crazy idea of a wedding between you and Dominik.”

When we leave her bedroom, Ciara hooks her arm through mine. Her eyes drift over my face, then she asks, “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” I reply as we near the stairs.

“You look tired.”

I give her a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. I promise.”

Ciara is already stressed out of her mind, and the last thing she needs is me offloading on her about the panic attacks and sleepless nights I’m having.

When we near Dad’s office, Dominik’s tone sounds impatient as he snaps, “I don’t have weeks to wait around, Devlin. Push me and see what happens.”

“Sorry,” Dad quickly replies. “I was just hoping for more time to get the girls used to the idea.”

I’m first to enter the office with Ciara sticking close to my back.

Dominik is standing in front of the wall-to-wall bookshelf and doesn’t even bother to glance at us when he orders, “Sit, ladies.”

I gesture at one of the open chairs, and when Ciara takes a seat, I move to stand beside her.

Dominik still doesn’t look at us as he says, “It’s time to come to an agreement.”

I glance at Dad and stick to my guns as I say, “There’s still no way Ciara’s marrying Dominik. It doesn’t matter if he stays here for a year. Nothing will change my mind.”

“It’s not for you to decide, Grace!” Dad snaps, which makes Ciara startle.

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