Page 120 of An Indecent Longing

Tears formed but she blinked them back. Ian wouldn’t care and they’d only make her feel weak.

“Ian, shut the fuck up.” Ben got in her line of sight again. “Dorrie? You really need to breathe.”

She was. Barely. But her heart was beating so hard and fast she wasn’t sure it wouldn’t just pop. Which she knew was a physical impossibility but…

“Whoa, all right,” Ben said. “Come on, maybe you better sit down.”

She shook her head. “No, I need to go.”

Ben’s hand tightened on her shoulder, not threatening but enough to let her know she’d get a fight if she tried to leave. “No. You don’t. We’ll work this out—”

“She’s right. She has a message to deliver to her father.”

Ian’s calm tone cut sharper than if he’d raised his voice. And made her back straighten.

“He’s right. I need to talk to my dad. I need to tell him what’s going on.”

And she wasn’t wanted here. This was Ian’s home. Not hers. And he wanted her gone, which he made completely clear by turning and walking out of the house through the back door.

“Sonuvabitch.”

Ben’s muttered curse made her heart ache, and the frustration on his face made her stomach roll.

“I need you to drive me to my dad’s.”

“Jesus, Dorrie—”

“I need to get out of here.”

Ben’s grimace was fierce. “We need to talk this out.”

“No, we don’t.”

Ben’s mouth flattened into a straight line. “Fuck that. Don’t leave like this.”

“You and Ian are family and I don’t want to come between you.”

“Honey, don’t you know, that’s exactly where I want you?”

She sucked in a short breath. “Even though you know who I really am?”

“I knew who you were before I found out about your father. You are not your father. You’re smart and sweet and a little shy and sexy as hell. And I’m not going to step aside and let you think I don’t care.”

She stared at him for several seconds and he was pretty sure he saw tears in her eyes before she turned away.

“Look, if you don’t want to stay here, let me take you to Adam’s.”

She didn’t look away from the side window she was staring out of. “No. I don’t want to involve anyone else in this.”

My dad will take care of this. It’s better for you and Ian to get out now.”

“Is that really what you want?”

She couldn’t hold his gaze. “Please don’t make this more difficult than it already is.”

“I’m not trying to. But don’t shut us out because you think you’re keeping us safe.”

She shook her head. “It’s not just about me. You should understand that.”

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