“Oh, right.” It was so weird that her three men had met with Rush and gotten to know him. They trusted him. He had promised to get them to a safe location. Meanwhile, she’d never set eyes on the man who was the biological father of her baby.

“He said to claim you have cramps, like the kind you get when you menstruate. Lorena won’t have any choice but to insist you stay in bed.”

Haley winced. Staying in bed sounded awful, but in comparison to following Lorena around the estate learning piano and how to sit properly in the library, she’d take it. “He thinks that will work?”

“Yep. Worst thing that could happen would be that she might call the doctor, but the doctor wouldn’t be able to know if you’re hurting or not. If you say you’re having cramps, he’ll prescribe bed rest.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “I’ll do it.”

“Maybe come down to lunch pretending to feel poorly.”

Haley took a step closer, wanting to touch Storm the way he’d touched her.

He leaned back into the hallway and looked around before stepping all the way into her room, grabbing her around the waist, and hauling her into his arms. He kissed her, dragging his tongue along the seam of her lips before releasing her just as quickly and stepping back.

The room was spinning. The entire embrace lasted about five seconds. Not long enough. She wanted more. She reached her hand out toward him, knowing it was dangerous and irresponsible.

He snagged her hand, brushed her knuckles against his lips, and then turned and left her, shutting the door.

Haley sighed as she returned to her spot in the window. At least now she had a plan.