Page 72 of Daddy's Little Farmer

“I know. I had an epiphany this morning.”

“Hell. That sounds like it hurts,” Alex said.

Rafael almost smiled. “Fuck off. It wasn’t her fear I was most worried about. It was mine that was causing the problem.”

“So, what are you going to do about it?” Alex asked.

“First, I need to get her home and have a conversation so I can tell her everything. I thought that if we got back on track, I would take her to Paris or something, but instead, I’ll take her to a few places around here with abused or neglected animals we can bring home. That’s when she’s the happiest.”

“I don’t know her very well, but she has talked much about her animals, so I’d agree with you.”

“Will she come here if you bring her, or should I pick her up?” Rafael asked.

“How about I ask her, and we’ll call you back?” Alex said.

“Do you think there’s a chance she’d talk to me now?”

“I think she’s in the shower.”

“Okay. Call me when you know. I’ll call off the cops and security.”

“Talk to you soon.”

Rafael took a few deep breaths to calm his anxiety before calling his head of security and then sat back and relaxed. The fact he knew she was safe and with one of the men he trusted made him feel so much better. But he wouldn’t feel whole until she came home and forgave him.

He knew there was still a chance he’d lose her, but he’d try everything he could to keep her with him and for her to forgive him.

He’d pray harder than ever before that he’d have her in his bed that night.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Alex hung up and looked over his shoulder at her.

“You heard everything?”

She nodded. “I think most of it.”

“What did you think?” Alex asked.

She didn’t know what to think. She hated hearing the pain in his tone but feared getting hurt again. “I don’t know.”

“I won’t tell you what to do, but I have to tell you I’ve known that man most of my life, and I’ve never heard him this upset or insecure.”

She hated that. A thought popped into her head. “What if I’m not what’s best for him?”

Alex snorted. “Honey, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him or will ever happen. You’re his only chance at love.”

“Oh, wow, Alex. No pressure there,” she said sarcastically.

Alex chuckled. “It’s just what I know, honey. I also know that man will make mistakes because we all do, but he does a good job of not making the same mistake twice.”

She liked hearing that. She thought about talking to Larkin because she’d been through something that almost broke her and Darian up. But now they’re better and stronger than they were before.

“Will you take me back to his house?”

“You need to consider it your home too, honey. I know it’s hard to get used to but think of everyone around the house as a family. Yes, they serve and pamper you, but I think you deserve it, especially because of all the work you do to save animals.”

She nodded. It would help to think like that.

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