Page 101 of Simply Irresistible

Chapter 18

My stomach turns when I see Nick's deadly serious expression as he discloses this. Not able to grasp this critical piece of information, I search for more clarity by turning to Thomas. "Is that true?" I ask while gawking at him with utter disbelief.

He mumbles a few foul words while glaring at Nick.

"Thomas, answer me. Is it true?"

His blue eyes express uneasiness as he answers.

"Yes, but it happened two freaking years ago, Emma."

I blink a few times as his message sinks in.But when it does, my emotional thermostat goes through the roof."So, you're saying you were here in Boston two years ago, and instead of contacting me and finding out how your daughter is doing, you hooked up with a woman in a relationship?"

My hypothesis causes him to scratch his neck. "Excuse me, miss, one of the officer voices." Before you continue what I believe is a sensitive topic, I'd like to ask you a question. Do you want to press charges?"

"No, I don't. The only thing I want is for this to be over."

"Mommy?"

My heartbeat jumps up to an alarming rate and I pivot around. Charlotte stands on the threshold, her eyes large as she walks further and scans the room. A moment later, Bella comes storming in. "Sorry, she slipped away from me when I received a phone call."

Charlotte rushes over to Nick. "Are you going to jail?" she asks, staring at his handcuffs. The officer, who sees her sad expression, reacts. "No, he isn't." He grabs a key and, after exchanging a look of understanding with Nick, he removes the iron bracelets.

My girl's brows lift."Did you make this mess?" she asks while looking around.

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

“I got upset.”

She scans him and, as observant as she is, she spills a new question. "Why is your lip bleeding?"

"Uh..."

While Nick thinks of how to answer, my girl investigates further and, as she does, her attention falls on Thomas. I open my mouth, but nothing is coming out. As she studies him, she speaks. "Who are you?"

The room turns eerily quiet as we are bystanders to the first encounter between father and daughter. Thomas inspects her as she did him. God, I've dreamed of this often, but never in this situation and under these circumstances.

"I'm your father," he says in a single breath.

Did he just blurt that out like it's some minor detail to reveal?

My little girl gasps and takes a step back. Then her head twists and my knees go wobbly as I read the question in her blue irises. This is not the way I wanted her to meet and see her father. But I can't lie, so I answer in a calm voice, "Yes, he's your father."

At once, her head snaps back to her dad. "Why is your nose bleeding?"

"Because he broke it," he answers, pointing to Nick.

Charlotte turns back to the man she adores and trusts.

"Is he a bad man, Nick?" she asks.

A chill runs through my spine and the female police officer cuts in. "Charlotte," she says, squatting beside her. "I'm sorry to interrupt your questions, but we're here for a reason. I need to take these men with me for a chat."

Charlotte's head moves in agreement.

The policewoman points to the door. "Gentlemen, let's go."

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