Read Online Sleeping With The Enemy (A Stranger's Touch) by Mary Eason - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mary Eason
Ads: Link
bedroom.”
Seeing her father’s appearance for the first time shocked him when he opened the bedroom door. Robert sat in a recliner next to the window. He didn’t bother standing as Alex entered the room.
“I guessed you’d come here sooner or later. Where else were you going to look for her?” the old man said in answer to the silent questions in Alex’s eyes.
“You’re too late. She’s not here. You’ve wasted your time coming here.”
Alex couldn’t pretend to keep his surprise to himself at the man’s physical appearance. Kate told him her father had suffered several mild heart attacks in the past, but until now he had no idea how truly devastating Robert’s illness was.
“I’m sorry to intrude on you like this. But she’s left me and she won’t answer my calls. Will you help me?” Alex asked quietly, expecting the man to refuse outright. After all, their last meeting had not pleasant.
“My daughter can be very headstrong when she wants to be, Mr. Bradshaw,” Robert said at last. “It wouldn’t do you any good to go after her. She won’t talk to you right now.”
Alex closed his eyes and tried to push aside the shame he felt at his own actions. He’d do anything to get her back. Even if it meant begging her father for help.
“I don’t expect you to believe me, but I married Kate because I love her, Mr. Edwards. And I can’t let her run away without listening to me. Just tell me where she is so I can straighten this thing out between us, so that she will come home to me.” Alex stopped as the lump in his throat gave way to a desperate sounding sob. He was close to losing control, but still he had to try to get through to her father.
“I know you must hate me for what I did to her, but I never meant to hurt her.” When the old man didn’t answer, Alex added desperately, “If you want me to beg I will. I’ll do whatever you want. But please help me find her. I want her back.”
Robert watched him silently for a long time.
“I almost believe you mean those things, Alex. But you see, it doesn’t matter what I believe, because Kate doesn’t. She’s my daughter. I’d never betray her trust. Until she is ready to talk to you, there’s nothing I can do to change her mind. You’ll have to be patient. Give her some space. Maybe she’ll listen to you one day.”
“I can’t do that.” The words sounded desperate. “Please, just tell me where she’s gone.”
Alex saw exhaustion touch the older man’s expression.
“You’re not listening to what I’m saying.”
“I don’t know who her friends are yet,” Alex admitted reluctantly. “Has she left town? Is she...is she planning to come back? Please, I’ve already told you I don’t intend to hurt her. I just want to straighten this mess out before it can get any further out of control.”
“You mean before she files for divorce?” Robert watched as Alex flinched.
“No—I don’t want a divorce. I want Kate.” Alex turned away from the sad smile that told him how pathetic he must look right now. Through his muddled thoughts, Alex wondered why the older man didn’t appear thrilled by this realization.
“I, I don’t want a divorce. I love Kate,” he said quietly, brushing a weary hand across his eyes.
“Yes, I believe you do. But the question is, will it really matter to her anymore, or is it too late.”
Alex turned to face his father-in-law at those words.
“And before you ask, I don’t know the answer. Sit down, son,” he inserted when Alex began prowling restlessly around his tiny bedroom. “I think it’s time you and I had ourselves a little talk, don’t you?”
Chapter Six
Alex couldn’t think of one single thing to say to Kate’s father. All the self-confidence that brought him success in the past was gone. He felt weak, broken...lost. He couldn’t do anything but exactly what Robert Edwards asked.
He sank down on the edge of the bed and covered his eyes with his hand.
Robert
Seeing her father’s appearance for the first time shocked him when he opened the bedroom door. Robert sat in a recliner next to the window. He didn’t bother standing as Alex entered the room.
“I guessed you’d come here sooner or later. Where else were you going to look for her?” the old man said in answer to the silent questions in Alex’s eyes.
“You’re too late. She’s not here. You’ve wasted your time coming here.”
Alex couldn’t pretend to keep his surprise to himself at the man’s physical appearance. Kate told him her father had suffered several mild heart attacks in the past, but until now he had no idea how truly devastating Robert’s illness was.
“I’m sorry to intrude on you like this. But she’s left me and she won’t answer my calls. Will you help me?” Alex asked quietly, expecting the man to refuse outright. After all, their last meeting had not pleasant.
“My daughter can be very headstrong when she wants to be, Mr. Bradshaw,” Robert said at last. “It wouldn’t do you any good to go after her. She won’t talk to you right now.”
Alex closed his eyes and tried to push aside the shame he felt at his own actions. He’d do anything to get her back. Even if it meant begging her father for help.
“I don’t expect you to believe me, but I married Kate because I love her, Mr. Edwards. And I can’t let her run away without listening to me. Just tell me where she is so I can straighten this thing out between us, so that she will come home to me.” Alex stopped as the lump in his throat gave way to a desperate sounding sob. He was close to losing control, but still he had to try to get through to her father.
“I know you must hate me for what I did to her, but I never meant to hurt her.” When the old man didn’t answer, Alex added desperately, “If you want me to beg I will. I’ll do whatever you want. But please help me find her. I want her back.”
Robert watched him silently for a long time.
“I almost believe you mean those things, Alex. But you see, it doesn’t matter what I believe, because Kate doesn’t. She’s my daughter. I’d never betray her trust. Until she is ready to talk to you, there’s nothing I can do to change her mind. You’ll have to be patient. Give her some space. Maybe she’ll listen to you one day.”
“I can’t do that.” The words sounded desperate. “Please, just tell me where she’s gone.”
Alex saw exhaustion touch the older man’s expression.
“You’re not listening to what I’m saying.”
“I don’t know who her friends are yet,” Alex admitted reluctantly. “Has she left town? Is she...is she planning to come back? Please, I’ve already told you I don’t intend to hurt her. I just want to straighten this mess out before it can get any further out of control.”
“You mean before she files for divorce?” Robert watched as Alex flinched.
“No—I don’t want a divorce. I want Kate.” Alex turned away from the sad smile that told him how pathetic he must look right now. Through his muddled thoughts, Alex wondered why the older man didn’t appear thrilled by this realization.
“I, I don’t want a divorce. I love Kate,” he said quietly, brushing a weary hand across his eyes.
“Yes, I believe you do. But the question is, will it really matter to her anymore, or is it too late.”
Alex turned to face his father-in-law at those words.
“And before you ask, I don’t know the answer. Sit down, son,” he inserted when Alex began prowling restlessly around his tiny bedroom. “I think it’s time you and I had ourselves a little talk, don’t you?”
Chapter Six
Alex couldn’t think of one single thing to say to Kate’s father. All the self-confidence that brought him success in the past was gone. He felt weak, broken...lost. He couldn’t do anything but exactly what Robert Edwards asked.
He sank down on the edge of the bed and covered his eyes with his hand.
Robert
Similar Books
