The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [104]
When Morgan got to the room Misty had been using, he found the bed neatly made and everything very tidy. He pictured her sleeping in that bed last night, or rather, not sleeping. Just worrying. He’d told her she should leave, and this morning she’d been crying.
His stomach cramped and he idly rubbed his hand over it, but the ache continued. He could easily imagine what she’d been thinking, how she’d felt—how he’d made her feel—and he hated it. She probably hadn’t slept at all last night, worrying about what she’d do, worrying about finding a job and about the baby.
A baby, a little person that would look like Misty, with dark hair and big blue eyes…He smiled at the thought, then caught himself and scowled.
What kind of job could a woman with a record get? He didn’t know the terms of her probation—he’d have to ask her about that—but he knew it wouldn’t sit well with an employer, especially not when she’d supposedly stolen from the last guy who’d hired her. Would she be able to earn enough to take care of herself and a baby?
She was certainly stubborn enough to make it work somehow, but she had a hard road ahead of her. And that route wasn’t even necessary.
Morgan considered things for a moment, then came to some decisions. He opened her suitcase, emptied it on the bed, took the case to his room and shoved it under his bed. If she wanted to try sneaking out again, he wouldn’t make it easy for her. At least until he knew she had a decent plan. Then, he told himself, he’d let her go.
He also intended to do a little investigating. Getting the details of the theft wouldn’t be hard, and then he’d make his own conclusions.
He felt like a warlord, holding her against her will, but damn it, it was only stubborn pride that had her wanting to leave in the first place. That and his big mouth. He had the feeling if he hadn’t asked her about leaving, if he hadn’t pushed her, she’d have stayed on for a while, using the time to make new plans. She had a lot to deal with, and until he’d started harassing her, she’d probably seen this as an ideal situation, a place to regroup and be with her sister without anyone knowing what had happened.
Except that she’d told him everything. He took immense satisfaction in that small success, discarding the fact that he’d bullied the information out of her. Misty wouldn’t have told him if she hadn’t trusted him at least a little.
He remembered stories of her father that Honey had shared. That man wasn’t one to coddle or offer comfort, so Morgan had no doubt she hadn’t even tried going to him for help. According to Honey, neither of them was overly close to the man, and with good reason.
Everything would work out, he was certain of it.
On his way to the kitchen Morgan passed the family room and was brought up short by a disgruntled, “He hates me.”
Morgan stalled, his heart jumping, his muscles pulled tight. He waited, eavesdropping like a maiden aunt to hear what Honey would say in reply.
Her soft voice was soothing, just as Morgan had known it would be. “Morgan doesn’t hate you, Misty. He kept you here because that’s just how they all are. They’re a little on the gallant side, and Morgan wants to protect you.”
There was a rough, disbelieving laugh. “Right. If you say so.”
Morgan could tell she didn’t believe her sister and he pulled his hands into fists. Even his toes cramped. Hate her? Hell, no. What he felt was as far from hatred as it could get, and a whole lot steamier than that cold emotion. He wanted to devour her, to make love to her for a week so he could get her out of his system.
He hated the effect she had on him, but he didn’t hate her.
“I do say so,” Honey insisted. “I know them all better than you do.”
“It doesn’t matter what Morgan thinks or how he feels about me, Honey. The point is, I didn’t mean to intrude on you. The last thing you need right now is to start worrying