Secret (Betrothed #9) - Penelope Sky Page 0,23
she said quickly. “It’s not his responsibility to take care of me. He has someone in his life he’s supposed to care for, and that’s exactly how it should be. I’m not his problem.”
“Sweetheart, we’re a family. We always take care of one another.”
“I’m perfectly fine, okay? One day, I’ll have a man who can take care of me the way Damien takes care of Anna.”
That could be me…if she let me.
“I don’t believe that,” he said. “Because I can’t imagine any man being good enough for you.”
There was a long pause, like she was taking it in. “Daddy…”
“I mean it. Who’s ever gonna be good enough for the smartest, most talented, most beautiful woman in the world?”
“Stop,” she said with a chuckle. “And even if that’s true, it doesn’t matter. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
Her father was quiet for a while. “Sweetheart, I’m glad you’re a dancer because I can’t imagine you doing anything else, not when you’re so talented, but it’ll never earn you enough money to be comfortable. Your brother has enough money to share with you.”
“Dad, just let it go, okay?” she said gently. “I’m only twenty-five. I’ve got time to worry about that stuff later.”
“Alright,” he said. “I just want to make sure my little girl is taken care of.”
I sighed to myself, hated listening to this conversation, listening to the bond they shared. He was a sweet old man who loved his daughter so much, wore his heart on his sleeve, and after what I did… I was fucking evil.
They all chatted together on the couch for another fifteen minutes before they decided to leave. It was getting late, so I was surprised they’d stuck around so long. The front door opened, and they said their goodbyes.
“Goodnight, sweetheart. Come over tomorrow so we can play a round.”
“Alright, Dad.” She kissed him, probably on the cheek. “I’ll see you at lunchtime.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too, Daddy.”
I pushed my fingers through my short hair and down the back of my neck, sighing to myself.
Anna said goodbye next. “Let me know when you want to go out to lunch. Sofia is having her baby any day now, so I won’t have long lunches anymore.”
“Alright, girl,” she said.
Footsteps sounded as they stepped into the hallway.
That meant Damien was the only one who stayed behind.
“Oh no…” Catalina sighed. “Not you too.”
“Let me buy you a place,” he insisted. “It doesn’t have to be fancy.”
“I don’t need you to buy me anything, Damien.”
“Then move in with me. Come on, there’s plenty of space for all of us.”
She released a sarcastic laugh. “God, I’d rather be homeless than live with you, Damien.”
He chuckled slightly in return. “It wouldn’t be that bad. We’d set some ground rules to make it work.”
“Yeah?” she asked sarcastically. “What about when I want to bring…” She faltered for a moment, choosing her words carefully before blurting them out. “My guys over?”
He sighed loudly. “We’re both adults, Catalina. I understand you have a personal life. I wouldn’t say a word.”
“You would hate it, and you know it.”
“But I would keep my mouth shut.”
She turned quiet. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m fine. Really. Don’t worry about me.”
“You’re my little sister. Hard not to.”
“I’m not little, Damien.”
He chuckled. “Let me know if you change your mind. Offer is always on the table.”
“I know.”
Their voices shifted like they shared an embrace.
“And you were amazing tonight, by the way.”
“Thank you.”
He walked out and shut the door behind him.
I stared out the window and listened to their footsteps fade down the hallway. Catalina didn’t move, probably staring at the door to make sure they were really gone before she turned all the bolts into place.
Then her footsteps came my way.
I turned to the door, expecting to see her any second.
She came inside and looked at me, not the least bit surprised to see me lying on her bed. Her eyes scanned me over, noticing my nakedness. “What if they’d walked in here?”
I shrugged. “If they saw me in your bedroom, they would know we’re fucking, so I didn’t see why it mattered.”
“You could have closed the door.”
“Would have made it obvious you were hiding something.”
She didn’t lean down to kiss me, probably because she was still anxious about the whole thing. “Want some wine?”
“Sure.”
She walked back into the kitchen.
It gave me time to clear my thoughts, to stop thinking about what I’d just heard, to stop thinking about the future and just live in