Entice - By Ella Frank Page 0,70

bitterness she almost choked on it.

“Princess,” he said softly.

Shelly shook her head and felt angry tears forming. “Don’t be sweet to me. Not now, not here. I deserve answers. You owe me that,” she ended, reaching up to wipe away a tear that had escaped.

“What, Shel? What do you need from me? An apology? Okay, I’m sorry you were so affected—”

“But not sorry for your actions? Don’t pity me, Father.” Shelly tipped up her chin and swallowed. “I’m not doing so badly.” Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath and finally told her father everything she had ever wanted to get off her chest.

“However, you know who you should feel sorry for? The little girl who saw all the fights and was teased continuously because her father had been caught sneaking out of their neighbor’s house…or maybe the young woman who interned beside you and looked up to you, trying to do everything she could to make you proud, even when the nurses laughed and pointed her out because they had slept with her father.” Shelly paused in her anger, stepping forward, and pointed up at him. “Yeah, you’re damn right to feel sorry for her. You let her down big time. You completely failed her at every turn. And now…now, you want to judge my choices? You want to stand there and tell me someone like Josh isn’t a good enough man for me.”

Shelly watched as her father arched a brow, but he stood silent, letting her finish.

“Well, that is where you are dead wrong. He is an amazing man. Yes, he may be a construction worker, which doesn’t fit your lofty ideals, but you know what? I don’t give a shit anymore. You did this to each other. I am over trying to do what you want and over trying to save myself from being used the way Ma was.”

Before he could say a word, Shelly marched past him and stopped at the door, looking at him over her shoulder. “The sad part is you also did this to me. I may forgive you eventually. But how on earth do I ever forget what I now know?”

With that, Shelly stormed back toward the house.

***

Josh heard her the minute she stormed through the back door. Shelly’s mother looked over at him, grimacing as she stood.

Josh stood as well suggesting softly, “Why don’t you let me go?”

Shelly’s mother gave him a strained smile. “Okay. That’s probably for the best.”

Josh made a move to walk past her when she reached out and touched his arm. Turning, he looked down at two very sad eyes.

“Look after her for me?” she whispered.

Josh placed a hand over hers, where it lay on his arm, and squeezed it gently. “I will. I promise,” he told her.

She took her hand back, nodding. “I believe you, Joshua Daniels.”

Walking to the door, Josh glanced one more time at the small woman in the large sitting room, and he felt his own heart break a little from the loneliness in this house.

As he moved out into the foyer, he saw Shelly disappearing up the stairs. He took them two at a time, and when he got to her door, he rapped on it and then waited. When there was no answer, he turned the knob, pushing the door open, and walked inside.

Facing the large window, Shelly was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed and her head in her hands, openly sobbing. Her back shook with each shuddering breath she took.

As Josh moved toward her, he felt completely helpless.

“Shelly?” he asked quietly.

He came around the bed, and when he stood in front of her, he reached out, putting his fingers beneath her chin. Tilting her face up to him, she blinked wet eyes and gave him a tremulous smile.

“What’s all this?” he asked softly.

She tried again and gave him the saddest smile he had ever seen.

She pointed to her face. “This is my brave face.”

Josh gave her chin a gentle squeeze, and then he whispered, “I hate to tell you, but it’s not very good. We may have to work on it.”

That made her chuckle and sniffle. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s kinda pathetic.” He gave her a crooked grin, and then tacked on, “But cute.”

Shelly laughed halfheartedly and whispered, “Can we go home early?”

Josh arched a brow and asked quietly, “Like tonight? We just got here. Are you sure you want to leave?”

Shelly nodded and wiped her eyes. “I think I need to. Plus, I can’t imagine this