Page 189 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

She flinched, twisting away from his gentle touch. Her stomach rolled, sick with a terror she thought she’d left behind years ago.

It’s okay, baby. You’re my special girl. My special?—

“I’m fine,” she muttered, turning her head away as she wrapped her arms around her body. “I just need to be alone.”

“Alone?” Keith’s agitation was clear in the sharp word.

She flinched, hugging herself tighter. “Please.”

Oh God, Andrew. She wanted to call Andrew.

Her heart twisted, guilt and torment a physical pain she thought she’d put behind her.

“Harper,” Marc murmured, his hands smoothing up her arms again. “Big Mac’s gone. You’re o?—”

“Don’t say the word okay!” she snapped, jerking her head to glare at him. Tears stung the backs of her eyes, hot acid that stripped away her dignity.

She’d never let her stepfather see her cry. She never cried in front of anyone but Andrew. Ever.

She wasn’t crying now.

Except she was. Hot tears slipped over her cheeks like burning trails of shame.

It’s okay, baby. You’re my special girl. My special sweet thing. This is just for me, okay? Just for me. No one else is allowed. It’s a special thing all daddies do. It’s okay, baby. Just let me touch?—

Sickening hate and shame flooded her. She swallowed the bile threatening to choke off her throat.

“Harper,” Keith’s voice was steady. “Tell us what’s going on. What did McNamara do to you?”

She shook her head, refusing to look at him.

Never tell. Too shameful. Too scared. Never tell.

“Harper, I need to know.” The tips of Keith’s boots moved into her line of sight and she squeezed her eyes shut, driving her nails into her arms. “If he…” His voice cracked and he paused. “I’ll kill him. I promise, I’ll fucking rip the bastard apart and Marc won’t stop?—”

Harper shook her head. “He didn’t touch me,” she said, her belly churning. The words were sour on her tongue. “He just…”

She couldn’t say any more. It was too shameful.

All daddies do it. Just let me touch you there. See? That didn’t hurt?—

“Please go away,” she whispered, unable to look at either of them. “I need you to go away. Both of you.”

Neither man said a word.

Blood roared in her ears. Her head felt tight, as if something were clamping it. Trying to crush it. She blinked, the tears on her cheeks a bitter reminder of how pathetic she was.

“Go away,” she ground out, scraping her nails over her flesh. “I want to be alone.”

She heard a drawn-out breath. She didn’t know whose it was.

“C’mon, mate.” Marc’s mutter barely reached her ears. “We need to respect Harper’s wishes.”

Harper didn’t need to open her eyes to know Keith wasn’t moving. Of the two cowboys, Keith was the most stubborn. The most determined.

“Harper?” He spoke her name in a soft question.

She didn’t answer. Didn’t open her eyes. Didn’t lift her head.