Page 19 of Daddy’s Little Charmer (Daddy #36)

Harmony watched as Christian laid a folded shirt into the open luggage, which he set on the mattress next to her hip.

The thought of being without him for a few nights made her anxious and hollow. They hadn’t been together long, just six months, but in that short amount of time, he’d become the center of her universe.

“Why can’t I come?”

Christian slipped a pair of shoes in the bag before he turned to her.

“Baby, you would be so bored. I’ll be busy all day and into the night.”

“I could sightsee while you’re working.”

“There’s no way I’d allow you to roam a city like Chicago by yourself.”

“Couldn’t Connor or Nico go with me?” She tried to calm her nerves, so she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt.

That week she’d felt him distance himself from her and had a sense he was holding something back from her.

She was thinking he was getting tired of her.

In the bedroom, things were still passionate and loving as they always had been, but during the day, he seemed to be more preoccupied.

Christian shook his head. “No, Baby. They’re both busy and off and on for the next few days. One or both will be here with you the whole time, so if you need anything, just ask them.”

She felt her stomach tighten as she heard him zip the luggage closed. He grabbed the bag and his briefcase and walked out of the room.

“Why can’t I take you to the airport?” He’d even blocked her from doing that.

Christian set his things down and turned to her to cup her face.

“I don’t want you to bother…”

Harmony shook her head. “But it wouldn’t be.”

Christian sighed. “I already called my driver.”

Harmony took in a calming breath and nodded. She would not embarrass herself by crying or pleading with him. She was becoming too dependent on him, and it wasn’t healthy. Besides, what man wanted a clingy woman?

“All right, have a safe trip,” she said, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him before taking a step back.

Christian’s gaze bore into hers for a moment. He leaned down and grabbed his things.

“One or both of the guys will be here soon.”

“Christian, stop worrying. I was on my own for a long time before you came along. It’s ridiculous for them to waste their time babysitting me.”

He frowned down at her. Something was off about her, and he couldn’t figure it out. He gritted his teeth in frustration. He desperately wanted to strip her and take her back to bed for the day, but this trip was necessary, and he resented it.

Bailing out his sister happened a few times a year. Elle would overspend her welfare and get to the point where the apartment manager was ready to throw her out, and all her bills were overdue. He might have washed his hands of her a long time ago if it weren’t for his two nephews.

He made sure both had nice clothes, a roof over their heads, enough food, and toys they could play with.

He’d made the mistake of giving his sister money for the boys, and they hadn’t seen a dime of it.

Now, he had someone take them a few times a year, if he couldn’t get them what they wanted, or they called him, and he made sure they got it.

“Baby, they’re not babysitting you. They’re guarding you.”

She pressed her lips together because it felt like he was caging her in sometimes.

He placed a hard kiss to her lips before he walked to the front door.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Harmony opened the door for him.

“Be safe,” she murmured and tried to smile as he walked to the waiting vehicle.

Christian opened the back door, threw his things in the seat, and looked back at her.

“Miss me,” he growled.

“Always,” she said and waved. The ball in the pit of her stomach grew more significant as he drove away.

Harmony closed and locked the door. She leaned against it and looked around at the beautiful house she lived in. It truly was spectacular, with the large windows across the room that looked out into a garden full of trees and flowers.

For the last few months, the gardener was teaching her what the different plants were. She’d always wanted to learn but hadn’t the time or the space for a garden.

She tried to find things to occupy her time while Christian was at work. Sometimes she wished she was still in college, so she had something to look forward to each day. But since they’d been together, she’d put the thought aside after they discussed it, and she realized her heart wasn’t in it.

The ball of fear kept expanding to the point that it affected her judgment. She wrote a quick note for the guys, grabbed her purse and keys, and rushed out to her car.

She took a calming breath as she watched the house grow smaller in her rearview mirror. She hadn’t been to see Mrs. Owens in several days. It was a perfect time, and it would get her mind off of things.

Harmony found the older lady who had been her neighbor back at the Village Apartments she’d lived in before Christian.

She had a chance to study her before she got her attention.

She smiled for the first time in a while at the happy, serene look on the older woman’s face as she stared out at the immaculate gardens the retirement home provided for the seniors.

Mrs. Owens turned her head, and her smile grew.

“Well, if it isn’t my little Harmony.”

Harmony hugged the woman before sitting down next to her on the bench.

“How are you today, Mrs. Owens?”

“When are you going to start calling me Agnes?”

Harmony blushed. “How are you today, Agnes?”

“See, it’s not that hard,” the older woman said and patted Harmony’s hand that lay in her lap.

Agnes pushed up her glasses and took a long look at the young woman beside her. “What’s wrong?”

Harmony’s eyes widened. She’d thought she was hiding her emotions, but the other woman saw right through her. “Christian had to go out of town again.”

Agnes patted Harmony’s hand. “He’ll be back soon.”

Harmony nodded and looked away for a bit.

“It’s something else?” Agnes asked.

Harmony turned back to Agnes to answer her question. “I’m not really sure. I think part of it is I’m bored.”

“You’re not going to college anymore?”

“I didn’t enroll in the next semester because I’ve never really wanted a career. I would be happy with a family of my own.”

Agnes nodded. “You won’t be bored when the two of you get married and start having babies.”

Harmony blushed and blinked back her tears.

“What is wrong, dear?”

“We’ve never talked about marriage or having a baby. He asked me once in the very beginning if I wanted children, but he didn’t really give his opinion.”

Agnes frowned and decided to change the subject for the time being. “What about a part-time job or volunteer work?”

Harmony sniffed. “I’ve thought about it. I need to do something. I’m not good at sitting around.”

“I’m the same way.” Agnes looked around. “Would you like to help me with a puzzle I’ve been working on?”

Harmony smiled and nodded. “Yes, I’d enjoy that.”

Connor and Nico found the two hunched over a small table with a puzzle spread out.

Nico cleared his throat.

Agnes and Harmony’s heads jerked up.

“Your friends are here for you,” Agnes said. “Hello, gentlemen.”

Nico bent and kissed the older woman on the cheek and moved away so Connor could do the same.

Harmony frowned. “Didn’t you guys find the note I left?”

Nico crossed his arms and scowled. “Yes, we did. Why couldn’t you have waited for us to bring you?”

Harmony stood, poked him in the chest, and looked up at him. “Because,” she bit out. “I’m old enough to be on my own and drive a car.”

Connor and Agnes looked at each other and smiled.

Nico’s face grew darker. “It’s not about being old enough. It’s about protecting you.”

The silence grew as Harmony and Nico frowned at each other.

Harmony looked down first and sighed. “Or he just doesn’t trust me.”

“That’s not it,” Nico said.

Harmony shook her head, turned, bent, and kissed Agnes on the cheek.

“Is there anything I can bring you for my next visit?”

Agnes swallowed as she stared at the unhappy woman in front of her.

“No. I just like your visits,” Agnes said and squeezed Harmony’s arm.

Harmony turned and walked off, knowing the men would be right behind her. Since moving in with Christian, she’d not been by herself, and it had started to drive her crazy.

Outside the main doors, Nico gripped her arm to stop her and held his hand out.

“Keys.”

Harmony stared at him in disbelief. “I can’t even drive now?”

“I’m going to drive you back home, and Connor will take your car.”

Harmony ground her teeth together. “Am I being grounded like a child?”

Nico snorted. “Not likely. Right now. I want the keys.”

Harmony pulled them out of her pocket and handed them over to Nico, who threw them to Connor before steering her toward his car.

He opened the back door and waited for her to get comfortable before he closed it. He glanced back at her in the rearview mirror as they pulled out of the retirement home’s parking lot. His hands tensed on the steering wheel at the desolation on Harmony’s face as she stared out her window.

“Harmony, Christian asks us to watch over you for your protection, not because he doesn’t trust you.”

Harmony nodded but refused to look his way.

“What’s going on with you, Honey?”

She shrugged and refused to look at him. “I just took a good look at my life and realized I’d got nothing,” she said.

“Of course, you do. Christian gave you a credit card that has no limit and a car.”

She laughed without humor. “It’s not my money, and it seems I can’t drive the car either.”

“Honey, you can use as much money as you want. Christian will love to spoil you if you let him. As far as the car goes, it’s yours to drive whenever, it’s just today, Connor and I are supposed to be with you.”

“You guys are always with me.”

Nico didn’t know what to say. They were, but she didn’t seem to understand it was because Christian loved her and wanted to protect her.

“Christian loves you.”

Harmony sniffed and nodded.

“Do you love him?”

She turned her head and glanced at Nico. “More than anything in the world.”

Nico smiled. “See. That’s all you need.”

“Sometimes it’s not enough,” she whispered and turned to look out her window again.

They pulled into the driveway.

She opened her car door not waiting for Nico to open it, and then stood aside as one of the men unlocked the front door for her. Both men watched as she walked away.

“I’m going to lay down for a bit,” she said.

They glanced at each other. Nico shook his head.

“Why don’t you lock up while I text Christian? He’s going to want to know about this.”

A few hours later, Connor knocked on her door.

“Hey, sweets, lunch is here. We thought you’d like Chinese.”

Harmony glanced at the door as she lay on the bed. “Go ahead. I’m not hungry.”

“When’s the last time you ate?”

Harmony wiped her eyes with the tissue she had gripped in her fist. “I’m not sure. Just please eat. I just want to rest.”

Connor was tempted to open the door so he could see her, but didn’t want to upset her any more than she already was.

“Okay. Call if you need us.” He waited for a moment and then walked back to the kitchen to see Nico pulling all the Chinese cartons out of the sack that was delivered.

Nico looked up and then behind Connor.

“Where is she?”

“She told me she’s not hungry.”

“Goddammit,” Nico scowled. “What the hell is going on with her?”

Connor shrugged and then started opening up the little white cartons.

“Maybe Christian knows. Has he called back yet?”

Nico shook his head.

“No, not yet,” Nico answered, sounding preoccupied.

“Stop worrying, we’ll get it all figured out.”

“I hope you’re right,” Nico grumbled.