Page 21 of Daddy’s Little Charmer (Daddy #36)

Harmony awoke the next morning with a terrible headache from crying and a ball of misery in her stomach at the thought of never seeing Christian again.

She rose, took a quick shower, and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt she’d had for years. She dried her hair and put it up in a messy bun on top of her head. Her thoughts were rambling too much for her to make a concrete plan for her future, and she was too tired to care at that moment.

The only thought that wouldn’t leave her was to get away from the house and Christian and give herself a little time. Just time to cry and time to rest. She still had money from before Christian, so it wasn’t like she had to go out and get a job right away. She had options.

Harmony picked up her bag, opened the door, and turned to look at the bed one more time. A wall of emotion threatened to shake her resolve to leave. When she was stronger, she knew she’d have to talk to Christian, but she wasn’t strong enough at that moment.

She heard nothing as she walked down the long hallway, but stopped suddenly to see Nico and Connor standing between her and the door with their arms crossed and determination stamped on their features. She took in a shuddering breath and squared her shoulders.

“Um, can you guys excuse me?”

They both shook their heads and stayed silent.

“You can’t keep me here against my will.”

“Wanna bet?” Nico growled.

Harmony blinked and tried to contain the tears she knew would come.

“Ple … please. Just let me go.”

Nico sighed. “Do you love Christian?” He gritted his teeth when she flinched and became even paler.

“Yes. But sometimes love isn’t enough. Since I met him, he’s taken away my life bit by bit until I’ve got nothing left. I disappeared, and I didn’t even know it was happening until now. I can’t even blame him for seeing other women. Who wants to be with a doormat, a nobody?”

Nico closed the distance between them and grasped her shoulders.

“We would never do anything to hurt you. Connor and I have come to care for you deeply. I’m telling—no, I’m asking you—to give Christian a chance to explain.”

“I will, I promise. I just need a little time.”

“We’re to keep you here until he returns.”

Harmony looked from one man to the other. “You can’t if I don’t want to be here.”

She gritted her teeth when they stayed silent. “Where’s my purse?”

“We have it,” Connor replied.

“And you’re not going to give it to me?” she asked softly.

Connor hated to see her so sad, but he agreed with Nico. If she gave Christian a chance, this would all be resolved.

Harmony’s grip on her bag tightened. “Guys, I’m not going because of the other woman. I’m going because I need to find myself again. As corny as that sounds, it’s the way I feel.”

She watched them look at each other and then back at her. From their expressions, she knew they weren’t going to help her. She bit her lip to prevent the desolate cry that wanted to escape, turned, and walked back into the bedroom, softly closing the door.

Connor ran a hand down his face. “Dammit. I can’t take that look in her eyes.”

Nico stared at the bedroom door. His stomach twisted when he heard Harmony’s muffled crying.

“I can’t either. Christian’s on his way home. If, after they talk, she still wants to leave, I’ll take her wherever she wants to go. I don’t care if I get fired.”

“I’ll be with you.”

Nico walked to the bedroom and rapped a knuckle against the wood.

“Harmony, I know you’re hurting right now, and we wish we could make it better, Honey.

If, after you talk to Christian, you still want to leave, call us and we’ll come get you and take you anywhere.

Hell, you can even crash with me until you figure out your next move.

You have my phone number. Connor put your phone on the kitchen counter and is charging it so it will be ready for you.

” He stopped and listened. “We just wanted you to know you’re not alone. Okay, Honey?”

He sighed when there was still no answer, turned, and walked back into the living room.

“Did she say anything?”

Nico pressed a hand to his chest to relieve some of the pain and shook his head. “No, but I’m pretty sure she heard me.”

Connor sat on one of the sofas, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

“I’m going to get some z’s. I didn’t get much last night,” Connor said.

“I’m going to check the alarm to make sure it’s on. I don’t want Harmony to try to sneak out another door. I’ll put in a temporary code that will prevent her from turning it off.”

After that was done, Nico took one more look at the bedroom door, walked to the other sofa, and lay down with one arm under his head as a pillow.

“Hopefully, Christian was able to get an earlier flight. I hate the thought of Harmony not eating for another day.”

Nico sighed, closed his eyes, and let sleep drag him down.

A few hours later, both men jolted awake when the front door banged open.

Christian shut the door behind him and threw his bag to the side. “Where is she?”

Nico stood and stretched. His boss looked bad. He’d never seen him this exhausted or stressed in all the years he’d worked for him.

“In the bedroom. She was pretty upset when we didn’t let her leave.”

Christian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fuck. I screwed up. I should have taken her with me to meet my sister. I just didn’t want her to see where I came from. It’s bullshit, I know.”

“Do you want us to stick around?” Connor asked.

Christian shook his head. “No, you guys head home. I have to deal with this.”

“I changed the code. I’ll change it back before we leave.”

Christian watched Nico punch in some numbers, and then he and Connor walked out the front door before he locked it behind them and turned on the security alarm.

He wearily walked through the house toward the master bedroom.

He took a deep breath and opened the door.

His breath caught in his lungs at the sight of Harmony lying in the middle of the bed, fully dressed and asleep.

He hated the fact that it was he who had made her so unhappy, and he was determined to do whatever it took to make things right.