Page 72 of Worth the Try
Then he’s gone, and I make my way back to the kitchen to start my day with Rosalie.
A few hours later, there’s a knock at the door. Frowning, I look to where Rosie sits on the floor, working on a puzzle. “I’ll be right back.”
I look through the peephole. A small-statured blonde woman stands on the other side, slim and beautiful. Wishing I could see if there was anyone else on the street with her, I let out a sigh and open the door.
The woman smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her blue eyes. “Hi, is this the Miles residence?”
I nod. “Can I help you?”
“Elle Belle!” Rosie darts up behind me, clasping her tiny arms around my thigh and peeking to the side of my hip. “Who is it?”
Immediately, the woman’s attention fixes on Rosalie.
And I know.
I know it with the certainty of gravity.
This is Rosie’s mother.
“I’m Lauren,” the woman says, kneeling to get a better look at her daughter. “What’s your name?”
“Rosalie,” she says shyly.
The woman’s smile grows, but there’s something oily about it. “It’s nice to meet you, Rosalie,” she coos. “I knew?—”
“Why don’t you go back to your puzzle, Rosie,” I say, cutting off whatever Lauren was about to say.
Rosie looks up at me, blinking those innocent hazel eyes before saying, “Okay!” She turns to run away, then pivots back to look at Lauren. “Nice to meet you!” Then she darts down the hall, her socked feet making no noise as she goes.
Lauren’s attention slides to me, the smile falling off her face.
I look her up and down. “You should leave.”
Her eyes narrow. “You aren’t going to invite me in?”
I bark out a laugh. “You’re kidding, right?”
She tilts her head, studying me. A snake about to strike. “Tell me something,” she says. “When he fucks you, does he do that thing with his hips? You know the one,” she purrs.
My jaw drops as heat rushes to my face. Did she really just say that? “I—” I start, but nothing comes amid the rushing of static in my head. “Leave.”
I slam the door in her face, my heart pounding furiously. Behind it, all I hear is the sound of her laughter as she walks away.
Chapter 25
Ansel
I’M SORE AS hell, my muscles already barking from the intense drills and weights we went through today as I walk into the house.
“Daddy!” Rosalie throws herself into my arms even while I clock Elodie’s expression as she rises from the couch. It’s thunderous.
Part of me thrills to see it.There’s my angry girl.But another part of me wants to shrink back and leave, because I’m positive that the dark fury on her face is one hundred percent my doing.
“Hi, sweetie,” I tell Rosalie, giving her my full attention. “How was your day?”
“Good!” She wiggles in my arms. “I finished my puzzle, and we colored, and Elle Belle made me a butterfly grilled cheese sandwich.”
“Sounds delicious,” I say with a smile.
