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“But you don’t even want any of this! You don’t even want the wedding!”
Clint reared back at her words.
Behind him, he heard Doc clear his throat. “I’ll get going. I haven’t brought any suppositories with me. I’ll bring some down. I’ll also grab some of the nutritional shake that Caley takes. Might be a good idea for Charlie to have it as well. Especially if her throat gets sore and makes it harder for her to eat.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Clint said quietly. He stared at Charlie, who was watching him with wide eyes. Tears welled and she blinked. They dripped down her pale cheeks, nearly breaking his heart.
“Little darling, what are you talking about? What do you mean, I don’t want this wedding?”
“I overheard you talking to Kent,” she told him with a sniffle. She reached up to wipe at her cheeks and he grabbed a couple of tissues from the bedside table, wiping her cheeks. “I know I shouldn’t have been listening. I just wanted to catch a peek of you in your suit. I heard you tell him how we should just elope. That you didn’t want any of this. Clint, I’m so sorry.”
He stared down at her then gathered her onto his lap as she started to sob in earnest. Shit. She’d heard him say that? He hadn’t really meant it. Well, he sort of had. But he’d never have said it had he known she was there. She knew better than to eavesdrop
in on conversations. Part of him wanted to scold her. The other part wanted to get down on his knees and apologize for making her feel like he didn’t want this.
Damn it. He’d fucked up.
He rubbed her back. But her tears didn’t slow. Poor little darling.
“Charlotte, I need you to stop crying now. Come on, this isn’t good for you.”
No response. He knew her reaction was partly due to exhaustion. She’d worn herself out. He should have seen it before now. Bear had warned him. Fuck, could he have messed this up anymore?
How to get her to stop and listen, though? Well, he could think of one way. And it was probably something they both needed right now. For him to take control.
“Little darling, listen to Daddy.”
Instantly, he felt her paying attention.
“I want you to stop crying now, baby. Daddy is going to make everything better. I promise. First, though, you need to calm down.”
She sniffled and he grabbed some more tissues, wiping her cheeks then helping her blow her nose. He placed her back on the bed so she was reclining against the pillows and he was facing her, his hands on the mattress as he leaned into her.
“Charlotte, I am so sorry.”
She blinked, staring at him like he’d grown a second nose or a really hairy mole.
“What?”
“You said sorry.”
He frowned. “I know how to say sorry.”
“You never say sorry.”
He sighed. “I’m saying sorry now. Although, you shouldn’t have eavesdropped on a private conversation.”
“Sorry,” she muttered, glancing down at her lap.
He reached out and tilted up her chin. “Nothing good ever comes from listening to other people’s conversations, little darling.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I’m in trouble, huh?”
“Well, since we’re both in trouble we’ll call that one even. What you are in trouble for is wandering off without telling me and for not letting me know that you weren’t feeling great.”
“I didn’t realize I wasn’t feeling well. I mean, I guess I’ve had a few dizzy spells.” She rubbed her head. “I thought I was just a bit stressed and tired.”
He placed his hand around the back of her neck, massaging. “I don’t want you to be either of those things. And if I wasn’t working so much to get some time off then I would have noticed. I should know better. I employed Linc as the ranch manager to free up my time, so I could take care of you better.”
