CHAPTER 75

“I used a hundred dollars,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I took a cab downtown. I thought it would be quicker. I didn’t want to be gone long because I knew you’d worry. So I took a cab there and back. I tipped. Maybe I shouldn’t have. But I know what it’s like to need money and taxi drivers don’t always get good tips.”

She was babbling and it hurt him to hear the pain in her voice that was caused by his misjudgment.

“Baby,” he whispered.

He pulled her to him and she was rigid against his body.

“Baby,” he said again. “Tell me why you went. Tell me why you couldn’t discuss this with me.”

Even as he spoke, he walked backward, pulling her with him. He dropped onto the couch and tugged until she perched on his lap. He wrapped both arms around her so she couldn’t flee, and judging by her expression, he still had a long way to go before she willingly stayed.

“I had to tell him to be careful,” she whispered. “I didn’t want those men to hurt him and I knew he couldn’t pay them back. And I had to