The Doctor's Secret Bride(58)

Michelle watched his hands ball into fists on the table. If her father was anywhere close by, Erik would kill him with his bare hands.

When she’d told Ryan about her abusive childhood, he’d rolled his eyes and said, ‘Lots a kids get beat up by their parents, Michelle. Mine knocked me around. You’re not special, girl.’ Ryan had merely confirmed what she believed all her life—she wasn’t special.

She’d never felt special until this afternoon when she’d fallen asleep in Erik LaCrosse’s arms.

“If he wasn’t already dead, I would kill him myself,” Erik stated in a cold voice.

Ice spread through Michelle’s stomach. How would he feel if she told him her father was not really dead but a drunk who had stolen her debit card and wiped out her bank account? Last week, she’d finally told Robert what their father had done, and he wanted to find the man so he could beat the crap out of him.#p#分页标题#e#

She’d also relayed Yasmine’s idea that he wasn’t really their father. Like her, Robert had brushed it off as absurd since Dwight Carter was the only man he remembered being in his mother’s life. He’d never had any other father.

Michelle took another sip of water. “Well, you don’t have to kill him, Erik. Fate already took care of him.”

“Good evening, Madam. Dr. LaCrosse, I’m your waiter for the evening.”

“Good evening, Derek,” Erik said to the young boy. “How are your parents and sister?”

“They’re fine, thank you.”

Erik turned to Michelle. “Derek’s father is a local police officer. His baby sister was my first delivery.”

“And she lived to tell about it,” Michelle murmured, drawing chuckles from the men.

“Give them my regards,” Erik said.

“I will.”

“Is Mr. Andreas around?”

“He’s in Italy. I’m sorry.”

“Perhaps I’ll catch him next time.”

“Would you care to order something from the bar before dinner?”

Erik turned querying eyes to Michelle.

“Just a club soda with a twist of lemon for me, please.” She ignored the puzzled frown on Erik’s face, frustrated that she couldn’t explain. But after seeing what alcohol had done to her father and how it had caused him to almost completely destroy her life, Michelle had stopped drinking. Alcoholism was a disease that could be passed down through genes. She didn’t want to be anything like him.

“I’ll have the same,” he said. “And we know what we want for dinner. You can take the order now.”

Derek pulled a pad from his apron and wrote down the order. “Excellent choices.”

“I’d like to freshen up,” Michelle said as soon as Derek left.

The look in her eyes told Erik that she felt uncomfortable about what she’d just told him about her father. He stood up and held her chair then motioned for a nearby attendant to escort her to the women’s room.

As he watched her wind her way through the crowded room, the thought of a grown man beating up on her curdled his blood. He wondered where she got the strength to have survived and still be so emotionally and psychologically sound. He found himself comparing her to his fragile Cassie whom he knew would not have survived such horror. She probably would have curled up in a corner and died.

Michelle was a strong woman, no doubt about it. Yet, when he’d held her in his arms this afternoon, she’d felt like a vulnerable child in need of love and protection. He wanted to eradicate all the pain from her life, but he had to bury one woman before he awakened another.

He was almost sorry he’d brought up the subject of her father. It had really dampened the mood. For the rest of the night, he wanted happy thoughts. No more morbid discussions.

He rose again as she approached the table. She looked beautiful in a pale-pink slip-dress that buttoned down the front. It was simple, but he found it extremely elegant. She had good taste. She also looked more relaxed, he thought admiring the delicate features of her face as she blessed him with that sweet smile that took his breath away every time.

“It’s a beautiful night. Maybe we’ll go for a walk on the landing after dinner?” he said as he held her chair for her.

“I would like that.”

Derek brought their drinks and told them their dinners would be right out.

“Erik? Erik, Is that you?”

Erik looked up. “Bryce.” He grinned when he saw his old friend.#p#分页标题#e#

“I didn’t know you were in town,” Bryce said as they embraced.

“I just got in today, actually. Brought Precious up to see her grandmother.”