Chapter 9

Little Isabella was practically floating with joy after sneaking fried chicken behind her father's back. The entire walk back to the room, she clung to Evelyn like a baby monkey, her tiny arms wrapped tightly around Evelyn's leg.

Evelyn had to hobble awkwardly up the stairs with the child attached to her limb.

"Time for bed now." After watching cartoons with the siblings for a while, Evelyn turned to them. "I'll take you back to your room."

Alexander looked up with serious eyes. "We don't have the key card."

Isabella was already half-asleep, her chubby fingers still gripping Evelyn's sleeve. Her eyelids fluttered shut.

Evelyn bit her lip. How were they supposed to get back in without the key?

She had no idea when Dominic would finish his business dinner and return.

"Let me call Mr. Whitmore." Evelyn couldn't move with Isabella clinging to her, so she asked Alexander to fetch her phone.

The boy retrieved it obediently.

After getting Sebastian Whitmore's number from a colleague, Evelyn made the call.

"Miss Sinclair," Sebastian answered, sounding apologetic. "Mr. Blackwood is still dining with provincial officials. It might be quite late. Could the children stay with you tonight?"

Evelyn sighed.

By ten-thirty, she'd finally gotten both children to sleep. Alexander took the left side of the king-sized bed while Isabella curled up on the right.

Evelyn tiptoed around, cleaning the bathroom and folding their clothes neatly on the sofa. She tucked Isabella in before carefully slipping into bed herself.

Thankfully the bed was enormous.

Within minutes, exhaustion pulled Evelyn into sleep.

Sometime in the dead of night, her phone vibrated beneath the pillow.

Bleary-eyed, she fumbled for it.

An unknown number flashed on the screen: 139-0909-9999.

"Who is this?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Open the door." The deep, whiskey-rough voice sent shivers down her spine.

Evelyn blinked. "What?"

Silence. Just heavy breathing.

Then her sleep-fogged brain registered the two small forms sleeping beside her. Alexander. Isabella.

"Mr... Mr. Blackwood?" Her voice squeaked.

"Open. The. Door." Each word dripped with barely restrained impatience.

Evelyn's heart stuttered. She scrambled up, smoothing her pajamas before rushing to the door.

Her boss had come for his children, and she'd kept him waiting. Damn it!

The children slept soundly, undisturbed.

Evelyn opened the door.

Dominic leaned against the doorframe, eyes closed, coat draped over one arm. His other hand held the black phone he'd just called from. He'd clearly been waiting awhile.

"Mr. Blackwood?" Evelyn barely dared to breathe.

He lifted his head slowly. Even drunk and exhausted, the man radiated power. His aristocratic bone structure and commanding presence couldn't be dimmed by alcohol.

Their eyes locked for an eternity.

Evelyn stepped aside wordlessly, allowing him entry.

As he passed, the scent of expensive whiskey and tobacco enveloped her.

She stood frozen by the door, not daring to look.

The hallway lights were painfully bright.

Minutes ticked by with no sound of waking children.

Confused, Evelyn crept back inside.

The bedroom was bathed in soft lamplight.

The sight stole her breath.

The massive bed now held all three Blackwoods - the weary father finally home, curled protectively around his sleeping children.

Should she wake him?

Would her drunken boss fire her on the spot?

If she didn't, where would she sleep?

Deciding against provoking a drunk Dominic, Evelyn grabbed her coat and slipped out.

She tried calling her female colleague first.

"The number you have dialed is unavailable..."

Next, Sebastian. No answer. Probably passed out drunk.

The front desk informed her the hotel was fully booked.

Defeated, Evelyn trudged back upstairs.

Was she doomed to stand in the hallway all night?

At 1:15 AM, the elevator dinged.

A scarred man emerged with two heavily made-up women. Spotting Evelyn, he released his companions.

"Well hello, beautiful. Need some company?" He leered.

"Stay away!" Evelyn fumbled with her key card, darting inside like a frightened rabbit.

She pressed against the door, heart hammering.

Knocking started - not too loud, not too soft. Terrified, she retreated toward the bathroom.

Then strong hands slid under her coat from behind.

She whirled around.

The bathroom door had opened silently. She stumbled backward into a hard chest.

A scream died in her throat as warm lips captured hers.

In the pitch-black bathroom, only one grown man could be holding her like this.

Dominic Blackwood.

Evelyn pushed against him uselessly.

Trapped between the predator outside and the dominant male inside, she could only whimper as his kiss deepened.