A feeling of pure, heated anger hit before he caught the look in her eyes. Then he remembered Riley would never go off with a guy. He knew what Brigit was trying to do. She hadn’t been happy when he ignored her flirting and treated her like a child.
“If she comes back, tell her I’d like to talk to her.”
“Sure thing. I wouldn’t expect her before sunrise, though.”
Noah turned and walked away. The thought of another man’s hands on his girl made him livid. It wouldn’t happen. He’d make sure of it. As he made another circle around the camp, looking for her, he caught sight of the light in his office.
Skirting a stand of trees, he made his way to the small building and opened the door.
Chapter Nine
“Please, Dad. I can’t stay here anymore.” Riley wept. “I’m scared to sleep in my bed. The other girls are determined to make me lose my … you know,” she cried. “Boys keep trying to get into bed with me.”
There was a pause as she listened to whatever her father was saying.
“I can’t go to him. I’ve tried. He’s busy, and when he’s not busy, he’s with his girlfriend.”
“I know…” She listened for a minute.
Noah’s jaw bunched up. She had gone to him for help. Instead, she’d found him with Brigit. He knew how it looked, and it made him sick to know he’d hurt his girl so much.
“I know it hasn’t been that long…” She wiped her eyes and listened. “But, Dad…”
He stepped forward. “Hold up. Let me talk to your dad.”
She squealed, spun around, and bumped her hip into the side of the desk. “I…”
Nodding, he reached out for the phone and gently took it from her hands. “Em
erson, this is Noah.”
He listened to the worried man. “I know. No, I don’t have a girlfriend… I’m sure.” Noah sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. His hand jerked out when Riley tried to move around him to leave. “Nope,” he whispered to her. “You stay here.”
“How about she calls you in a few days, and if she’s still unhappy, I’ll bring her home myself?”
Noah nodded again. “I understand. I’m sorry she worried you, but I can assure you I will be taking care of her from now on. Yes, sir. Thank you. Bye.”
She lunged for the phone, but her dad had already hung up.
He grabbed her arm when she tried to move away. “Oh, no. Where do you think you’re going?” He sat on the edge of the desk and pulled her in until she stood between his widespread legs.
“Let me go,” she said and tried to wrench from him.
He grabbed both her upper arms and gently shook her. “No, I won’t let you go. I won’t ever let you go.”
“You’re not my daddy,” she cried out. “Let me go.”
Noah studied her. She had been getting more tired-looking as the days passed. He’d tried so many times to get her alone, but one thing after another took his attention. “So, you won’t give me a chance? A chance to explain or make things better?”
Riley’s shoulders hunched. “I don’t belong here. I just want to go home,” she murmured softly.
He pulled her against his chest and set his chin on the top of her head. “Oh, baby girl. You are at home. Anywhere I am, that’s where you will be.”
“I can’t compete with Brigit.”
“You never had to. She tried to come on to me, but I didn’t fall for it. I went to get you at your cabin. She tried to tell me you went off with Tommy to have sex.”
She jerked in his arms. “He’s one of the boys who keeps trying to get into bed with me. He talked about popping my cherry. I told him I’d scream if he touched me.”