Redeeming-Love-By-Francine-Rivers

F R A N C I N E R I V E R S
with me. She’ll tell her mother, and I’ll lose my position.”
“I’ll take care of that.” Merrick bent and pinched Sarah’s chin. “You say
anything to anybody about me being in this room with Cleo, and I’ll cut
your little pink tongue out. Understand?” Sarah believed him, and nodded
her head. He smiled slightly and let her go. She darted to the corner and
crouched there, trembling and feeling sick. “See?” Merrick crowed gleefully.
“Nothing to worry about. She won’t say a word about us to anyone.”
Cleo stared at him, her eyes wide. She looked upset, and Sarah hoped she
would tell him to leave. “That was terrible cruel,” she said, looking at Sarah.
“He didn’t mean it, lovey. He was only fooling. Don’t believe a word he says.”
“You believe it, girl. I wasn’t fooling at all.” He caught Cleo to him.
“Cruel? Cruel would be putting me out when you know I just want to be
with you.”
She pushed him away. He reached for her again, and she dodged him—
but even Sarah could tell the effort was half-hearted. How could Cleo let this
man near her?
“I know you, Cleo.” Merrick’s smile was half-mast, his eyes gleaming.
“Why did you come all the way back to the Four Winds? Just to look at the
sea again?”
“It’s in my blood as much as yours.”
Merrick caught hold of her and kissed her. Cleo struggled, trying to pull
away, but he held her tightly. When she relaxed against him, he drew back
enough to say, “More than that’s in your blood.”
“Merrick, don’t. She’s watching—”
“So what?”
He kissed her again, and she fought him this time. Sarah sat frozen in
fear. Maybe he would just kill them both.
“No!” Cleo said angrily. “Get out of here. I can’t do this. I’m supposed to
be taking care of her.”
He laughed. “I didn’t know duty was so important to you.” He let her go,
but Sarah didn’t think Cleo looked glad at all. She looked like she was going
to cry. Merrick smiled and turned his back to Sarah. “Come on, mite.”
“What’re you doing, Merrick?” Cleo demanded when Sarah scrambled to
escape him.
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