The Millionaire's Proposal by Janelle Denison Page A

through a cup of coffee with her father while he groused about Ford McCabe and spilled the bitter emotions that had accumulated in the aftermath of Ford’s departure eleven years ago.
    Grace made the appropriate comments she knew her father wanted to hear, but all she could think about was confronting the naked man in her bed once her father left. After what she’d shared with Ford last night, she felt confused and deceived by his omission.
    She didn’t offer her father a refill on his coffee, and instead told him she had errands to run and things to do. She walked him to the door, and he stopped just as they entered the living room, staring at all the vases of roses. He appeared perplexed—in his upset state, he obviously hadn’t noticed them upon his arrival.
    “What’s with all the roses?” he asked.
    Grace grasped for the most logical excuse. “Excess inventory from the shop, so I thought I’d bring them home to enjoy.”
    Melancholy touched Ellis Holbrook’s expression as he breathed deeply of an arrangement of roses. “I still miss her, you know,” he said, and Grace knew he was talking about her mother, Felice. “But if she were here, I know she’d be very proud of you and your flower shop.”
    Grace placed a gentle hand on her father’s back as they walked to the door. “Yeah, I know she would be.”
    Ellis stepped out onto the porch and turned toward her, his sentimental expression hardening with resolve, and his eyes firing with purpose, as if he’d suddenly remembered his reason for coming out to her cottage. “I’m warning you, Grace, if that no good McCabe boy comes around, stay away from him! He was nothing but trouble eleven years ago, and he’s nothing but trouble now.”
    She refrained from informing her father that Ford was no longer a boy, but a splendidly grown man. “Maybe he’s changed,” she said, though she was beginning to doubt that herself after what she’d just learned.
    Her father scoffed at that. “You’ve always had a soft heart, Grace, but maybe you should keep in mind that Ford McCabe killed Aaron and destroyed our family, not to mention what he did to you .” Hostility and resentment dripped from his tone.
    Grace inwardly winced, knowing that Ford could hear her conversation with her father. Someone had seen her and Ford together eleven years ago, and after the tragic death of her brother rumor of her involvement with Ford had spread, and ultimately cast a shadow over her reputation. Her father blamed Ford for that as well, of course, even though she’d been a willing party to what had happened back then. It was just easier for her father to believe Ford was responsible for ruining her virtue than accept that she’d consented to the relationship.
    “Whatever reason he’s decided to come back to live in Whitaker Falls, it can’t be good,” her father said tightly. “Stay away from him.”
    On that heated note, her father was gone.
    Shutting the door, Graced leaned against the flat surface and closed her eyes, her heart aching in her chest.
    “Is it safe to come out?”
    Startled by the deep voice, Grace lifted her head, and found Ford standing in the doorway to her bedroom, his shoulder leaning negligently against the jamb. He was no longer naked, thank goodness. He’d put his slacks and shirt back on, looking nothing like the sensual, affectionate man she’d left in bed twenty minutes ago. No, now there was a dark, ruthless quality to him that made her realize just how little she knew about the man he’d become.
    When she didn’t say anything, he pushed off the door frame and strolled into the living room toward her, his expression unreadable. “I guess your father’s feelings toward me are one of the things that haven’t changed since I’ve been gone.”
    She choked on a humorless laugh. “You’re right about that,” she confirmed, moving toward the sofa as he closed the distance between them. Last night, she’d trusted Ford, with her heart and