.

I’d be safe enough to walk around on my own.”

      “As you mentioned, it’s a big house. I have to stay with you, just in case.”

      Shelby blew a sharp burst of air through her nose like a bull in a fighting ring. “Are you always this irritating?”

      “No.” He grinned. “Sometimes I can be even more irritating…when I try.”

      She turned and walked two more steps down.

      He followed.

      She stopped, then he stopped.

      Giving up, she hurried down the steps. When she reached the bottom, she heard voices coming from one side of the open entryway. One of them sounded like her grandfather. She headed that direction, slowing when she came close to the half-closed door.

      Shelby paused, her hand reaching out but not pushing the door open.

      “I told you, I didn’t know our daughter was alive,” Kate Winston was saying. “If I had known, I’d have gone after her. I loved her, and I was devastated when I was told she’d died.”

      “So devastated you didn’t bother to verify that she really was dead?” Her grandfather sounded angry, disappointed and sad.

      Shelby wanted to go to him and wrap her arms around him. The man had given her so much love and understanding all her life. She loved him so much and couldn’t stand to see him sad or angry.

      Shelby started to open the door when Kate’s voice said softly, “My mother told me she’d died when she was born. I had no reason to think she’d lie. Whatever you might think, my mother loved me.”

      “You didn’t bother to see the body for yourself?”

      “I was in no condition to. I was heartbroken. After carrying her for nine months, to lose her like that… The doctors gave me a sedative. I don’t remember much of anything the first week after she…was born.”

      “I find it very hard to believe.”

      “Believe what you want,” Kate said, her voice growing more firm. “The fact is, I didn’t get the chance to know my daughter and I’d give anything to have had that time with her. Now that I’ve found Shelby, I won’t give up the chance to get to know my granddaughter.”

      “And you’ll have time in your busy political schedule to get to know her? Rumor has it you are being groomed to run for president.”

      “It’s true. But my family is more important than anything else. That includes Shelby.”

      “What if she doesn’t want to get to know you?” her grandfather asked.

      “Whatever our differences, I hope you will give her the choice.”

      “Shelby has a mind of her own. It will be up to her. I trust you will abide by her wishes.”

      Kate hesitated, then answered softly, “I will.”

      “You’re eavesdropping.” Daniel’s warm breath stirred the hairs along the side of Shelby’s neck.

      A delicious shiver rippled down her spine and she squeezed her eyes shut. Then she stiffened her back, opened her eyes and knocked on the door.

      “Come in,” Kate called.

      Shelby pushed the door open and entered.

      Shelby’s grandfather stood in the middle of the room. Kate stood behind her desk, as if using it as a shield. The air sizzled with their energy.

      “Ah, Shelby, we were just discussing you.” Kate rounded the desk and crossed to her, holding out her hands. “Are you feeling better? I can have a doctor stop by and check you over, if you’d like.”

      Shelby ignored the woman’s outstretched hands. “I don’t need a doctor.”

      Kate’s arms fell to her sides and she smiled, though the effort looked forced. “I had Debra order clothes for you, but Maddie said you refused and wanted me to cancel. Is something wrong?”

      “Yes. I’m not used to people ordering for me, doing things for me or otherwise running my life.”

      “I’m sorry, darling. I just wanted you to feel welcome and comfortable after what you’ve been through.” Kate turned to Shelby’s grandfather. “I can’t imagine what you both went through.”

      Shelby closed her eyes and opened them again when they reminded her of being in the dark for so long. “I’m not fragile and I’m not going to fall apart, so, please, don’t treat me like I will. I want to put it behind me and get on with my life.”

      “Of course.” Kate’s smile grew, becoming more natural. “Your grandfather was telling me you had a mind of your own. You remind me of him when he was eighteen.” Her gaze softened and she cast a glance at Patrick. He didn’t look away, their gazes seeming to connect as if with a shared memory. For a moment, they both appeared much younger than they were. It struck a chord in Shelby. Could it be there was still a spark left between them after forty years?

      Pushing the thought aside, Shelby said, “I’d like to get back into my life, starting today.”

      Kate’s brows rose. “So soon?”

      Shelby’s grandfather stepped forward. “Don’t you want to take another day to recuperate?”

      Shelby shook her head. “I can’t sit around and do nothing. I’m two weeks behind in my schoolwork and I need to talk with my instructors to see what I can do to catch up.”

      “I know how important school is to you, Shelby.” Her grandfather touched her arm. “But you’ve been through a lot.”

      Shelby held up her hand. “Enough. If one more person says I’ve been through a lot, I’ll explode. The only way I can put this all behind me is to move forward, get back into my life and live it.” She glanced at her grandfather. “You know me. I’m no good at sitting around.”

      Her grandfather smiled. “No, you’re not.”

      “I need my books, class notes, assignments and my own clothes.”

      “I’ll have someone sent out right away,” Kate said.

      “No. I’m going myself. I need to check on my car and talk to my instructors. If I hurry, I might catch them before they leave for the day.”

      “But is it safe for you to go?” Kate looked to Daniel.

      His lips pressed into a straight line. “I can be with her every step of the way.”

      “You can take one of the cars,” Kate offered.

      Shelby put her foot down, determined to do it her way. “No, I won’t be chauffeured around in a limousine.”

      “I need to go out to the bar and check on things there,” Patrick said. “We can go in my vehicle.”

      “How long will you be staying?” Daniel asked.

      Patrick scratched his chin. “I’m not sure.”

      “Then I’ll take her in my vehicle. She needs to be at the Winston Estate at night. The security is tighter here.”

      Patrick nodded. “Fair enough.” He stared at Shelby. “Do you want me to follow you to the university?”

      “No, Granddad. I’ll be fine with Daniel.” Much as she hated admitting it, she felt protected with her bodyguard around. “You need to check on things back home.”

      His bar was his livelihood. He needed to be there to manage and keep it running as smoothly as possible. Shelby wondered how much time he’d spent away from it while she’d been missing. Probably more than the staff could handle on their own.

      As if reading her mind, her grandfather reassured her, “The staff has been taking care of things fine without me, but I want to make sure