My Own Daddy (Daddy 1)

“Miss, can I help you?”

Larkin jerked her head to the side to find an older man in a uniform. “Yes, I need to go home,” she said, hearing the edge of desperation she tried to hold back.

“Where were you?”

“I think I was at the top of the building.”

“You were at Mr. Marsh’s penthouse?”

Larkin shrugged.

The man looked at her sympathetically as she became dazed and agitated. “How about we get you a taxi?”

“I don’t have any money,” she confessed.

“I’ll give the driver money.”

Larkin shook her head. “Oh, no, I can’t let you do that.”

“I’ll make sure Mr. Marsh reimburses me. How’s that?”

“Will he get mad?” she asked.

“No, dear. He’s a very nice man. I’m shocked he let you leave like this.”

Larkin bit her lip and looked down.

“He doesn’t know you’re gone, does he?” The man likely guessed by the guilty look on her face. She was so easy to read.

“No. I can’t face him. I just can’t.”

“All right.” He had to see she was getting restless. “Let’s get your information down…”

“Oh, I don’t want him to have it. Although he might not remember me.”

The man tried to hide his grin. He seemed to have guessed Mr. Marsh would never forget her. “It’s for the taxi,” he explained.

She released a breath. “Oh. Okay. I’m sorry. I’m having a problem concentrating. I’ll write it down, but you have to promise not to give it to him.”

“Absolutely. I won’t give him the paper.” The man walked her over to the front counter and gave her a piece of paper and pen while he called the taxi.

Within a few minutes, the taxi honked outside.

She wrote down her address and then handed the paper to the man. “I’m sorry, but did you tell me your name?”

“No, miss. It’s Dempsey.”

Larkin held a hand out. “I’m Larkin.”

Dempsey shook her hand. “Let’s get you into the taxi.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like to put on your shoes, dear?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m afraid I’d break my neck.”

Dempsey chuckled. “I understand.” He handed her into the back of the taxi and then gave the driver the address and money. “Take good care of her,” he advised the driver. “She’s a special friend of Mr. Marsh.”