Dumped on His Wharf, I Married His Brother and Set Their Price novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Philbrook

Susannah's POV

"Philbrook is my father's name," I said.

I said it to the faucet, with the bathwater up to my collarbones and Torsten's arms around me from behind.

The tub was a deep old claw-foot, the only grand thing in his house.

He had filled it all the way up around us.

He did not laugh.

I felt his chest stop moving against my back.

"Donald Philbrook," he said slowly. "From Vinalhaven."

"Yes."

"The Philbrook who sets the Monday price."

"My parents divorced when I was eight," I said. "My mother took me to Thomaston and took her own name back."

I breathed out.

"I took it too. I was ten."

I stared at the white tile.

"Nobody here knows, because I never told them. I didn't want to be Donald Philbrook's daughter, Torsten."

"Why?" he said.

"He decides things for people," I said. "I decided at seventeen to be somebody he couldn't decide for."

The water lapped.

His hand was open on my stomach, warm, and it didn't move.

"That's why Philbrook came to Dad in June," he said.

"My father didn't know about Wyatt," I said. "I never told him."

"Somebody told him."

"No." I shook my head. "He wasn't watching me. He hasn't asked about my life in ten years."

"Sue."

"He hasn't."

Torsten was quiet.

Then his lips touched the top of my ear. "Okay. It's your father. I'll believe you."

I turned my head.

"Are you angry?"

"That you didn't tell me in July?" He considered it honestly. "No. I'd have laughed, and you'd have been right to leave."

He ran his thumb along my ribs.

"Are you going to tell my father?" Torsten said.

"Not till I'm ready," I said.

"Then neither am I."

My eyes stung.

I had been braced for questions and for money and for the look people got.

I turned in the water so quickly that it sloshed over the rim, and I kissed him.

"Stop talking," I said.

"Yes, ma'am."

"I mean it."

I took his hand off my stomach and put it where I wanted it, between my legs.

He sucked in a breath.

← Chapter 8 · All chapters · Chapter 10 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend