Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
She glanced away. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell him. They didn’t know each other well. But . . . she’d started this now.
“After Dad died, my ma didn’t have much free time. She worked a lot just to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I didn’t . . . I was just a selfish kid, I guess.”
“Hey. I’m sure you weren’t.”
“I was. I didn’t understand why I wasn’t getting as much attention as I used to. So I . . . this is so embarrassing to say.”
“It’s all right. You can tell me. No judgment.”
“I learned if I was hurt, I got some attention.”
“Oh, Pumpkin.” There was no condemnation on his face. Just understanding.
“So you see, I was selfish. And stupid.”
“Shh. You were just a kid. You didn’t know. You just wanted some attention.”
“Yeah, but I got it by hurting myself. Aidan figured it out and told me that I needed to do better. That I was upsetting Ma by constantly getting hurt and that things couldn’t go back to the way they were.”
“Ouch. He could have been gentler.”
“No. He didn’t say it to be mean. And hell, he was still a kid himself. He had to grow up super quick to take care of me and Cash. I guess . . . Cash got into trouble a lot, while I made up illnesses or pretended to be hurt to get attention. Aidan couldn’t do either of those things because he was too busy caring for us. We weren’t fair to him.”
“You were just kids. You didn’t know what you were doing. And you should have had all the care and attention you needed.”
“It wasn’t Ma’s fault,” she defended.
“I know. I wasn’t saying that it was. I hate that some people have so much less than others. I work at least one day a week at a free clinic downtown. I opened it with a few other doctors and some nurses. We all work there to help people who don’t have health insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover everything. But it just never seems to be enough.”
“You’re a good man. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Anytime. And you can always tell me when you’re in pain or feeling ill. All right?”
“All right.”
“Now, how about you show me how to make this charcuterie board look good. But I will be in charge of the knife, deal?”
“Deal.”
“Oh no!” Hack sat from where they were watching another movie. Her brain was going all fuzzy from watching so much TV.
“What is it?” she asked alarmed.
“You never got any treasure for being a good girl after you cut your finger. That’s terrible.”
Oh, was that all? She’d thought that something serious was wrong.
Wait a minute. That was serious.
“I need my treasure!”
“You sure do. Let me get my magic bag.”
“Hey, do you think it could help fix my messed up brain?”
He froze and then gave her a firm look. “Excuse me?”
Uh-oh.
She glanced from his very stern face to the bathroom door. This seemed like a time to run for it.
“Do not even think of running, Little girl.”
She gulped. “Can you read minds?”
“A Daddy just knows.”
Whoa. She stared up at him wide-eyed.
“Fuck. Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I . . . no, it’s okay.”
“It’s not. I don’t ever want to make you feel uncomfortable. Or cross a line. Sometimes, I have trouble reining in my Daddy side.”
“You’re not making me uncomfortable, I feel safe with you.”
“Good. Because I feel safe with you.”
Surprise filled her face. “You do?”
“Yes. And I find myself needing something from you,” he said as he sat on the bed, settling in against the headboard.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I really need a hug, but I don’t know how to ask without the worry that you’ll feel obliged—oomph.” He caught her just as she threw herself at him.
Drawing her into his lap, he held her tightly, the way he knew she liked.
“I know you just made that up because you knew I needed a hug,” she muttered. “But thank you anyway.”
“Actually, I really needed this as well.”
“Yeah?” She drew back to look up at him.
“Definitely.” He gently pushed her head back to his chest. “I think we’re both in a bit of a strange place. Even though we barely know each other, we’ve been thrown into this situation where you’re anxious and I want to protect and soothe you.”
“I suppose I could let you do that,” she said with fake reluctance. “I mean, it’s a sacrifice, but someone has to make it.”
“Brat.” He tickled her until she was giggling. “You sure you’re okay with everything? I haven’t crossed any lines?”
She wondered if he knew what had happened to her. It would be easier if he did.
“This is going to sound silly,” she whispered.
“Whatever you tell me stays between us. There’s a bubble around us and nothing gets through that bubble. All right?”