Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 81977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81977 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
She'd gotten her ears pierced at my insistence when I caught her staring at earrings in a shop window. She was now sporting a pair of Tiffany's two-carat diamond studs, which her fingers kept gravitating towards repeatedly.
I opened the French doors that lead off the breakfast nook onto the patio where I had the grill already heating just waiting for the fish.
I'd skewered some fresh pineapple rolled in sugar to grill as well, a nice accompaniment to the fish. When I'd asked Ashley what she wanted for dinner her first choice had been McDonald's of all things. I'd squashed that out the box but after she'd explained that she'd never had one of America's favorite fast food burgers, I'd almost cried for her.
Immediately I'd shifted my plans for the weekend, Saturday was going to be dedicated to her only. Whatever she wanted to do, but there was definitely a Big Mac for lunch in her future.
I hope I survive it I haven't eaten one of those things since I was a teen. Mom wasn't too big on fast food either, though it wasn’t for the same reasons as her dick of a father. At least we were allowed one every once in a while, we just weren't allowed to make a habit of it, which was as it should be.
"I know; I'll set the table." She broke my inner ramblings with that announcement as she jumped down off the counter.
"Already done baby, just relax, there's nothing for you to do."
I could tell she was nervous, probably not accustomed to sitting idly by while someone else did all the work, took care of her. I wondered what her evenings had been like at home. Did he make her wait on him hand and foot?
Was she even allowed to watch television? Come to think of it, there hadn't been one in her room, and I can't imagine she wanted to spend her free time in a room with him unless she absolutely had to. Put it away Gideon she’s here now and she can watch all the mindless drivel that teens seemed to like on the tube anytime she likes.
I lit the tapered candles in their silver holders in the middle of the table when dinner was ready.
She blushed as I seated her and I couldn't help kissing her heated cheek. Such a delight my little Blossom.
"I hope you like it."
"I don't think I've ever eaten so much salmon before I met you."
"Do you like fish, it's good for you."
"I think so I mean I've fried lots of it when dad would go fishing with Mr. Stark..." Her voice tapered off at the mention of her father.
Taking her hand I gave it a squeeze, rubbing my thumb back and forth across her palm. I pulled her to me for a kiss. If it's the last thing I do I'm going to wipe that desolate look from her face for good. I'll be damned if he'll cause her any more sorrow or heartache.
"You hanging in there baby?" She nodded her head before taking a bite of her fish.
"This is good Gideon, I like it."
"Good I'm glad."
We enjoyed the rest of our meal over much lighter conversation. I asked about school and what these tests she was taking this week were all about.
I wasn't surprised to learn that she was in the top one percentile of her class, which she told me was unknown to her father.
She'd taken her SATs and passed with flying colors and some other aptitude tests they were giving kids these days that they didn't have when I was in school.
Apparently she'd done well enough to be accepted to an Ivy League school, but daddy dearest had nixed that. Well I'll get all her affairs with the school straightened out. I had the necessary papers now, she was old enough to speak for herself, and we didn't need his signature for anything. Asshole.
I still didn't like the idea of him being her guardian of note so I’m gonna have to deal with that first.
"Would you like to get married?" She dropped the fork and looked at me with wide-open eyes.
What the fuck? I hadn't meant to say that, what the hell had just happened? We barely knew each other, she hadn't even met my parents, and she was so fucking young. I was going to wait, what the hell happened to waiting until she got settled in?
Yeah, all those things were true but when she jumped from her seat into my lap, her arms going around my neck to hold me in a chokehold, I knew it was the right move.
If I could just get my heart to calm down we'd be good to go.
Fuck Thorpe, you really are nuts, you've lost your fucking mind over this girl. How do you go from being totally against giving up your freedom to getting married to a girl whom you'd only just met?