Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 34451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
It wasn’t often that she came down here. The Fox preferred that she and Brody stay out of this room and away from what he did.
She figured it was safer that way—for everyone.
“Bunny, you all right?”
She turned to find him watching her intently.
Drat. She licked her lips. “Brody just called me.”
The Fox raised his eyebrows. “He did? What did he call you about?”
His gaze moved to another monitor, where she saw Brody’s office at Callahan Security. It was empty.
“Was he calling to tell you that he was leaving and about to head home?” the Fox asked.
“Um, no. That’s not why he was calling.”
The Fox frowned. “What did he say, Bunny?”
“Um, well . . . he, uh . . .”
“Come here, Bunny.” It was said softly but with a definite stern note.
She walked toward him without thought, letting him pull her onto his lap.
“Right. Tell me.”
“He’s still at work,” she blurted out. “And he said he’s staying the night.”
She braced herself. Not that she expected the Fox to explode exactly. That wasn’t his style.
Still, she wasn’t anticipating the complete chill she felt coming from him. The tension in his body.
“Is that so?” he asked.
“Um. Yes.”
“He’s staying the night?”
“Yes. He said that they’ve got a lot going on, so it didn’t make sense to come home late, then have to drive back in early in the morning. I mean . . . I guess he has a point, Daddy. It would be dangerous to drive while tired.” And Brody hadn’t been driving for very long.
“I could have gone and gotten him,” the Fox pointed out. “Or he could have worked from home tomorrow.”
She winced. Both were good points.
“He’s working far too much lately,” the Fox muttered.
“Do you think he’s avoiding us?” she whispered.
“Avoid us? Why would he want to avoid us? He loves us, Autumn.” The Fox sounded completely confident.
Autumn felt unsure, though. What if he was sick of sharing the Fox with her? “Maybe it’s me he’s avoiding. Perhaps I’ve done something.”
The Fox let out a low growl and set her on her feet before standing. Then he grabbed her hand, drawing her out of the room and up the stairs until they reached the living room.
He walked her over to the sofa and pointed at it. “Sit.”
“Um, Daddy, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong is that our boy isn’t here where he should be. You’re upset. I’m not happy. So it’s time something was done about this.”
“Um, Fox, perhaps you should take a moment and just breathe,” she suggested worriedly. “I could get you a drink.”
“You will do no such thing. You are going to sit right there and watch one of those strange Christmas movies while you wait for me to return.”
“My Christmas movies are not strange,” she muttered. Okay, so she was focusing on the wrong thing. “They’re romantic and feel-good.”
“Everyone smiles far too much. It’s bizarre. And they don’t have any real problems.”
“I know, but that’s the point. I love the happy endings and all the beautiful towns they live in. It would be nice to live in one of those movies, don’t you think?”
“Bunny, me living in one of those movies would be like John Wick meets Mary Poppins.”
Shoot. He wasn’t wrong.
“You aren’t unfeeling and melancholic!” she protested.
“No. I am not without feelings anymore. Sometimes, they are quite inconvenient. Like right now.”
“Are you upset about Brody?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to go get him.”
Right. Okay. Shoot.
“What if he doesn’t want to go with you?”
He smiled. It was a slightly terrifying smile. “Bunny, as if I’d let that stop me.”
Gulp.
“Perhaps I should come with you,” she suggested.
“No. You’re going to stay here. It’s too late and cold for Little Bunnies to be out and about.”
“Um. Right.” Shoot. She still felt like she should do something, though. Maybe warn Brody?
But perhaps it was best he spent time with the Fox. Alone.
“Autumn?”
“Yes?” She glanced over at the Fox.
“What are you thinking?”
“Um, well. I was just thinking that, I . . . um . . . I might make some hot cocoa.”
“Do not lie to me. You know that sometimes I have trouble recognizing emotions. So I need you to tell me and not lie to me.”
Well. Heck.
She glanced around. “Where’s Freddy?” She needed her emotional support stuffy.
“I’ll get him for you in a moment. Talk to me, Autumn.”
“I just . . . I’m still worried it’s me.” She hated feeling so insecure.
“It’s not you,” he said firmly. “When I bring Brody back here, he can tell you that himself. Understand me? But this has nothing to do with you. Movie. Do not text or call Brody and let him know I’m coming. I’ll get Freddy for you.”
“I can get him.”
The Fox shot her a look that had her freezing.
“Or I can just stay where I am,” she muttered.
“Good choice, baby girl. I’m looking after you right now. You will accept it.”