Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
She smiled at him and damn if he didn’t want to pick her up and hold her tight. “Your mother isn’t feeling the best so I’m taking her home.”
“I have to go, too?”
“No, kid. I have Dawson coming to get you when the day is done, okay?”
She nodded and approached him, reaching up to slide her hand into his. The squeeze wasn’t all that long or strong but it was powerful to his heart. Then she released him and walked away to the spot she’d just vacated.
With a gesture to the oldest out there, he gave a strict dictate. With no one but Dawson and Tully would Greer be going anywhere. Then he ran in, reiterated that with Marv, and entered the office. Emma sat where he’d left her, shivering.
Pushing a bottle of water into her hand, he broke a bit at the fear in her eyes. “I have to get to Greer.”
“Greer’s safe. Dawson and Tully are coming to get her. You and I are leaving now.”
Water untouched, she rose and followed him woodenly out the door. He put her in his truck and drove off. Keeping her against him on the bench seat, he wished he could hold her. At his place, he helped her down and led her inside and to his room.
All the sparks from this morning between them had been doused. He opened his dresser and rooted for a pair of flannel pants. After that, he found another old shirt of his for her. Linc approached her and placed the replacement clothes on the bed. Then he reached for the hem of her shirt.
“Arms up.”
She complied and he pulled the pink and blue V-neck blouse over her head. Ignoring—not an easy job—her breasts, he swiftly replaced her shirt with his, a long-sleeved baseball jersey from his short stint in the minors. On his knees before her again, he slid his hands up her legs to the waistband of her slacks.
When he undid them and tugged them down, he figured he was down for sainthood. Steadying her to make sure she didn’t fall, he got her out of those and into the flannel ones. Once that was accomplished, he got her on his bed and curled up around her, holding her against his chest.
She sobbed and he just let her get it out. Linc had so many damn questions on his tongue but he knew she had to do this at her speed.
They stayed like that for two hours. When she drew back and looked up at him, he gave her a small smile, ignoring the raccoon look on her face, the puffy eyes, and the tear tracks on her cheeks.
“Where’s Greer?” Panic spiked her voice.
“With Dawson and Tully.”
She tried to bolt but he held her. Emma struggled. “I have to get to her. She needs me.”
More like Emma needed her daughter. He shook his head. “Freckles, I need you to listen to me. Your daughter is fine. Dawson is at the center. Tully, and I’m fairly certain Mitchell, is there as well.”
“She’s not your responsibility.” A shove. “She’s mine.”
“I love that little girl like she’s my own. She is safe. You need to get yourself together so you don’t scare her.” He pulled his phone out again and called Tully.
“She needs to talk to Greer,” he said when the call was answered.
“Video?” Tully asked.
“No.”
“I’ll get her.”
Putting his phone on speaker, he held it between them.
“Mama?” Greer said. “Are you feeling better? Linc said he was going to take care of you but I can finish my game.” A breath. “I can come home if you want.”
Her blue eyes flew to him. He left it up to her.
“No. Enjoy your afternoon, be good for Dawson. I’ll feel better soon.”
“Love you, Mama.”
“Love you too, Greer.”
He ended the call and dropped the phone on the bed beside them. “Talk to me, Emma.”
“What about?”
He thought about it, searching hard for the quote he could give her to let her know he was trustworthy. Linc cupped her cheek. “If you want to get someone’s trust you have to give a little trust first.”
She stared, blinked, and stared a bit more. “Didn’t peg you for a Disney guy.”
“Disney?” He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I’ll have to ask Mitchell about that. I heard it from him.”
Emma smiled, pushing sun and hope into his heart. “Don’t have him take the blame for you watching Raya. Besides, I heard you do watch Disney.”
“Who’s been feeding you lies?” His lips twitched.
“So, you don’t quote The Sandlot and weren’t thrilled that Dawson could, too? Sounds to me like you’re just hiding your true personality.”
His heart soared at her small joke. He’d take all the blame if he could keep the fear and panic from her gaze.
“Talk to me, Emma, please. Let me help you.”
Her expression was tortured. He waited.