Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
She still needed him.
Of course, she did. As if there was any doubt.
“Are you always going to sneak up on me?”
“Maybe. It’s fun when you make those squeaky noises”
She groaned. “What are you doing here? Brody could wake at any moment.”
“He’s sound asleep. A train going through the house wouldn’t wake him.”
“He is a sound sleeper.” She chewed her lip. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m right where I should be,” he countered.
“What did you mean earlier when you said you would take care of everything? I don’t . . . I won’t do anything to betray Brody.”
“Like kiss me?” he challenged.
“Yes, like that.”
I could make him disappear.
I could take her with me right now.
Denying himself what he wanted was so strange. But so was wanting someone else.
But the strangest thing of all was putting her needs before his own.
And she needed the boy.
He made her happy. Even if she’d had a few panic attacks lately, they had more to do with her ex.
He’d be taking care of that asshole. Even if he wasn’t happy that he wasn’t allowed to kill him or her ex-best friend.
Cockroaches.
She wasn’t ready for him yet. That much was clear. Although if it came down to her safety and her happiness, he’d choose her safety.
He sighed. “Morals are so irritating.”
She shook her head at him, then glanced up at the stars. As if she didn’t have a pissed-off assassin looming over her. No sense of self-preservation, this one.
He huffed out a breath. She really needed to pay him more attention.
Was he sulking? He thought he might be.
But he sat next to her. To his shock, she leaned into him, her face resting against his arm.
He could deal with this. What should he do? Did he pull her closer? Hold her in his lap? He wasn’t used to this. And that irritated him too, not knowing what to do.
“Are you grouchy at me?”
“Part of me wants to take you over my knee and spank you. Your job is to do whatever I want.”
“Oh, is it?” she asked, sounding amused. “And what’s your job?”
“To take care of your every need and make certain you’re never unhappy another day in your life.”
She sucked in a breath, then moved away.
Don’t move away from me.
But then she turned to kneel in front of him. “There will be days I’m unhappy. It’s bound to happen.”
“It will not. I will not allow it.”
“You’re used to getting whatever you want, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Spoilt.”
“For years, I had nothing. Now, I have every material thing I want.” But it still hadn’t been enough. Not until he’d met Sunny and realized what he was missing . . .
A person. He’d needed a person of his own.
And because he liked to be greedy, he was going to have two.
But he wasn’t a complete jerk. So he wouldn’t kidnap them and lock them in his den.
Yet.
He really needed a prize for his generosity and care for other people’s feelings. It was definitely a sharp learning curve. He also needed to figure out how to do this hugging thing. She seemed to like hugs and affection.
“You’re going to catch pneumonia out here,” he said gruffly to mask his confusion.
“I’m not going to end up with pneumonia.”
“You should be wearing warmer clothing. And you shouldn’t come out here alone.”
“I’m not alone.”
“I won’t always be here.”
“Soon.”
Most people would jump to do his bidding. They wouldn’t dare defy him for fear of retaliation. But his girl just shook her head, ignoring his order.
Because they were building trust.
That was part of the plan. Well, not the original plan. That involved him keeping an eye on her to make sure she didn’t talk. It hadn’t included getting close to her.
Wanting her.
But she kept pulling him in. He didn’t like feeling this attached to someone. It made him uneasy. So he’d decided to make her so dependent on him that she couldn’t live without him.
That was what a relationship was, right?
Ah, well, apparently, there was also mutual trust, communication, honesty, respect, blah, blah, blah. He’d read all that nonsense in the relationship books he’d bought.
But what it would really come down to is that she wouldn’t be able to live without him.
Because he was coming to think he couldn’t live without her.
“I won’t hurt Brody,” she whispered. “And yet I don’t want to hurt you either.”
He sucked in a breath. “I told you before, leave it all up to me.”
“What are you going to do?”
He tucked the blanket around her shoulders. “Go back to snuggling with your little friend.”
He stood, then drew her up with him.
“What are you going to do? You need to tell me.”
“Nothing you need to fret about. Now, I’ve already told you to stop stressing. It annoys me when you worry.”
“Urgh!” She stomped her foot on the porch. That was new. Was she having a temper tantrum? That delighted him. Her Little had occasionally peeked her head out before scuttering away. So he was going to enjoy this.