Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“I don’t mean to imply that you would . . . I know you wouldn’t. I trust you. I do. It’s just . . . it’s me.”
“I know. But I’m here to protect you. Everyone else here at the Ranch will protect you. And there’s Hayes, too.”
“You’re right. You are. I just have to trust in you and myself. Because it hurts to keep holding back.”
He brushed her hair off her face, tucking it behind her ears. “I don’t want you hurting, darling girl. And I have something that might help.”
Instead of letting her walk, he picked her up and cradled her against his chest.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m carrying my baby. She looks tired.”
“I do?” she asked.
“Hmm, she might need a nap this afternoon.” And he might have a special way of waking her up.
When they reached the cabin, he carried her in and set her down on the couch. “Do you need to go potty, baby?”
Red filled her cheeks and she shook her head, looking away. He crouched and cupped the side of her face, turning her face back.
“Hey, precious girl. You don’t need to be embarrassed. I know you like to regress quite young, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“How young?”
“Um, I don’t know exactly. But I like the idea of bottles and pacifiers.”
“Diapers?” he asked.
“Maybe to wear when I’m napping. Not all the time.”
“Hmm, so maybe toddler age. Which means you would need Daddy’s help to go potty. Wouldn’t you?”
“I guess so.”
“And Daddy wants to help you with that, so there is no need to be embarrassed. Now, maybe I should show you what I got you. Wait here, hands over your eyes. No peeking.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
Satisfaction filled him. God, he loved hearing her call him Daddy.
Bebe wondered what he’d gotten her.
Excitement flooded her. She liked presents. Sometimes she felt guilty about how much she liked them. Did that mean she was materialistic?
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked.
How could he tell something was wrong? Sometimes it felt like he was a mind-reader.
“Do you think it’s awful that I like gifts? Does that make me materialistic? I mean, they don’t have to be expensive. I just like the surprise . . . I didn’t always get gifts as a kid. My parents would always forget my birthdays. And I think my dad’s personal assistant was the one who bought my Christmas presents. Because I never got anything I asked for.”
“Jesus, baby, you’re fucking killing me here.”
“Sorry,” she told him.
“And don’t apologize. I just . . . I’m sorry they were so terrible. I can promise I will never forget your birthday or what you ask for from Santa.”
She bit her lip at the idea of asking Santa directly. “I’ve never even sat on Santa’s lap.”
“Well, you can this year and every year after. Santa makes a special trip to Sanctuary.”
He did?
Oh, she was so looking forward to that!
“I hope I’m still here.”
He placed his hands over her fidgeting ones, drawing them to him, but she couldn’t look at anything but his serious face. “You will be. Because I want you to stay here. Forever.”
“Forever?” she asked.
“It might be too soon, but I don’t care. I love you Bluebelle Benner. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me. Every time I think of you, I smile. You light up my life in a way that hasn’t ever happened. I think ever since my dad died, I’ve been in a funk. I didn’t realize it, but I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. And now I want to experience life. With you by my side. It’s okay if you can’t say it back. I don’t want—”
“I love you too!” she cried, throwing herself forward to wrap her arms around him. It’s why everything meant so much to her. Why she didn’t want to mess it up. Because losing him would devastate her. “So much.”
“Good. Then it’s agreed you’ll stay?”
“I will. But there’s the house in San Francisco.”
“Let’s not worry about that now. We can sort that out. Now, I’ve got gifts for you, and no, I don’t think it makes you materialistic to want them. It’s okay to enjoy someone doing something nice for you. Far as I’m concerned, you haven’t had enough of that so you should let me do it for you now. Without guilt.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
He kissed her lightly, then drew away.
Bebe gasped as she took in the things on the coffee table. There was a large kite with squirrels all over it, four tubs of slime in different colors. As well a toy tool kit in a pale yellow. Then there were the outfits. A white onesie with squirrels all over it and a dress made of the same material. A hat with a squirrel's face on it. Squirrel slippers. There was definitely a theme. There were also plastic plates, a baby bottle, and a pacifier.