Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“Good luck finding someone to hire a future felon. Especially one that can’t even fill out an online application,” she pointed out.
“That sounds pretty negative,” he chided gently.
“Sorry.”
Cynthia pretended to read the paperwork for a third and fourth time to give herself time to pull it together. She kept her face turned away from him to make sure he couldn’t see she was upset. Trying to remember how much money she had in her bank account, Cynthia tried to figure out how long she could survive on her savings. If she watched what she ate and just bought another set of clothes to alternate wearing, she could make it until the hearing date.
“Crap, I can’t use my ATM card,” she muttered under her breath. Maybe the bank would allow her to withdraw money from her account with her driver’s license.
“ATM card?” he echoed.
“Sorry, just making plans to get another set of clothes so I don’t have to borrow yours to wash these,” she said, gesturing to her jeans.
At the next business, Dirk pulled into the parking lot. “I’d planned to discuss this with you when we got home, but I know you’re worrying, so let’s talk now. Your apartment at Edgewater Industries is fine. With your permission, I can go get clothes for you. Sharon and Piper have both volunteered to pack a few things for you as well, if you’d prefer.”
“Oh! I figured they would throw all my things out. They’re so nice. But… I hate to bother you. I’m imposing already.”
“You’re invited—not imposing,” Dirk pointed out.
“You may change your mind after a few weeks. I can pay rent and get some food to keep in my room so I don’t infringe on your hospitality. I’d be glad to clean your house and prepare meals for you to repay your kindness.” She referred back to the papers. “It says here that someone will contact me within the next two days to set up monitoring visits. I’ll ask if I can walk to the store to get some easy stuff to munch on.”
“Little girl, I am going to spank your bottom. You are staying with me for as long as it takes to finalize the case against you in the most positive way possible. During that time, you will not hide in your room and live on peanut butter and crackers. I have a cleaning service that comes every other week. They will continue to come on that schedule.”
“You could stop them for a while and save money. I don’t mind keeping things tidy,” she suggested.
“Not going to happen. I will let you cook from time to time because that makes you happy. I will also prepare meals because taking care of you makes me happy.”
Cynthia stared at him. “You are being so nice.”
“Of course I am. I know there are a lot of scary things happening right now. Neither one of us can predict the future, so we’ll just have to deal with things as they arise. Right now, I’m selfishly pleased as hell to have more time with you.”
“Really?” she whispered.
“Truly. How about if we get out of this parking lot and head home? Someone’s waiting for you.”
“Bullyboo?”
“He’s got to be wondering where we are. I told him I’d bring you home this morning.”
“I’d love to see him,” Cynthia confessed, subconsciously crossing her arms in front of her to hug to her chest.
“Let’s go home, Little girl.”
“Thank you.”
“I may have to impose a punishment for Thank yous as well as Sorries,” he joked as he backed out of the parking place.
“My bottom is in trouble. It would be easier to stop if you weren’t helping me so much—but I’m glad you are!”
He reached over the console to wrap his hand over her knee after merging back into traffic. His touch alone made her feel better. She still had questions, but this fascinating man had whisked away some of her worries.
Maybe it’s all going to be okay.
CHAPTER 7
“Cynthia, can you wake up for me, sweetheart?” A gentle hand brushed the hair away from her face as Dirk spoke softly to her.
Automatically, she flinched away from his touch, rattled by her brief time in jail. “Oh!” she gasped, seeing his concerned face before her. “I must have fallen asleep.”
“Are you okay, Cynthia? Did anything happen to you while you were incarcerated?”
“No. It was okay,” she rushed to assure him. “I just didn’t sleep well there.”
“I’m sorry. Let’s go inside and get something to eat. Then you can take a warm bath and go to bed early,” he suggested.
“Can you show me a magic trick?” she asked.
“Of course.” Dirk stepped out of the car door and reached a hand to help Cynthia step out. “Let’s go get your stuffie first.”
“Please.” Cynthia wanted to run inside to greet her stuffie, but it was rude to burst into someone else’s house.