Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“I guess. You ate three hotdogs and part of mine,” Gabby marveled.
“You can help me work out tomorrow.”
“Is there a gym somewhere near here?”
“I have some stuff in the basement. That should give us enough of a workout. Do you like to run or jog?” Kole asked as he knelt at her feet to take off her shoes.
“Run, but not like fast or anything,” she answered hesitantly. “Is that jogging?”
“Maybe?” he answered, shrugging his shoulders. “Either way, it’s good exercise. Did you bring some sneakers?”
“I have them in the bottom of my suitcase, unless the jerk stole those, too.”
A knock on the door made them both turn around to stare at it. When Kole opened it, they found Samantha and her Daddy, Ben, on the stoop. Samantha held out a caramel-colored teddy bear to Gabby. “Daddy carries these in his patrol car for anyone who needs one. This one is really lonely and needs a forever home. Can he sleep with you?”
Kole opened the screen door as Gabby rushed forward to accept the gift with tears in her eyes. Pulling it against her body, Gabby hugged it close before remembering her manners. “Thank you. He’s so soft.”
“Thank you, Ben,” Kole said. “And to you, Samantha, for putting these two together.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like him,” Samantha answered with a smile.
“Come on, Little girl. It’s past your bedtime.” Ben urged Samantha back to the waiting patrol car.
Gabby noticed the vehicle was marked with the word Sheriff on the side. Samantha was obviously in safe hands. Feeling even more secure to be at SANCTUM, Gabby waved with one hand while she hugged her new bear friend with the other. When they were out of sight, she allowed Kole to coax her away from the door so he could close it. “That was so nice of them.”
“It was. I was going to suggest we go shopping for a stuffie tomorrow.”
“I like him so much. He needs a name.”
“Why don’t you think about it as we get ready for bed? Teeth first.” With an arm around her waist, he urged her to the large bedroom and into the bathroom.
“I just realized I haven’t seen the rest of the house,” Gabby said, stopping just inside the bathroom doorway.
“Can the tour wait until tomorrow?”
“I guess.”
As Gabby brushed her teeth and took a quick shower with her Daddy, she worried. Finally, when he draped one of his T-shirts over her head to wear as a nightgown, she confessed, “I’m going to worry about monsters if I don’t see the rest of the house.”
“Then we’ll take a quick tour before going to sleep.” He lifted her to sit on the mattress and grabbed a pair of his socks out of a drawer. “The basement might be dusty. No need to get your toes dirty.”
His over-the-calf athletic socks reached to her thighs, and she felt super Little as he lifted her to stand next to him.
“Damn, Little girl. You make me want to eat you up. You’re so cute,” he growled. “Let’s go check for monsters.”
She skipped next to him as they walked down the hallway. He announced the rooms as he opened doors and flipped on the lights so she could look inside.
“Guest room.”
“Guest room.”
“Hall bathroom.”
“Laundry room.”
“Linen closet.”
“Everything is so straight. Don’t you ever toss things inside?” she asked, interrupting his room announcements.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been here very much. I’ve immersed myself in my work. Let’s keep going.”
“Family room.”
“Kitchen.”
“Pantry.”
“You need snacks,” she observed, seeing the sparse contents.
“I’ll go shopping. You’ll have to help me with the list.”
When she nodded, he continued. “My office.”
“The stairs down to the basement. Be careful.”
“It’s all open down here,” she observed as she stepped down to the concrete floor.
“Right now, I use it for my workout space. It could be a play space for you as well.”
“That sounds fun.”
“There’s one other place I think you’ll feel is fun. Let’s make a loop around the stairs so you’ll know everything is safe. Then we’ll go upstairs and I’ll show you the one place I skipped.”
“But we walked all through the house,” she protested.
“Not quite.”
“I like the treadmill. It’s fun to walk on one. Have you ever tried walking backward?”
“No. That sounds dangerous, Little Girl.”
“Not if you go really slow, Daddy!” she said with a giggle that made him smile. Gabby loved his reactions when she just let herself be who she really loved being. There was no mistaking he enjoyed her as an actress but treasured her as a Little. She hugged his arm.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked with concern in his voice.
“I’m good. Just enjoying being here with you.”
“I love having you here to make it a home instead of just a house,” he answered, pulling her into his arms to squeeze her tight.
When she yawned against his chest, he stepped back to retake her hand. “Let’s go upstairs. I’ll show you the last room and then you can go to sleep.”