Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“What?” She gave him a startled look.
“West used to wake us up for school by pouring cold water on our heads. Psychopath.”
Oh, yeah. She could see West doing that. He was a bit scary. So was Alec, but in a different way. The only time West seemed softer and happier was around Flick.
“Why did he do that?” she asked.
“Because we wouldn’t get up otherwise.” Raid sent her a wicked grin. But that quickly faded into a look of concern.
Lord, Hannah was so tired of people staring at her like that. Or, even worse, with pity.
“I don’t want you here.”
“Tough.”
“I’m not going to the hospital, Raid. I’m not having any tests done.”
His eyes narrowed, and she had to shore up her defenses. It was hard for her not to give in. To give him what he wanted.
Where was her icy resolve?
Damn it. She had to do better than this.
The trouble was that this was Raid . . . the man she’d always dreamed about, always wanted.
Her resolve was waning in the face of his stubbornness.
“No?” he murmured.
“No.”
“I could force you.”
She tensed. “You can’t do that.”
“Do I need to remind you that I’m your guardian?”
“That’s not happening, Raid.”
“Baby, I’m done arguing about this. It’s done. But okay, if you don’t want to go to the hospital, that’s fine.”
Her head spun at his about-face. “What?”
“I want you to sit down. You’re too pale and I don’t want you fainting again.” Instead of guiding her to the sofa, he pressed a hand to the small of her back to push her toward the small dining set.
She flinched and tried to jump away, but he either didn’t notice or was ignoring her reaction.
Thankfully, the apartment had come furnished, even if it was a bit worn and older. Especially the dining set. Raid drew out a chair for her, glancing down at it with a frown as it wobbled.
“This doesn’t seem safe.”
“Raid–”
“Come here.” He took hold of her wrist and led her to the kitchen.
This time, surprisingly, she didn’t flinch. Was she getting used to him touching her? She didn’t think that was really possible.
Then, so suddenly that he didn’t even give her a chance to tense or protest, he turned and lifted her onto the counter.
“Raid!” she cried breathlessly.
The only problem was that she didn’t know if she was breathless from fear or because Raid Malone had just lifted her.
Again.
Like she weighed nothing.
“Yeah?”
“I’m not a doll that you can just carry around or put where you want me to go.”
He raised his eyebrows, looking amused. What did he think was so funny? She wasn’t being funny. She was actually quite serious.
“I mean it.”
“I know you do, darlin’. But, the thing is, I like picking you up. I like putting you places. So I think I’m gonna keep doing it.”
“You can’t keep doing things just because you like to do them,” she told him as he searched through her cupboards and fridge.
Embarrassment hit her as he saw how much food she had . . . which wasn’t a lot.
She attempted to slide off the counter, but he turned back to her, trapping her on the countertop.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Not Steven. He wasn’t Steven.
A large, warm hand rested on her chest. “Breathe, baby. Sorry, I scared you. Just remember that I won’t ever hurt you.”
“You need to stop touching me.”
“Bossy, aren’t you? Luckily, I think your bossiness is cute.”
He . . . she . . . what?
“My bossiness is not cute. And I’m not the bossy one. You are.”
“You’re the one throwing around orders, darlin’.”
“And you’re not listening to any of them.”
“Nah, because you don’t really mean them.”
Was it possible for her head to explode?
“Raid . . .” she trailed off, completely unsure what she wanted to say. “What’s going on here?”
“You know what’s going on,” he told her gently. “I told you that I care about you. I want to make sure you’re all right. And if you’re not going to go to the hospital, then I’m going to feed you, make sure you rest, and look after you. What I’m not going to do is leave you. What if you faint again? You could fall and hit your head. What if you’re ill?”
“I’m not sick.” Icy calm. Chill. “I just got dizzy because I stood up too fast. And you need to give me space before I decide to call Jake and let him know that you are harassing me.”
She lightly pushed at him, and he took two steps back.
Finally, she could breathe a bit easier. And she was going to ignore that ache she felt in her stomach as he stepped away from her.
She did not like him touching her.
Right. You can tell yourself that until you’re blue in the face. It doesn’t change things.
Not only did she like his touch, but she feared after this that no one else’s touch would ever feel as good as his.