Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“She’s lying,” Jim said with a grunted as he walked in, but there was a fond smile on his face. “She hasn’t taken it off since I got it for her, and her dance is still a week away.”
“A dance?” I frowned. “You’re too young to be dancing!”
“Nuh-uh! Dance! Dance with me, Uncle Brick!”
“Sure thing, sweetheart. Why don’t you go put your things in the guest room and then come back down, okay?”
Nodding, she grabbed her pink backpack and headed up the stairs. Immediately, Jim’s face fell. “Maybe I should stay too. Last night, she had nightmares all night long.”
“She’s going to be fine. I’ll be with her, Jim.”
My friend’s eyes suddenly narrowed as he focused on something behind me. “You and your hooker?” He hissed the words at me. “I thought you’d have some respect for my daughter and have her at least gone for the weekend.”
Whirling around, I saw Daisy creeping down the stairs. She froze, and I could tell by the look on her face that she’d heard Jim’s accusation. The blood immediately drained from her face, and I had to resist the urge to knock Jim out.
“Daisy, will you please go upstairs and make sure our guest is settled in?” I asked in a calm voice. Jim immediately took a step forward, and I put a hand on his chest to stop him.
“Of course,” she said softly and headed back up the stairs.
“You and I are good friends, Jim,” I said coldly. “But if I ever hear you talk about Daisy that way again, I will sever all ties with you and never look back. Do you understand me?”
“Gemma is spending the weekend here,” Jim said. “She doesn’t need to see or be around someone like that.”
“Gemma will be perfectly fine. Daisy is a guest in my home, and she deserves your respect. She is not a hooker,” I added with a little too much anger and emotion in the words. I took a deep breath before continuing. “You’ve always trusted me with Gemma before. This shouldn’t be any different.”
Jim cocked his head and stared at me. “This is a change for you,” he said gruffly. Suddenly, we could hear peals of laughter coming from upstairs. He nodded his head. “All right. Gemma! Come give me a kiss before I leave!”
“Daddy!” Gemma flew down the stairs, and Daisy slowly followed behind her. I tried to give her a comforting smile. “Miss Daisy said she would do my hair pretty! I want my hair pretty for my dance too.”
“Did she?” Jim cleared his throat. “I would very much appreciate that, Daisy. I’m not very good with hair.”
It was the closest that Daisy would get to an apology, and she seemed to know it. “No worries. I happen to be excellent with hair.”
“And makeup?” Gemma asked hopefully.
Jim’s eyes opened in alarm, and Daisy shook her head. “Now why would we mess up that pretty face with make-up?”
Gemma beamed, showing off her cherub cheeks. Jim bent down and gave her a hug. “I’m only a phone call away if you need me, okay?” he told her softly.
“Okay, Daddy.” She hugged him tight, and I could have sworn there were tears in his eyes as he stood and cleared his throat. I never would have thought that anyone could bring Jim to his knees, but that girl had him wrapped around her little finger.
After Jim left, I bent down and picked Gemma up. “Have you ever heard of a breakfast pizza?”
A look of puzzlement crossed her face. “No.”
“I think we’re going to try some, but I would hate to mess up that pretty dress. Why don’t you go change while we finish baking?”
“Okay, Uncle Brick.” I twirled her in the air until she squealed with laughter before putting her down. She hopped up the stairs, and I sighed. “I’m sorry. I forgot that I’d offered to take Gemma for the weekend. Jim is a business associate and a friend. He’s raising Gemma alone, and she’s been having nightmares lately. I thought a change of pace might help her.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Brick. This is your home.”
“And Jim should not have called you that. It’s not who you are. You know that, right?”
She stared at me with those gorgeous blue eyes. “Except that when you strip away the list of chores every morning and the pretty dresses at night, it’s exactly what I am. It’s okay, Brick. I’ve come to terms with this arrangement. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Ice bloomed in my chest. I’d never, for an instant, thought of her like that, but she did?
“Come on. It’s time you learned how to make something fun to eat. Tonight, we’ll have hot dogs and spaghetti.” Her eyes were once again warm and sweet.
I grimaced. “That sounds awful.”
Footsteps thundered upstairs as Gemma ran down the hall, and Daisy grinned. “I guess Gemma will have to cast the tie-breaking vote. I have a feeling that she’ll be on my side. We women have to stick together!”