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)
* * *
I never heard Gemma’s cries that night. After a day at the park, a dinner that was as…interesting as Daisy had described it, and a movie before Gemma’s bedtime, I was exhausted. The little girl was a bundle of energy, and Daisy never once slowed down with Gemma. After tucking Gemma in bed, I left my own door open in case she had a nightmare, but I’d fallen deeply asleep.
The hallway light spilling into my bedroom woke up. Frowning, I blinked. I could hear soft whispers coming down the hall, and as I stumbled to Gemma’s room to make sure that she was all right, I realized that Daisy was in the room with her.
“You don’t have to be ashamed,” Daisy said. “I used to have scary dreams too.”
I froze outside the door and closed my eyes. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but wanted to make sure that Gemma was okay. At least, that’s what I told myself.
“What were your bad dreams about?”
“A lot of things,” Daisy murmured. “They weren’t always the same. And some nights, I’d just wake up scared and couldn’t remember why.
“Did your daddy scare your bad dreams away?” Gemma asked. “Mine does!”
“You’re a lucky girl,” Daisy chuckled. “No, my parents didn’t know that I had nightmares.”
“Why?”
I held my breath, and there was a beat of silence. “My parents didn’t always get along,” she admitted. “But we don’t have to talk about that. What happens when you lay down to go to sleep? After your daddy tucks you in?”
“I can’t sleep. I’m scared of the bad dreams.”
“Yeah? Why don’t we try something different tonight? Do you like to read books before bed? Or…since I don’t have any books, why don’t I tell you a story until you fall asleep?”
“What story?”
“What kind would you like?”
“Hmm.” Gemma hummed loudly, and I could hear some shifting in the bed. “A dog story! I love dogs.”
“I think I can do that. Slip back under the covers for me and close your eyes. I’m going to turn out the light except for the nightlight, but you don’t have to be scared because I’m going to be right here.”
“Okay.”
The room darkened, and I leaned against the wall, listening to Daisy’s voice as she began her story. She was going to make an excellent mother one day.
For half an hour, she made up some ridiculous story about a dog escaping the pound and trying to make its way back home. Before she finished the story, she fell quiet, and I realized that Gemma must’ve already been asleep.
Not wanting to be caught listening in, I hurried back to my room and waited for Daisy to come out. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of me, and she put her finger to her lips. “Is everything okay?” I whispered when she approached me.
“She woke up, but she’s asleep again. She’s right next door, so I should be able to hear if she wakes up again.”
“Actually, I might stay up to get some work done. Why don’t you catch up on your sleep here,” I said, motioning to my own bed, “and I’ll keep an ear out for Gemma. Okay?”
Daisy yawned before frowning. “Sleep in your bed? With her right down the hall?”
It wasn’t the first time she’d shied away from me with Gemma around. “You’ll get more sleep here. I’ll get some work done in your room. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“For bunny pancakes?”
“Bunny pancakes,” I confirmed and kissed the top of her head. She stumbled into my room and crawled into my bed. Seeing her curled up under my sheets was nearly my undoing, but I managed to grab my computer and close the door behind me.
They both slept soundly until morning, but I didn’t get any work done. My focus wasn’t on my multi-billion dollar company. It was tangled up in the woman sleeping in my bed.
Chapter Nineteen
Daisy
The next week flew by. Brick didn’t touch me at all during the weekend, and for that, I was grateful. Poor Gemma already went to bed terrified of her nightmares. I wanted to be there for her if she needed me, and Brick apparently felt the same.
Sunday night, Brick was in my bed all night long, making up for lost time. I wondered if things were changing between us, but Monday morning, there was a list of things for me to do around the house again, along with explicit instructions on what to wear that night. We fell back into the same routine. There were no more dates out or pretend family nights in. Still, it had been nice while it lasted.
“You seem happier,” Suzie commented as she started to prepare for dinner. “Smiling. Humming. You aren’t doing something stupid like falling in love, are you?”
“What?” Sitting directly on the floor, I was still trying to figure out how these gold strappy heels fit. They looked like they were supposed to wrap all the way up my legs, but there were so many loops and cross tucks. Every time I thought it was right, the buckle didn’t meet the strap. Who the hell designed these?