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)
“You don’t have to do this,” Karen said in a low voice. She didn’t know Brick, but she’d read the situation enough to know that I was uncomfortable. She was just trying to protect me.
Brick immediately pulled out his wallet and withdrew a few hundred dollars. He slapped it on the counter. “I need to talk to her. Leave us alone.”
“I’m not interested in your money,” Karen snapped.
“Karen, it’s okay.” I smiled at her. “Take the money. It’ll help pay for your sons soccer equipment. I’m going to talk to him for a few minutes. I’m okay.”
She hesitated, but nodded. I removed my hat and walked around the counter. Grabbing Brick’s arm, I led him to a booth in the corner. He resisted. “You don’t belong here, Daisy. I’m here to take you away from all of this.”
“I’m not leaving,” I said mildly and sat down. “If you want to talk to me, you’re going to have to do it here.”
After a moment of hesitation, he slid into the booth and reached for me. I quickly pulled away, knowing just how alluring his touch could be. “Brick, what are you doing here?”
“You left me. I know why you left me, and I’m sorry. But when I found out what Ralph did, I took care of him.”
“What?” I blinked. “What do you mean, you took care of him?”
“I had him investigated. I thought I’d have to go deep to pull up some dirt, but it turned out that Ralph had been stealing from me—from my company. I had him arrested. You don’t have to worry about him. You can come home.”
Obviously, he expected me to just fall at his feet. I gritted my teeth. “And where is home, Brick?”
“With me, of course.”
“Ralph was a problem, Brick. But he wasn’t our problem. He was mine. He deserves to be in jail for what he did to you, but I wasn’t scared of him anymore. I left him. Just like I left you, and had no plans to return to him. Just like I don’t have any plans to return to you.”
“I’ve been looking for you, Daisy. You have to come home.” He stared at me like he couldn’t comprehend what I was saying.
“Ralph humiliated and used me, Brick. He made me feel like I was worthless, but so did you.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I was angry, not thinking. I didn’t mean to… You said that you loved him. I heard it. On the phone that night. He didn’t deserve you and it upset me. I’m sorry, Daisy. More than you’ll ever know. But I never meant to hurt you.”
Slowly, I took a deep breath. Every fiber of my being wanted to forgive him and wrap my arms around him. But I was stronger now and knew what I wanted.
“I’m sorry that you overhead that, and that it hurt you. I only said that to Ralph because he was upset and wanted to hear it. He threatened to tell people about our arrangement if I didn’t. The man that I loved was you, but you only saw me as a woman that you bought. A possession.”
“If you’re talking about the collar…”
“I’m not,” I said quickly. “It’s not about that. When I was in bed with you, it was liberating. I enjoyed our time together. This isn’t about the sex, but I think for you, it was. I need something more, Brick. I need to be with a man who sees me as his equal.”
“Daisy, I love you,” he said hoarsely. “Come home with me, and I’ll prove that to you.”
My heart sang. How long had I waited to hear those words? Looking in his eyes, I knew that it was true. That he loved me. But it wasn’t enough.
“You told me that when my time was up at the end of the month, I would know what I deserved, and you were right. Brick, if you love me, then you’re going to have to get rid of this idea that you need to save or own me. I’m living at a women’s shelter and working at a fast food restaurant.”
“I can change that,” he said immediately. “You want to work? I’ll give you a spot in my office.”
I held up my hand. “Stop, Brick. This is exactly what I’m talking about. You see my life, and you want to save me. Nothing has made me feel more free than living at the shelter. Nothing has made me happier than believing that I finally have control of my life. I can make my own choices, and no one is going to take that away from me.”
He sat back and stared at me. I wasn’t sure what to expect of him. Would he yell and demand that I leave with him? Would he just get up quietly and leave for good?