Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“I know Sadie works at the front desk. Do any of the rest of you have jobs?”
They all nodded.
Juniper spoke first. “I’m kind of a computer geek. I work with Daddy, helping monitor and protect all of us and the resort.”
Celeste giggled. “She’s being a bit modest. Juniper is a computer goddess who can hack into anything anywhere—only for good causes, mind you.”
Lyra smiled. “That’s cool.” She faced Celeste. “You’re a scientist, right?” She remembered Celeste mentioning something about that before.
“Yes.” She pointed across the room. “I have a lab through that door. I’m working on cutting-edge cancer research.”
Zara nodded. “Celeste is also being too modest. She’s a world-famous scientist, and I’m very lucky I get to work with her. I help her in the lab.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize you all were so…important.”
They shrugged.
Sadie narrowed her gaze. “You’re pretty darn important yourself, Lyra. Don’t downplay your abilities. You’ve played your cello all over the world.”
Lyra shrugged. “I guess, but that’s nothing compared to curing cancer, being a computer genius, or even managing a resort. I know you aren’t just a front-desk worker,” she informed Sadie.
Zara gasped. “Your talent is amazing. I wish I could do what you do, and the world needs entertainment, too.”
Lyra looked down at her blank paper and sighed. “I don’t know if I should put a picture on my door,” she admitted.
“Why not?” Celeste asked.
She shrugged. “Because I can’t stay here forever. I can take a long break, but eventually, I’ll need to rejoin my quartet and go back on tour. It’s what I do.”
They were all quiet for a few seconds before Sadie spoke softly. “Don’t you worry. Our Daddies have an amazing ability to work things out so that we can all be together as a family.”
Lyra sighed. That didn’t seem possible in her case, but she didn’t want to be a Debbie Downer, so she reached for a black crayon. “Does anyone know how to draw a tarantula?”
Chapter Sixteen
When Phoenix stepped back into the basement two hours later, he was relieved to find Lyra laughing and coloring with her new friends. He’d been confident they would all embrace her, and she would love them, but there had been no guarantees.
“Daddy!” she exclaimed as she lifted her gaze to see him approaching.
His heart was overflowing. He loved her as if he’d known her for ten years. It felt like it had been that long, most of the time. He knew they still had a lot to learn about each other, but he was also positive they would work everything out and be together for the rest of their lives.
Her job situation was eventually going to be something they had to discuss, but it seemed she had plenty of vacation time right now to spend in his arms in his bed.
As he approached, he felt that stab of concern, though. His Little girl was a cellist. There was no way to deny that. He couldn’t very well expect her to quit touring with her quartet and stay here at the resort for the rest of her life. That would stifle her and destroy her.
Could she possibly take a few months off, though? He hadn’t broached that idea with her yet. Phoenix knew two things to be true. One, he would follow her to the ends of the earth if that was what she needed. He wasn’t exactly agent material, and he knew nothing about managing a musician, but he had a hefty settlement in his bank account from being wrongfully accused of arson, so he could easily travel with her as her bodyguard or even her husband.
That was how he saw himself already. He wanted a ring on her finger and dried ink binding them together as soon as possible. He cringed at the thought of being her boyfriend or lover. When she returned to her quartet, she would be introducing him as her husband. End of story.
There was another truth he couldn’t avoid, though, and that was his obligation to the team. He wouldn’t even consider leaving his teammates behind until Caesar’s assignment was fulfilled. They had a pact. He wouldn’t break it.
Based on how quickly each of them had been given their assignments, Phoenix had to assume Caesar’s would follow in quick order. And then what? Would the six of them continue to stay here at the resort and manage it as a family after the last assignment was completed? They hadn’t discussed that among themselves or with Kingsley. None of them knew what Kingsley had in mind for after they’d all repaid their markers. Maybe he intended for the six of them and their Littles to leave so he could replace them at Danger Bluff with six new men who also owed him markers. How many people had he rescued around the globe? None of them knew.