Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Calista gave me a small smile. “This all looks wonderful. Don’t let me forget to thank whoever made and brought this up.”
“That’d be Apple again. And don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll all be back later. Right now, though, you need food and rest.”
“What’s going to happen next?” She met my gaze and for the first time, she looked haunted.
“Nothin’ you need to worry about, baby girl. Let your daddy take care of everything. It’s what he does.”
“I brought these problems straight to him. I should help.”
“You are. By staying here and lettin’ him do this.” I sat down next to her and gripped her hand in a tight squeeze. Immediately, pleasure zinged through my hand up my body and went straight to my cock. I had to get a handle on this! If Dom walked in and saw me sporting the mother of all hard-ons he would not be impressed.
I cleared my throat and forced myself to let her go. Then the woman had to go and turn her hand so she grabbed onto my fingers. Our gazes clashed. Her breathing sped up until a small sob escaped her.
She let go of my hand, but I wasn’t having that. Everything inside me screamed to comfort her in any way she needed. Right now, I thought she just needed to feel safe again.
“Talk to me, honey. Tell me what you need.”
With a heart-wrenching sob, she stood so fast the chair fell over backward and she threw herself at me. I caught her, wrapping my arms around her tightly. I urged her onto my lap, draping her legs on either side of my hips. Then I stood with her and walked to the couch to sit.
Calista clung so tightly she nearly strangled me, but I wasn’t about to make her let up. I just rubbed her back with one hand while the other arm was around her, holding her tightly to me.
Of course, Dom chose that moment to come back. “Christ, Ringo,” he growled. “I’m gonna hate it, but when she’s feeling safe and more like herself, you know I’m going to have to kill you. Right?”
“Yeah, brother. I hear you.” I didn’t stop, though. If this woman needed, I provided. Even if providing for her meant taking a beating from her old man. It was scary really. How far gone I was on this woman already. Hell, the only thing I knew about her was that she was brave beyond measure. Kind of like Lemon. Which… Yeah. I wasn’t thinkin’ about that one. I wasn’t sure I was man enough to endure that kind of a woman. But, by God, I was going to try. And just like that, I knew Calista was going to be mine.
Calista stirred then, wiping her nose on the back of her wrist with a grimace. “You can’t kill him, Dom,” she said in a soft voice. “I jumped him. Not the other way around.” Then she stiffened, moving from my lap to the floor. I shot Dom an annoyed look. It was his fault she was trying to raise her shields again.
“He’s not really gonna kill me, baby girl.” I used the nickname deliberately, needing Dom to see he could threaten, could even follow through with those threats, but he was not going to intimidate me into staying away from Calista. She was his daughter, but she’d chosen me as her protector. That was very clear.
“Don’t bet on it,” Dom grumbled. “Baby.” He reached for Calista. She was hesitant, but went to him. He pulled her into a loose embrace. He still almost completely enveloped her with his much larger frame. Calista allowed the show of affection and returned it, but she didn’t relax. It was more like she was doing something she felt like she was expected to do.
“I’m gonna get those fuckers for you, honey. You’ll be safe and can do anything or go anywhere you want without thinkin’ they’ll be on your tail.”
“I don’t…” Her voice broke. “I don’t have anywhere to go.”
“Then you stay here. Hell, I’d have suggested that first, but I didn’t want to freak you out. I’m much rather have you here where Lemon and Apple can get you into all kinds of mischief than have you by yourself in the city.”
Calista glanced in my direction before ducking her head. “It’s really OK if I stay here? Even after I kicked Peckerwood in the balls?”
“Yeah, honey. Maybe even because you busted his balls. Means you can hold your own with the men in this outfit.” He gave me a hard stare. “Any of ‘em come on to you, I want to know about it.”
“I’m sure no one will do that,” she said softly, her gaze flickered to me several times.
“Hey.” I winked at her. “I’ll be comin’ on to you. But don’t worry. It’ll be our secret.”