Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
His arms tightened around her. “Yes, baby. He told me a while ago.”
Okay, that was something. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about explaining it all.
“What happened to you was horrific and traumatizing. And that fucker got off far too easy. You’re so damn strong, my baby. I am in awe of you.”
He didn’t get it. He didn’t see how weak and cowardly she was. “I’m not, though. I didn’t leave the house at all yesterday. Well, briefly to meet Sunny. But then I came back here. I don’t . . . I don’t think I can go back to where it happened.”
“You thought you were going to?” He drew her back, staring down at her incredulously. “No. That’s not happening.”
“And if I need to? What if I need to in order to move forward?” It’s the only thing she could think of to help her screwed-up emotions.
“I said no.” He gave her the sternest look she’d ever seen from him.
She sniffled. “I hate to break it to you, Fossy, but you don’t actually get a say in what I do.”
“Fossy?”
“It’s a cross between fussy and bossy.”
“I . . . yeah, you are not calling me that.”
“Why not? You call me Ladybug.”
“That’s cute.”
“So is Fossy.”
“Yes, but I am not cute. I’m dark and dangerous.”
“You hand out treasure and keep a magic wand in your medicine bag,” she pointed out.
“Well, obviously. Those are essential tools when taking care of sick and injured Littles. But make no mistake, Little girl, I would kill to protect you if I needed to.”
Shit. Why did that make her go all gooey inside? With all the violence she’d experienced in her life, you’d think she would shy away from his commanding ways. From just the threat of violence.
But he was promising to protect her. She knew he’d never turn on her. Which was the difference.
“And I do have a say in what you do. I’m your guardian.”
Right . . . now he’d gone from violent threats to delusions.
“Ahh, no, you’re not.”
“Yes, your brother put me in charge of you.”
“First of all. I am twenty-nine years old! Nobody has to be in charge of me. I have lived on my own for years.”
“During that time, were you looking after yourself? Giving yourself what you needed?”
Shit.
Lie, idiot.
She couldn’t, though. She tried to glance away, but he gently grasped her chin and tugged her face back.
“Greer?”
“No,” she said hoarsely.
“No. You weren’t living, baby. You were surviving. And you’re exhausted, aren’t you? Tired of carrying everything on your shoulders, of making all the decisions.”
“And you think . . . I should just let you take over?”
“It’s what I do best.”
She couldn’t tell whether that was a joke or not. But knowing what she did about him . . . she was going with no.
“You liked it when I took over that night at the hotel, didn’t you?”
Shoot. She had. “Yes.”
“Let me help you, baby. I won’t push you to give more than you’re willing to. But I’m not comfortable with you staying here on your own. It’s not safe. I won’t be able to go back home, knowing you’re here alone. All I will do is worry about you. You wouldn’t want me to worry myself to death, would you? I’d fade away from hunger . . . I wouldn’t sleep . . . I’d start having delusions and probably propose to my neighbor’s cat.”
“Is she cute?”
“My neighbor? She’s about ninety-eight and can’t hear a word I say.”
“No, the cat.”
“Ahh, yeah, she’s adorable.”
“So you could do worse.”
“Brat,” he said, but his lips were twitching. “Strangely, I don’t want to marry a cat. However, that’s what’s going to happen if I’m worrying about you.”
This was such a weird argument.
And why was she bothering to argue when she wanted him here?
“You’re tired and rundown. You’ve run on adrenaline for a long time. Just let me help you. And you’ll help me . . . by making sure I don’t marry a cat.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want that.”
“Whew.” He wiped imaginary sweat off his brow.
“But where will you sleep?” She was sleeping in Ethan’s room. Buster’s room was a pigsty and it didn’t feel right to have him sleep in Aidan and Livvy’s room. Wyatt was sleeping in with Buster at the moment.
“I’ll stay on the couch.”
That didn’t feel right.
“No, you stay in Ethan’s room. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
He let out a bark of laughter.
What was so funny?
He quickly sobered. “Oh, you were serious? No, baby. That’s definitely not happening. I’ll sleep on the couch. You’re sleeping in an actual bed.” He checked his watch. “And we need to start getting you ready. It’s almost your bedtime.”
“I don’t have a bedtime.” She usually stayed up late reading. It wasn’t like she enjoyed sleeping.
“You do now.”
“Wait . . . you’re giving me a bedtime?”