Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
“What do you use that for?” popped out of her mouth before she could stop it.
“There are some things Little girls don’t need to know.” That answer didn’t reassure her, but he distracted her by kneeling at her feet to hold out the panties for her to step into.
“Sorry, my legs are stubbly,” she whispered as he drew them up her calves.
“Stand up, Ivy,” he requested, dismissing her apology as unimportant with a shake of his head and boosting her to her feet.
Bracing herself on his shoulders, Ivy watched him close his eyes deliberately as he drew the panties up under her gown. His fingers smoothed the soft cotton fabric into position over her hips and waist before grabbing the sweatpants and helping her step into them.
Wrapped in the cuddly fabric, Ivy felt more like herself. Less vulnerable. She turned to grab the stretchy sports bra the kind woman had included and followed Steele’s guidance to turn and face the bed for him to untie the strings of her hospital gown. When he let the institutional garment sag away from her body, Ivy pulled the bra over her head and struggled to get it into place, losing her balance. Steele wrapped an arm around her waist, steadying her as he gathered her hair from where it dangled behind her and helped her move the back strap into position. Quickly, Ivy shifted her small breasts into place.
“Sit back on the bed, Ivy. Don’t exhaust yourself,” Steele directed, helping her move to that position before draping the T-shirt over her head.
“I don’t suppose they saved my shoes?” she asked.
“You weren’t wearing shoes,” he answered.
“I wasn’t? Maybe the police have those with my things. Think I’ll get them back? I don’t know if I can live without my phone.”
“No electronics for at least a week, Little girl. I’ll get you an emergency phone to use if you need it until you get yours back.”
“I’ll pay you back for everything,” Ivy rushed to tell him, feeling guilty.
“Not happening.”
She couldn’t argue because her aide entered with a wheelchair to escort her to the front entrance of the hospital.
Steele’s hand smoothed over the back of her head. “The guys dropped off my truck. I’ll go get it and meet you at the entrance.”
Ivy nodded.
“You won’t leave her alone?” Steele half asked, half demanded of the aide.
“I’m required to stay with Ivy until you pick her up,” she promised.
Steele raised Ivy’s chin with his callused hand until their gazes met again. “I’ll get there soon. Stay with the aide.”
When he left, Ivy quickly asked the kind woman who had helped her with the shower, “Can I go to the bathroom?”
“Of course.”
When she got back into the wheelchair, Ivy looked around the hospital room as the aide set a few supplies, the teddy bear, and the folder with her orders on Ivy’s lap to take home. It seemed like her whole life had changed here. Ivy wondered if she’d ever get her self-confidence back. Now she was just scared. What else could be waiting to harm her out there?
CHAPTER
FIVE
Snagging the teddy bear in one hand, Steele lifted the sleeping woman from the truck and carried her into the back entrance of the clubhouse. It was late enough that most of the Guardians would have left the shop by this time. He didn’t want to overwhelm her with a ton of people to meet.
Heading for his apartment, Steele avoided running into anyone. The level of conversation and noise coming from the gathering areas didn’t disturb her sleep. He juggled her slight body to open and close the door, isolating them inside. Once at the bedside, he tossed the covers aside and set Ivy on the sheets. Immediately, she rolled onto her tummy and buried her face in the soft pillow. Steele placed the teddy bear next to her.
“Steele,” she mumbled, pulling the stuffed friend close.
“I’m here, Little girl. Go back to sleep.”
“I wish he was my Daddy,” Ivy confided before dropping back into a deep sleep, leaving Steele rocked back on his heels.
He’d hardened his heart over the years, dismissing his possibility of finding a Little girl of his own. Could this horrible attack on the adorable woman have allowed them to find each other?
Forcing himself to move, he lifted a chair from the corner of the room and carried it to the bed. Steel lowered himself into the upholstered seat and watched Ivy sleep. After several minutes, he heard a knock on the outer door to the apartment. When he answered, Storm greeted him.
“The sensors told us you were home. How is she?” Storm asked as he handed Steele a delicious-smelling, laden tray.
“Sleeping. She has a severe concussion from banging her head against the dumpster. It’s rattled everything inside her. She’ll stay with us for a while,” Steele shared.