Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
After he’d brushed both of their teeth, he picked her up again and carried her into the bedroom.
Faith didn’t even think about protesting that she could walk. The honest truth was, she didn’t think she had the energy. And she really didn’t like the idea of him letting her go.
Reuben laid her down on the bed and she watched him grab a pair of boxers, putting them on before he pulled out a T-shirt from a drawer.
It was another Wishingbone, Montana one.
“I feel that you might like that place more than you let on,” she mumbled quietly.
“Not likely.” He sat her up and pulled the T-shirt over her head. She shoved her arms through the holes. Then he picked up her hairbrush from the bedside table. Huh, he must have gotten that at the same time he’d grabbed her other toiletries.
He brushed her hair, then loosely braided it. She knew it would likely be a nightmare in the morning, but that was tomorrow’s problem.
It wasn’t until they were both settled under the blankets that she realized she wasn’t wearing panties.
“I need panties.”
“No panties in bed.”
“Is that rule ten?” she attempted to tease.
“It could be, brat,” he grumbled at her.
“I should go check on Cammie,” she said.
And how are you going to find the energy to do that?
“No.”
She held his gaze steadily. He huffed out a breath. For a man who didn’t like to be told the word ‘no’ he certainly liked saying it. And with no other explanation.
But he’d promised to try to communicate better. To bend . . . just a little.
“She’s fine. I gave her a couple of sleeping pills. But I’ll go check on her.” He got out of bed and she immediately sat up and attempted to throw herself at him.
Frustration filled her as the blankets got in the way.
“No! Daddy!”
“Hey. I’m right here. I’ll be right back.” He sat and she crawled onto his lap, holding on like a Grade A clinger.
The thing was, she didn’t even have it in her to care that she was clinging like a baby monkey holding its mama.
“You let me leave before. What’s different?” he murmured in a quiet voice that reassured her that he wasn’t annoyed, just curious.
“I wasn’t feeling anything before. Now, I’m feeling it all. Like it’s rushing through me, trying to . . . to overtake me. And I can’t . . . I’m finding it hard to breathe without you. Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. Is Colin in your bag?”
It sounded like he was changing the subject, but she knew that he was trying to help her.
“Yes.”
“I’m going to put you down and get him. It’s all right. I’m not going far. You can watch me.”
He sat her on the bed, and she watched as he grabbed Colin and her pacifier.
“This pacifier looks a bit worse for wear, baby.”
It did. But she didn’t care. She squeezed Colin tight as she lay down. Then she parted her lips as he put the pacifier between her lips.
He crouched, brushing the hair back off her face. “I just need to check on Cammie. Then I’ll be back. I want you to stay right here. Can you do that for Daddy?”
She nodded.
Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. “That’s my good girl.”
51
Faith tried to pull the numbness around her again after Reuben left. But it had disappeared.
Panic threatened to take her in its grip. There was a weight on her chest that she couldn’t seem to shake.
I can’t breathe.
Where was Reuben?
Why wasn’t he with her?
She needed to breathe.
“Little Blossom?”
She sat up as Reuben walked toward her, a worried look on his face. He sat facing her, placing his hand on her chest.
“Oh, baby, you’re shaking. Breathe. For me. In. And out. In. Hold, one, two. Now out.”
Her breathing grew easier as he talked to her. He drew her onto his lap, rocking her from side to side.
“You’re okay. Daddy is here. I’m so sorry I didn’t get to you sooner tonight. Before he hurt you.”
She took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. God, it was scary feeling like she couldn’t breathe.
“You did, though. You stopped him from hurting me. I’m so glad you came for me, Daddy.”
“Always,” he murmured. “Remember my promise? I’ll always come for you.”
She let that settle around her like a warm blanket. A cup of cocoa in front of an open fire.
It was a feeling of home.
“Come to bed. Please.”
“Of course, baby.” He got them both into bed, drawing her against him so her back was to his chest and her bottom was cupped by his thighs.
She reached over to grab her pacifier and slid it back into her mouth.
Reuben slid his hand around to her tummy, cupping it. The move was possessive.
Then that hand moved up, so it was between her breasts. Guarding her. Protecting her.