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)
She understood his logic. Her oldest brother had once had the same thought. Her parents had been away when a storm had hit, sending her rushing into Lance, her oldest brother’s, room.
He’d thought taking her outside to show her that she had nothing to fear was the best idea.
She’d ended up wetting herself, throwing up, and terrified.
He’d felt terrible, even before her dad had given him a hell of a lecture.
The point was that exposure didn’t help. It only made things worse.
“Won’t make that mistake again.”
It wasn’t likely that he would have the opportunity. She was pretty sure that she wouldn’t have this job the next time a storm hit.
Faith might not have this job by tomorrow considering she was sitting on her boss’s lap.
Her grouchy boss.
He’s not being so grumpy right now, though, is he?
“Look at me, Blossom.”
No. Nope. She didn’t want to.
“Faith.”
Did he always have to sound so commanding? It was impossible to disobey him when he spoke in that tone of voice.
“You do not want to test me. I do not like defiance.”
Yeah, she already knew that. A shiver ran up her spine and she lost the battle against him.
“You won’t always get your way,” she muttered around the thumb in her mouth.
“Why not?” he asked. “I always have up until now.”
Yeah. He was definitely spoiled. And arrogant with it.
Why was that so damn attractive?
His finger went under her chin, tilting her head back. She stared up at him until she realized that she still had her thumb in her mouth.
His eyes widened slightly. Her breath caught in her throat. What was she doing?
Could this be any more humiliating?
Wrenching her thumb from her mouth, she stared down at the wet digit. What should she do with the evidence?
Um, you fool, he’s already seen you sucking on it.
But her brain was in hyperdrive, needing to hide what had just happened. So, she stuck her finger under her bottom, between her ass and his hard thigh.
“You saw nothing,” she told him fiercely.
Whoa.
Where had that come from?
Had she lost her mind?
12
That cool, calm mask was back on his face as he lifted one eyebrow. Lord, she was jealous of people who could do that.
“That’s so darn cool.”
“I’m not sure I even want to know what’s cool,” he said. “But I do know what I saw, no matter what you say, Little Blossom.”
Unable to bear him studying her, dissecting her, she turned her face into his chest. She waited for him to berate her. To push her to one side.
To her shock, he gently placed his hand on the back of her head.
“I see you, baby.”
She let out a deep breath, shocked to find herself near tears. She could not cry in front of this man.
Faith had already humiliated herself enough tonight.
How would she face him again tomorrow morning?
“My sister isn’t fond of crowds,” he said suddenly. “She gets very shy. And she often curls her hand up in the shirt of someone she trusts to let them steer her through the crowd. To keep her safe.”
“She does that to you?” Faith couldn’t really imagine someone twisting their hand in Reuben’s clothes. Or him allowing it.
But then, he was talking about Juliet. The person he’d promised to give all the big brother hugs she wanted.
“Yes, of course. Because she trusts me most of all.”
“She does?” Faith leaned back to look up at him in surprise.
Reuben gave her a cool look back. “You needn’t look so shocked. I’m an outstanding big brother.”
Yeah, she thought he likely was. Which made him seem less like a tyrant and more human.
Approachable.
Well, maybe that was taking things too far.
“I would do anything for my sister. Anything.”
That dark note in his voice told her he wasn’t messing around.
“I have older brothers. They’re protective too.”
“Hmm. Are they? Do they ruin the lives of anyone who hurts you? Upsets you? Looks at you strangely?”
Her mouth dropped open. “You . . . you’ve done that?”
He didn’t answer. But she didn’t need him to.
For some reason, she wasn’t as freaked out as she probably should be. Maybe because he’d done those things for his sister.
“Of course, her men might argue that she trusts them more. But they’re wrong.”
Her men?
As in plural?
“H-how many does she have?” she asked. He hadn’t mentioned her men before.
Another clap of thunder. She squealed, burying herself back into his embrace as she wrapped her hands around his neck.
“I hate this. I hate it. I hate it so damn much.”
“What do you hate, Little Blossom?” he murmured.
“I hate being so freaking weak! I’m scared of thunder and lightning. It’s ridiculous.”
She waited for him to tell her that it wasn’t ridiculous. That she wasn’t weak. At least that’s what her family would always tell her.
That it was normal to have fears. But was it? Especially when she couldn’t recall any reason for her fear.