Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 26164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“Make jewelry.”
She made jewelry. Shit. Obviously, she didn’t make enough money doing that to sustain herself.
Not your business.
Turning, he made it to the door before he heard her whimper. He moved back, wondering if she was having a bad dream. Crap. Should he wake her up?
Then a warm hand wrapped around his wrist. “Lucie?”
Her eyes opened. “Don’t leave, please.”
Fuck.
“Baby, you need your sleep.”
“Just lie beside me for a little while. Please.” He couldn’t resist the begging in her eyes. Sighing, he moved to the other side of the bed and sat back against the headboard. Lucie scooched over until her head was close to his thigh.
Don’t react. Don’t react.
“Will you sing me a song?”
“No.”
“Read me a story?”
“No.”
“Please,” she begged.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. He started to sing her a lullaby. When he was finished, he opened his eyes to find her facing him. Her thumb was half in her mouth and her breathing had grown more even. Thank God.
He carefully climbed off the bed.
“Thanks, Daddy. You’re so good to me.”
Dreaming. She was just dreaming.
Her coughing woke him up.
He lay there for a moment, telling himself that he shouldn’t go to her. That she was an adult. She’d be all right. She didn’t need him.
She’d be fine.
Only, he’d spent all day yesterday taking care of her, and she was basically helpless when she was ill. It was cute. The cold medicine really did make her go loopy. She spent half her time groaning in misery and the rest of the time making silly rhymes with his name and calling him Daddy.
He liked that a little too much.
The coughing stopped. See? Fine.
Then it started again. Shit. Climbing from the bed, he grabbed a T-shirt to pull on with his pajama bottoms, then strode down to her room.
She was sitting up, still coughing. He sat facing her and reached around to pat her back. When she finished coughing, he helped her drink some water.
A misery-filled groan escaped her as she lay back. “So sick.”
“I know, baby. Take your cough medicine.”
“No,” she groaned. “Don’t want it.”
“Tough. You’re taking it.”
“Or what?” she challenged.
“Or you’ll be in big trouble.”
Good threat there, idiot.
“What kind of trouble? Will you spank me?”
He stiffened. “No.”
“No?”
“I’ve only ever spanked one woman. The only woman I’ve ever loved.”
“Oh.” She stared up at him and he wondered how awake she was. Hopefully, she wouldn’t remember this conversation in the morning.
“Now, take your cold medicine and go to sleep.” He made his voice firm, expecting her to obey him immediately.
“What happened to her? Were you her Daddy? I bet you’d make a good Daddy. You probably made her feel really safe. Was she a Little?”
“What do you know about Littles?”
You probably made her feel really safe.
If only he’d kept her safe. He’d failed her. Failed his wife, his Little girl.
And he’d never forgive himself for that.
“I know lots of stuff,” she told him indignantly. “I know that I’m a Little. But I’ve never had a Daddy before. Not many of them around here. I had one I talked to online once, but he didn’t like doing the long-distance thing.”
Jealousy flooded him. Then on the heels of that, he immediately felt guilty. But why should he feel guilty? He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was just taking care of a neighbor. She didn’t mean anything to him.
Right. You tell yourself that.
He stood. It felt like there were a hundred ants running over his skin. And he had to get away from her. “Take your medicine.”
Then he left, ignoring her calling his name.
She’d be fine. He’d done more than enough. He stomped back to his room, determined to get some sleep.
And forget about the sweet girl sleeping in his spare bedroom.
5
Lucie woke up feeling chilled.
For a moment, she was confused about where she was. This wasn’t the sofa in her living room or even her bed.
Then she remembered. She was at Atticus’ place. This was her third night here. She’d spent most of her time sleeping or watching movies while he brought her food or made sure she took her medicine.
She frowned. He’d been kind of distant yesterday. But then, that was how he always was. Probably irritated about having to take care of her.
Well, she’d leave as soon as she could. She glanced around, wondering what time it was. Late, she was guessing by how dark it was.
Why was she so cold?
She moved, then froze. Oh no. Oh no.
With a small cry, she pulled her blankets back, then tried to get out of bed. But in her haste, her feet got tangled in the blankets and she fell onto her knees. Shoot! Her pajamas felt damp too.
Oh no. Oh no.
She stood and patted the sheets. They definitely felt damp. She tugged at them. She’d have to wash them.