Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
As if sensing she was looking, Zale turned and met her gaze. She watched him excuse himself and walk to her side.
“Are you feeling better, Aspen?” Zale asked, extending a hand for hers. When she placed her fingers on his palm, he stroked her arm, watching her. “This doesn’t itch?”
“All the hives are gone,” Aspen assured him.
“I’m glad. The medicine is working. Your daddy will keep giving you medicine for a little bit to make sure you’re completely better.”
“It makes me sleepy. I have to go to work tomorrow,” she worried aloud.
“He’ll give it to you at bedtime only now. Just a few days,” Zale told her.
“Okay. That’s better.”
“You’ll find there’s a new protocol for cleaning up unknown spills from now on,” Zale told her. “Always get a protective suit if you are wary.”
“I don’t like to rock the boat,” Aspen told him. “I’m new.”
“Your health is the most important thing, Aspen.”
“It definitely is,” her daddy echoed Zale’s admonishment, coming up behind the medic. “The wings are ready. Let’s make you a plate,” he suggested.
“Oh. Your guests can go first,” she suggested and looked at the two men in confusion.
“These aren’t guests, Aspen,” Jerico explained. “This is my team. They’re family.”
Zale nodded. “Just consider us a bonus you got with your daddy.”
Aspen stared at the medic as she internalized this information. She looked over at her daddy and he nodded.
“The team will take care of you if anything happens to me, baby.”
Tears burst from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Blindly, she walked forward with her arms held up toward her daddy. His strength wrapped around her and held her tightly. Aspen buried her face against his chest as he reassured her. Immediately, she felt Rexy leaning against the back of her legs.
“I’m not going anywhere, little girl. Consider them your backup.”
“Promise?”
“I can promise you that now that you’re in my life, I’ll do everything to get back to you.”
Aspen tried to regain her composure. She pressed a kiss to his chest. He eased her away from him to wipe the wetness from her cheeks before tilting up her chin to kiss her lightly.
“I’m sorry. I’m being silly,” she apologized.
“Feelings are never silly. I want to know what you’re thinking or worrying about. Never hesitate to talk to me, baby.”
She nodded. His words registered on her heart. She didn’t need to pretend with her daddy. He wanted her.
“I’m hungry, Daddy.”
“Let’s get you fed.”
When she turned around, Aspen discovered the team ranged in a semi-circle behind her. Their expressions looked concerned and oh-so protective. She understood what these men meant to each other already. And that they’d do anything to help her. The last of the fear that had wrapped around her for so long dissipated a bit more. Eddie didn’t stand a chance against these guys.
Petting Rexy, she asked, “Can I have a brownie first?”
“Little girl,” Jerico warned with a shake of his head and a grin that transformed his face.
CHAPTER 20
The call had come in the middle of the night. Jerico had kissed her fiercely before getting dressed and reporting for duty.
The medicine’s drowsy effect forced her back to sleep. Without her daddy to wake her up, Aspen had woken up late. Unable to concentrate on Jerico’s absence, she’d grabbed one of his protein bars for breakfast. Opening the fridge to chug a drink of milk, Aspen froze. Rexy bumped into her thigh, daring to be in the kitchen. She reached down to pet the reassuring dog.
“He even made me lunch, Rexy,” she said out loud, jumping a bit at the sound of her voice in the quiet house.
Rexy bumped her with his massive head.
“He’s taking care of me even when he’s not here.”
Aspen reached for the carton of milk and opened the top to drink from the container. Rushed for time, she knew she was being naughty, but getting a glass out and then rinsing it out would take too long. Besides, Jerico would never know.
After shoving the carton back on the shelf, Aspen grabbed one of the lunches her daddy had obviously put together when he’d cleaned the kitchen. She dropped a kiss on Rexy’s head.
“Go take a nap, Rexy. I’ll be back this afternoon,” she promised as she ran for the door.
The traffic consumed her attention as she tried to get to work on time. She rolled up to the gate with just a few minutes to spare. Quickly, she grabbed her employee ID and showed it to the familiar guard.
“Hey. I talked to you about that guy trying to use your name to get in. We got a notice that it was bogus. You might want to know that the afternoon guard saw him sitting in the parking lot across the street on Friday.”
A lightning strike of fear jolted through Aspen. She stared at the guard as she tried to figure out what to ask or do. A honk from the car behind her fueled her to move. “Thanks. I’ll keep my eyes open.”