Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
No. She’d just started this job. The last thing she wanted to do would be to risk her employment. What if Rocco told her boss, and he decided she was a liability? She could end up fired and on the street in a foreign country without enough funds to even leave the island.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to date coworkers,” she finally managed to blurt out. Her chest hurt with the admission. She so badly didn’t want this kind man to leave.
“We aren’t dating, Sadie. Not in the traditional sense.” He stepped closer and pulled her into his arms.
She held her jammies and Edgar against her chest.
“I know it happened fast between us, but this is already a relationship. I’ll speak to Mr. Kingsley to make sure he’s aware.”
She frowned. “Who is Mr. Kingsley?”
He smiled. “Apparently, he’s our boss. I found out his name earlier today. Baldwin Kingsley III, to be exact.”
“Oh. Do you think it’s weird that I took this job without knowing his name?” she asked.
Rocco chuckled. “We all did, sweetheart.”
“Oh, right.” She giggled.
“Anyway,” Rocco continued. “I’ll speak to Kingsley about our relationship.”
She gasped as she realized what he intended to do. “Oh no. Don’t do that. We might get fired.”
“We won’t get fired, Little one. I promise.”
She tried to step back, but she was caught in Rocco’s strong embrace.
“Sadie,” he continued, “no one is getting fired. I promise.”
She shook her head, feeling more nervous by the moment. Reality seeped in. She was all alone in this world. She needed this job. She needed to be in New Zealand, where Sylvester Pushkin couldn’t find her.
“Take a breath, sweetheart,” Rocco ordered. “You’re safe.”
She pursed her lips. His choice of words was too close to home. She wasn’t safe. She might never be safe again.
“You need to get to bed, Little girl. Do you want Daddy to change your clothes for you, or would you like to go in the bathroom and get ready on your own tonight?” Rocco released his hold on her.
She was tired. Not just because it was the end of a long day but also because she hadn’t slept well in weeks. She couldn’t think of anything more enticing than having an amazing Daddy put her to bed, but getting naked in front of him was out of the question. Shake out of it, Sadie.
“I can do it,” she murmured.
“Good girl.” He gently turned her around so she was facing the small bathroom. “I’ll pick out a story.”
She glanced at the empty bookshelf along one wall. “I haven’t had a chance to get any new books since I arrived in New Zealand.” She winced at the thought of all her favorite books that had been abandoned in her apartment. Some of them had been dog-eared and special to her.
“I guess we’ll need to rectify that soon. But for tonight, I’ll find something I already have downloaded on my phone. How does that sound?”
She smiled. He looked so sincere. “Okay.”
Rocco turned her around and gave her a pat on the bottom.
Sadie rushed into the small bathroom and shut the door. Leaning against it, she stared at herself in the mirror.
There was a battle of wills going on in her head. She knew it was a horrible idea to get involved with someone. She knew she was basically lying to him by omission. But she was also so drawn to him.
She’d never felt this kind of pull to a Daddy. Or anyone, for that matter. It felt so good. She couldn’t deny him. Not tonight, anyway. What harm could it do to let someone else take care of her for one evening?
After quickly changing into her jammies, she brushed her teeth and washed her face. Rocco was about to see her without makeup. She didn’t wear much—just some mascara and lip gloss—but as the reception manager, she needed to look somewhat professional. Though her lashes were dark, they were also sparse and looked very different with her thickening mascara.
Stop stalling. Sadie took a deep breath and turned to face the man who’d insisted he was her Daddy.
Chapter Nine
Rocco waited patiently while Sadie was in the bathroom. He knew she was probably standing in there, going over the pros and cons of the wisdom of letting him into her life.
What Sadie didn’t fully understand yet was that she was indeed his already. She could fight it and toss every excuse in the book at him, but in the end, she would be his Little girl.
He suspected part of her inner turmoil stemmed not from her arguments that the two of them had just met or even from her concern about dating a coworker. Sadie was hiding something from him, and it undoubtedly wore on her.
She wasn’t ready to hear that he already knew her secrets and probably knew more about her recent past than she did. He wouldn’t bring it up tonight. She needed sleep.