Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Moose gave her a sympathetic glance but offered no soothing words or a hug. She could really use one of those, especially from his big, strong arms. If they wrapped around her, she could pretend his body would absorb all her problems. But Moose had already told her he wasn’t a people person, and he didn’t exactly seem like the type to dish out comforting hugs.
“Let’s go through every room and assess the damage,” he said as he stepped over a shattered vase. “See if anything is missing before you call the cops.”
Each room she entered sent her spirits plummeting. Whoever had been in her house took their damn time and went through everything. Even her makeup and underwear were scattered all over the floor. The thought of some random, repulsive man with his hands on her panties had her shuddering. Those wouldn’t be coming with her. She’d grab new ones at the local big-box store. These she’d rather burn.
“Any luck?” Moose called from what had been Ricky’s room.
“No.” Her arms hung limp at her sides as she glanced around at the complete disaster of her life in symbolic disarray at her feet. “It’s too much of a mess to determine if anything is missing.” Her shoulders slumped. This would take weeks to clean, and money she did not have to replace the damaged items.
Her closet door remained closed, giving a smidge of hope that some of her clothing could be wearable. As she reached for the doorknob, the closet door swung open, slamming into her arm.
Daisy screamed as a man burst into the room. He charged at her like a linebacker going for the tackle. His shoulder hit her ribs, knocking her into the wall with a hard thud that jarred her insides.
“Moose!” she screamed. He towered over this guy, and if they could keep him contained, maybe she could get some answers.
The man grabbed a rhinestone candle holder off the floor and hurled it at her window. The sound of shattering glass drowned out the pounding of Moose’s footsteps. A second later, the man disappeared through her window.
Moose charged into the room, eyes wide and feral.
“The window!” she shouted.
He sprinted over and stuck his head out. “Fuck!” he shouted as he slammed a hand against the window frame, making her jump. “He’s gone. Can’t tell which direction.”
Daisy sagged against the wall. She pressed a hand over her rioting heart.
“You okay?”
She blinked at him. “I’m not hurt,” she said. God, she hated how small her voice sounded. “But I’m not okay.”
“Yeah.” He ran a hand across his chin. “Me either.”
They stared at each other for long, charged seconds. Sadness rolled off her, and frustration came from him in thick waves. Finally, Moose said, “C’mere” and stretched his arms wide.
Daisy flew across the room into his embrace, crunching over broken items. As she’d fantasized, those arms closed around her in a firm, unbreakable, yet gentle hold. Everything she’d imagined about being in his arms came true. Her problems, fears, and stress flowed off her shoulders and absorbed into his large body, leaving her comforted and able to handle what she couldn’t have on her own.
“Heard you scream. Scared me,” he said against her hair.
Understatement of the century.
“We need to call the cops.”
Daisy sighed. “I don’t want to.” She tried not to sound like a petulant child. If she called the police, there wouldn’t be a way to keep Ricky’s name out of it. Now he’d be hunted by the men he’d stolen from and the police. But as much as she hated it, she knew Moose was right. Insurance wouldn’t hand over money for a break-in without a police report, and she’d need the funds to repair the damage and replace destroyed items.
He grunted. “Believe me, neither do I, but it’s necessary.”
“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “But um… can we do this for a few more minutes?”
Moose chuckled before his arms tightened. “Yeah, sweetheart. We can.”
Sweetheart.
What would it be like to have a man like Moose? Hell, to have Moose himself calling her that every day? To belong to him and have him belong to her? Sure, he was rough, gruff, and antisocial as the animal he’d been named after, but she’d seen glimpses of softness beneath his hard shell.
Like in this moment.
Only minutes ago, she’d thought him one to avoid hugs or the offer of comfort, yet here he was, holding her in the middle of her wrecked house.
And it felt so good.
She wanted to stay there for the rest of the day and pretend they had nothing else to do.
But her to-do list was growing by the minute, and Moose would probably get hives before too long.
She inhaled once more, breathing in his potent, clean scent before she released him. “Okay, let’s get this over with. I don’t want to stay here a second longer than I have to. And do you mind if we stop at the store? I’d rather die than wear panties that guy touched.”