Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Pippa was halfway back to the couch when she remembered the key. Darting back to the kitchen, she searched for something to save it in or a string to thread through the hole. The only thing she could find was a rubber band. She carefully looped it through the hole and slid it on her finger. At least she wouldn’t lose it now.
After double-checking the calendar to make sure she still remembered the date, she made herself comfortable on the couch and opened the diary again. Pippa filled in the date and wondered where to start. She decided the best place to begin was the day she met Zale. That seemed to be a turning place in her life.
CHAPTER 10
Zale’s level of concern rose as he pulled into the driveway. Dusk had fallen, and the house was completely dark except for the light in the living room he had set on a timer. Had something happened to Pippa? Had she left?
He entered through the garage quietly and scanned the room. Pippa wasn’t in view. The family room and the kitchen appeared deserted. The TV was off. He could hear a faint scratching sound. It seemed to come from the area in front of the lamp.
Walking forward, he kept an eye out in every direction while he headed closer to the end table holding the light fixture. His shoulders sagged in relief when he spotted Pippa coloring. “You scared me…”
Her shriek cut off his statement as she scrambled up from the floor. She stared at him in abject terror.
“Kitten, it’s me. Zale. You’re okay. Didn’t you hear the garage door open?”
She shook her head rapidly. She didn’t move. Her eyes appeared unfocused as she rocked back and forth with her arms wrapped around herself.
“Pippa, it’s Daddy. You’re okay.” He walked forward slowly. “Can I hug you?” He stopped a few feet away when she didn’t answer.
“Kitten, Zale’s home. Did you color my stallion today?”
“Page twelve.”
“Yes, exactly, little girl. Did you color my stallion?” he repeated.
“No.” She shook her head again. This time, he saw her focus on him.
“There’s my kitten. Can I hold you? I’m sorry for scaring you.”
“Daddy!” Pippa rushed forward to wrap her arms around his waist, plastering herself against Zale. Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him over and over eagerly.
Zale stroked up and down her spine. “Now that’s a good welcome.”
“Sorry. I-I lost it a bit,” she confessed. “You’re so quiet. I didn’t hear your footsteps.”
“It’s okay, Pippa. Want me to stomp next time?” he teased.
When she nodded eagerly, he squeezed her close. “Why didn’t you turn on another light?”
“I didn’t realize that it was getting dark until that light popped on. That scared the crap out of me, too. I didn’t use to be this jumpy.”
“I think you have a pretty good reason to be skittish. Things should get easier for you. If they don’t, we’ll find someone for you to talk to,” he told her.
“I could talk to you.”
“You can always talk to me.”
“You’re stinky again.” She raised a hand to slap over her mouth. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why not? It’s the truth. Come on, kitten. Let me jump in the shower while you tell me about your day.”
Taking her hand, Zale led her down the hallway and into the large bathroom. He boosted her up onto the vanity. “Stay there out of the funky zone,” he teased.
Her giggles made him smile as he toed off his boots and stripped off his shirt. He held the material to his nose and grimaced. She was right. He smelled bad.
“What did you do? Did you take a bath?” he guessed, noting the towel on the edge of the tub as he unfastened his pants.
“I did. I love your tub, Daddy. It’s huge. I can straighten my legs and everything.”
“I’m glad. Did it help your soreness?”
She nodded shyly. In the bright light of the bathroom, her blush was adorable.
Zale stripped off his pants and briefs before tugging off his socks. He could feel her eyes on his body. Knowing she was already embarrassed, he didn’t look over to catch her ogling him, but walked to the shower and stepped inside. Zale was used to women finding him attractive—not in a conceited way, but in the way a man who’d always been physically fit was. Having Pippa admire his muscles meant way more than the random women he encountered every day. Her attention mattered more than anyone else.
Her presence was magnetic to him. Something had clicked inside him from the first moments they’d met. Now, with every passing hour they spent together, he discovered more to love about her.
“Daddy?”
Her voice drew him from his thoughts. “Yes, Pippa?”
“I was going to tell you about my day.”
“What did you enjoy the most?”
“The diary. I know it’s stupid, but I had all these worries and emotions jumbled up inside me. Getting them all written out seemed to tone down the noise inside my brain.”