Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
“I don’t like that it happens at all,” Jared said.
“Not much I can do about it. The doctor thinks it’s from an old head injury.”
From his father.
Shit.
“Is there anything else?” he asked.
“That’s it. Sometimes a bit of vertigo. But other than that, I’m fine.”
“Vertigo?” Jared asked.
“Yeah, my balance goes a bit off and I feel dizzy.”
Christ. He couldn’t take anything more. Guilt flooded him.
He should have taken her from Fergus.
“Daddy? Jared? Are you all right?” she asked.
His hands clenched into fists. He should be the one asking her that. Not the other way around.
“Yeah, baby girl. I’m fine. Just mad at myself.”
“Why are you mad at yourself?” she asked. “None of that was your fault.”
“I left you with him,” Jared said. “I knew things weren’t good for you. But I left you.”
She shook her head. “You can’t take that on, Jared. If you’d tried to help me then it would have gone badly for you. You would have been in danger. He might have hurt you.”
“Better he hurt me than you.”
Yeah, he didn’t think he would ever forgive himself for not helping her. But he could try and make it up to her.
“Come on, baby. What would you like to do? Maybe we could have a tea party,” he suggested.
“A tea party? I would love that!”
As she started getting things ready for the tea party, he took North to one side. “If no one has heard from Rex in the next couple of hours, go hunting. And send a message to Antony, set up a meeting away from the house.”
North nodded. “I’m on it.”
Jared turned back to her. “Right, baby. How is this tea party coming along?”
“It’s great, Daddy!” she said. “But you’re not dressed properly.”
“I’m not?” He glanced down at himself. “What do I need to put on?”
“A hat and a scarf and some prettier clothes. Northie, do we have any stylish hats?”
North glanced over. “We do not.”
Thank God for that.
“But I’ll order some. Lacy? Flowery? Bright? Pastels? Or all of the above.”
“All of it! All of it!”
“That’s what I thought.” North moved away.
Jared made a mental note to take that out on his ass later as Angie moved around, dressing him.
If anyone saw Jared Bartolli dressed in a tutu, with a flowery scarf while sipping on a pretend cup of tea.
Well, he’d kill them too.
44
Jared watched her yawn for the third time in as many minutes.
Someone needed a nap.
It was kind of late in the day for a nap, but he didn’t think she was going to last until bedtime.
They’d been playing with her new tea set for the last forty minutes. And frankly, this tutu was starting to dig into his skin.
Standing, he pulled off his play clothes.
“Daddy! What are you doing?”
North was off doing some work, so it was just the two of them.
“It’s time for a nap, baby girl,” he told her.
“Nuh-uh,” she said.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “You keep yawning.”
“I’m fine, Daddy,” she said as she poured another cup of tea. “Would you like some more tea? You know, maybe I just need a coffee. An iced coffee. I can go make us some.”
She jumped to her feet.
“No, the last thing you need is caffeine,” he told her. “It’s been a big day for you. You can take a short nap. Then have a quiet night, dinner, and bed.”
“Daddy, I don’t need a nap. Miss Melanie will miss me.”
“She can nap with you,” he told her. “She looks tired.”
“Poor Miss Melanie,” she said. “She doesn’t look tired. That wasn’t very nice, Daddy. Maybe you should apologize.”
He simply raised an eyebrow. Apologize? To a doll?
She was dreaming.
She sighed and he moved around the room, pulling the drapes. However, when he turned back she was still playing.
“Baby girl,” he said sternly. “Come here.”
“Nope, Daddy.”
Oh, she was pushing him, was she?
“Angie. Here. Now.”
He sat on the side of the bed and watched as she stood with a loud sigh.
Part of him was rejoicing. Not only had she let her Little out fully around him. But she also felt safe enough to push at him. To see where the boundaries were.
Which made him want to smile.
It was odd for him. He was happy with North. But he wasn’t soft and cuddly. He was hard edges and dynamite.
Which made Jared feel alive. It gave him a buzz.
She gave him something else. A soft place to feel content.
Both were needed.
And he would do whatever it took to keep them safe.
Her feet dragged as she moved toward him. It was adorable. But he knew he couldn’t go soft on her. She needed to see what he’d do if she was defiant and sassy while in Little headspace.
He grasped hold of her hips and drew her between his legs. She wasn’t being too naughty so he was going to be firm but not harsh.