Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“No,” Eli replied. “She’s the last house on a quiet street that heads out of town.”
“That’s insane. Jake better find the assholes who did it. I heard about the anaphylactic shock,” Heath said. “Peanuts?”
“Yep,” Kellan said. “So we need all peanuts removed from the kitchen while we’re staying here.”
“You can’t ask him to do that,” she said.
“Why not? It’s dangerous for you,” Kellan said.
“But . . . but . . . other people might want to eat peanuts,” she said. “He can’t remove them all just for me.”
“Of course he can,” Eli said.
“I can,” Heath added. “There’s really only one dish with peanuts anyway and I’ll get the chef to change it.”
“You guys are acting crazy.” She gasped as though suddenly remembering something. “Abe! Oh no! I have to go check on him. What if they broke into his house as well?”
Kellan tightened his hold on her.
“Kellan, let me down.”
“No.”
“Kellan,” she said warningly as she glared up at him. “Let me down right now.”
“No.”
“You are impossible, Kellan Jones! Eli, make him let me down. I have to check on my neighbor.”
Eli moved away with Heath and Kellan spoke quietly to her.
“Stop squirming. I don’t want to drop you.”
“You could put me down!” she told him.
“I could also spank you for putting yourself at risk,” he murmured, surprising himself.
And her, if the way she stiffened was any indication.
He wasn’t normally the person to take the first step in anything. If discipline was needed, he’d always let Eli take care of it.
But he hadn’t really been in a relationship like the one he wanted with her, had he?
And he did want her. He was ready for this next step.
All he wanted was to keep her safe and healthy. And that meant carrying her around. Because he had to have her close, to keep her protected.
“You wouldn’t.”
He just stared down at her with his eyebrows raised.
“You totally would. How does that make sense? You won’t let me walk because you think I’m too weak or ill or something. But you will spank me!”
The words were spoken loudly and the people in the foyer turned to stare at them.
Including Eli and Heath.
“Oh my God!” she cried. “I can’t believe I just said that! And so loudly. This is all your fault.”
Kellan had no idea how she figured that one out.
“I don’t think you’re weak,” he told her. “I think that you nearly died this morning and that it’s going to be a while before I can let you out of my sight. And having you in my arms means that I can keep you close and safe.” He glanced up as Eli approached with Horse.
“What was that about?” Eli asked.
“I don’t know but I think she’s lost the ability to speak.” He nodded at Arabella whose mouth was working but there were no words coming out.
“Don’t worry, it’ll come back,” Eli said. “Let’s go. We’ve got a new, dog-friendly room.”
Eli was worried about how quiet Arabella was.
Well, other than her outburst just before about being spanked. He snorted as Kellan sat her on one of the beds.
The room had a separate bedroom that held two large beds. They’d have to take turns about who slept with her. Or maybe they could push them together to make one extra-large bed.
Worked for him.
And it seemed like it might work for Kellan too.
“You threatened to spank her?” Eli asked as he made them all some coffee. There was a large television mounted to the wall with a sofa in front of it.
It was a bit of a tight fit for three adults and a large dog.
They’d need to think about something more permanent.
Wait. What are you thinking? Are you considering moving into a house in Haven?
Or are you going to try and talk Arabella into moving in with you?
But their apartment wouldn’t suit her. It was boring and sterile. It was in a good area of Houston with excellent security, but it had no style or hominess. And there wasn’t even a backyard for Horse.
So if they convinced her to move to Houston, they’d still need to buy a new place.
But what would happen when they worked really long hours or had to go away?
Who would look after her?
“I just told her that I could spank her for not obeying me and putting herself at risk. She seemed to take offense to that.”
“Gosh, I’ve no idea why,” Eli said dryly.
“She doesn’t think she’s a sub. But I think she might enjoy some parts of it. Even if she doesn’t, the rules of Haven are clear when it comes to guardians taking care of their charges. They must be protected at all times. Kept safe and healthy. And if they break the rules, they’re punished.”
Eli knew the rules.
But he couldn’t believe that Kellan was the one repeating them to him. As though he actually believed in them.