Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
She headed into the bedroom she’d been given, coming to a sudden stop as she realized someone was inside the room. Addie let out a raspy cry and took a step back, nearly tripping up over her own feet in her haste to get away.
“Baby girl, it’s me.”
What? Why was this man calling her baby girl? Wait. Someone who had broken in to hurt them wouldn’t call her baby girl.
And she wouldn’t recognize their voice. That was Cash.
“It’s me. It’s Cash, baby. I’m just setting up a humidifier. I was going to try and sneak it into the other bedroom when I realized that you were sleeping with Monroe, but I didn’t want to wake you, so I was setting it up in here.”
Why was he setting up a humidifier?
“I read that it could be good for your throat.” He eyed her for a long moment “What’s wrong? I thought you were sleeping with Monroe?”
She hugged Snaggles tight, unsure what to tell him.
“Were you having trouble falling asleep?” he asked.
Addie nodded. She ran Snaggle’s fluffy ear under her nose, trying to comfort herself.
“Well, I think it’s better that you sleep in here with the humidifier for your throat anyway. I put a bottle of water on the bedside table, as well as some painkillers and a heating pad. I got that delivered too, just in case you got your period. You’ll find some personal items in the bathroom.”
And now she was bright red again. Why did he sound so matter-of-fact about her period? Were all men like this? Caring? Somehow, she didn’t think so.
“Tomorrow, I’ll get some more things from LittleLand for you, all right?”
She felt overwhelmed by how much he was doing for her when she barely even knew him. They were essentially strangers.
To her horror, tears started to drip down her face, and she wiped them away hastily, burying her face into Snaggles’ fur.
“Hey, hey, hey. What’s wrong? That was meant to make you feel better, not worse. What can I do?”
She could feel Cash hovering in front of her, but not touching her. Addie wanted to lean forward and bury herself in his chest.
Could she do that? It wouldn’t be right, would it?
And yet, her body was moving before she could stop it. She pressed herself against him.
Cash slowly wrapped his arms around her. “My poor baby. You’re overwhelmed, aren’t you? Just let it out. I have you. Be my good girl and let it all out.”
She sobbed. She so wanted to be his good girl. It was an ache inside her that wouldn’t go away.
Cash ran his hand up and down her back as he held her.
“Just let it all out. You’re safe now. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you. I promise.”
He really shouldn’t make promises like that. She wasn’t his responsibility.
But God, she wanted to be.
She wanted to always feel his arms around her, to know that at any time she could search him out, and he’d hug her tight like this and make her feel better.
Even though the circumstances were shit, and she wished none of this had ever happened, she couldn’t ever regret meeting Cash.
But this wasn’t her life and she knew she had to go back to reality eventually. Just in this moment, though, perhaps she could have something of her own to remember.
She could pretend that she had something that other people took for granted. A person of their own, who cared about them, wanted them.
Maybe even desired them.
She’d always known she couldn’t have normal. That was out of her reach.
Not that Cash was exactly normal. He was so far out of her league that it wasn’t even funny. They weren’t even in the same stratosphere.
But he didn’t seem to mind touching her, hugging her.
He didn’t seem to think that she was dumb and defective.
“You’re shaking. Are you cold?” he asked.
Was she cold? She didn’t really know anymore. It was like her brain and her body were detached from one another. She wasn’t even sure what she was feeling.
Maybe she was ill. Was she dying? Was her mother right? Was her life destined to end in doom and gloom? Her mother had died on her own . . . the doctors said it was a heart attack because she hadn’t taken care of herself. Even though her mother had never seemed to truly love and care about her, Addie had always felt bad that she’d died alone.
“I’m going to pick you up. If you don’t want that, tap me on the stomach twice,” he warned her.
Huh? What was he talking about? Pick her up? Why?
Before her brain could figure it all out, she was in his arms. She should object, only she couldn’t find any desire to.
Cash carried her over to the bed and sat her down on the end before pulling the covers back.