Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“Eli—”
“The daycare and HeadStart programs are also within walking distance.”
“Eli, this is too much. I can’t accept it.”
“Of course you can. I only bought it because it’s the start you need. The setup is perfect for you, Skittles.”
He’s right, but I can’t open a bakery. I’ve never owned a business before. Besides that, he bought a whole damn building for me. Who does that? I shake my head—partly at my question and partly because I’m starting to think Eli might be insane.
“I can’t accept it. It’s too much. Plus, I don’t know anything about running a business, Eli. This is just overwhelming. You can’t go around buying a building for people you barely know!”
“It’s my money,” he reasons. “I can do what I want with it.”
“You’re right,” I finally answer, as I take in his stubborn face. “But I can’t accept it. That’s your money, not mine. We’re friends. Friends don’t go out and by each other freaking buildings, Eli.” The strangest look comes across his face. I wish I could read it, but I just don’t understand the emotions I see bleeding through on his face.
“Your brother asked me to look after you and help you, Daphne. I gave him my word that I’d do that and I’m going to do it—no matter how much you fight me,” he snaps and his words feel like a knife through the heart.
“I’m not your responsibility. I don’t want you to be my friend because it’s some kind of misguided sense of duty,” I hiss.
Anger and shock mix equally on Eli’s features. This time I have no trouble reading those emotions. Eli’s pores are practically oozing them. He shoves his hand in his hair, pushing it out of his face. He scrubs his fingers into the top of his head. He’s so full of anger he should intimidate me, but he doesn’t. God, I’m kind of turned-on. What the hell is going on?
“Fucking hell, woman. Why do you have to make everything so damned hard? I’m trying to help you!” he growls.
“You do help me! Eli, you do too much. I don’t want you doing more. I already owe you more than I’ll ever be able to repay,” I try to explain, my voice strained because my brain is going over the enormity of all he does for me and it’s truly scary how much I’ve come to depend on him in a relatively short amount of time. How will I survive when he leaves me? How will my daughter? She loves him so much. Panic hits me hard and quick. I need to seriously think about his role in my life, because if history has taught me anything it’s that when I’m involved, men don’t stay. My father didn’t, my husband didn’t, and Eli just admitted he’s helping me because of my brother. There’s no way he’s willing to stay around for the long haul. As the truth settles over me, I force myself to look him in the eye. “I think you should take me home now.”
“Skittles …”
“I want to go home,” I respond quietly.
Eli exhales loudly, the sound coming out as a growl more than anything else. “Let’s go,” he snaps and if I didn’t feel so numb, I think his attitude right now would kill me …
Chapter 9
Pez
I’ve not spoken to or seen Daphne in two months. It’s been a living fucking hell. I only go when I know she’s working. I visit with Mrs. Grayson and Cammie, then head home before Daphne gets off work. I’ll admit that I’ve driven by the bakery just to get a glance of her, but I never went in. I’m just not ready to face her. I need to find a way to bottle up the emotion before I face her again. So, I send the other men to check on her, make sure her lawn is mowed and shit. They report back to me if they see anything she needs—or asks about me.
She hasn’t.
I also check in with Eagle to see how her court case is going pretty regularly. There’s a custody hearing coming up in two weeks. I have to swallow enough of my pride. I need to quit being a damn coward because I will have to face her tomorrow. I’m being stupid, but fuck, it hurt that she basically told me she didn’t want me helping her and doing shit for her. In my defense, there’s only so many times you can hear the woman you love call you her friend.
I actually have a couple of prospects there today cleaning around her house and helping her set up for Cammie’s birthday party tomorrow. I know she’s nervous about it, because Eagle told me that Dane and his new bitch will be dropping by. I need to find something on that son of a bitch, so he leaves Daphne and her daughter alone. He’s slimy as fuck, so I have no doubt there are skeletons buried in his damn closet. I just need to find out how to uncover them.