Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
His intent focus on her could have felt weird, but it didn’t. She enjoyed having Vex watching over her. He made her feel safe. And that Baby girl name? She loved that.
“You’d sleep outside my window?”
“I’d rather be on the floor of your room, but yes.”
“Or in my bed?” she asked, checking his expression out of the corner of her eyes.
“The best alternative yet.”
Vex didn’t elaborate on his statement. He simply fed her more potato salad, giving her the last bite. Angel accepted the food and savored it. Why did something so simple seem to hold wonderful memories of family and good times?
When he offered her more to eat, she shook her head. “I’m full, Vex. You eat it.”
He continued to tempt her with milk as they finished their meals. She drained the last of the liquid from her cup and refused any more. Now that her stomach didn’t suffer from the gnawing hunger that had plagued her, exhaustion draped over her once again. Yielding to her desire to be as close as possible to him, Angel leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. His arm wrapped around her, holding her close.
Chapter 4
The dining room was dark when she opened her eyes. Angel pushed against the warm surface she rested on to sit up fully. The arms around her relaxed, and Vex wrapped his hands around her waist to support her as she weaved slightly from her lingering sleepiness.
Meeting his gaze, she said, “You should have woken me up.” She was horrified he’d sat at the table in a wooden chair for a long time.
“You needed the sleep. I needed to hold you. Having you in my arms is a win-win situation. Do you feel better?”
She took a second to assess herself. “I’m good. I’ll never forget what happened, but with you, I’m not scared.”
“That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received. Thank you, Baby girl.”
Her full bladder made her squirm a bit. Embarrassed, she admitted, “Um. I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Let’s go take care of that.”
Vex lifted her to her feet and stood. Holding her hand, he led her down the hall past one bathroom to the large one off the main bedroom where they had showered earlier. He pointed to the small, separate toilet area. “Go potty, Angel. I’ll stay right here.”
She scurried inside and closed the door. Panic gathered inside her chest the second he was out of her sight. Angel flung the barrier open. “I can’t do it.”
Instantly, Vex was there by her side. He hugged her close until her shaking calmed. “Are you okay?”
Angel nodded and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“No sorries needed, Baby girl. Let’s go potty.”
Vex lifted the oversized T-shirt up and helped her sit on the toilet. He stood close, rubbing her back.
Overwhelmed by her need for reassurance, Angel covered her face with her hands. His low, “Baby girl, you’re fine,” reassured her he wasn’t too put off by being close. Angel relaxed her muscles and peed. With a whisper of motion, Vex brushed past her as he shifted. She heard the roll of the toilet paper and accepted the soft tissue when he held it close to her hand.
When she finished, he helped her up and smoothed her T-shirt into place before leading her to the sink. Wrapping his arms around her, Vex washed their hands together. He smoothed soap over her skin and rinsed off the lather with the warm water.
Angel couldn’t believe how comforting he was. He took care of her, anticipating what she needed and providing reassurance and resources automatically. Having his body bracketed around her reinforced her confidence. She peeked up in the mirror to see him concentrating on drying her hands.
His tender expression struck a chord deep inside her. No man had ever looked at her like that. Definitely not Trevor. Had he ever loved her? The more she compared the two men, Angel recognized how her relationship with Trevor had resembled an arranged marriage. Trevor didn’t stir any emotions inside her.
Vex glanced up to meet her gaze in the mirror. “You okay, Baby girl?”
“I’m good with you.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Then I guess you stay with me. Want to call your folks and that asshole who didn’t save you?”
“Trevor’s not really a fighter.”
“I’m not thinking Trevor’s much of anything,” Vex told her, his brows drawing together as his face hardened.
“He’s definitely not you.”
“No, Baby girl. And I’m not him,” Vex said and backed away to take her hand.
Immediately, Angel missed his warmth and squeezed her fingers around his. She walked with him to the large family room to make her calls. Angel used Vex’s phone, because who knew who had hers, and the call went straight to voicemail. Her father didn’t return the message she left for thirty minutes. When he did, she had to hold the phone far from her ear.