Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“It’s a good thing I’m here to be your plus one.”
“For how long?” popped into her mind and Aspen clamped her teeth to keep from asking the question aloud.
They walked back into B Tower together in silence. Stepping into the elevator, Aspen moved to the side away from her Daddy. Worries flooded her mind. She didn’t want to get too attached. What if he got rid of her? If he wasn’t really into her, but she just made his life easier.
“You’re thinking very hard, Little girl. I can hear you worrying all the way over there. Want to tell me what’s bothering you?” he asked quietly.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m just being silly.”
When the elevator opened, Boston led the way from the car, pausing when his owner stopped, extending a hand for Aspen’s. She linked her fingers with his and walked down the hallway at his side. Aspen wished she was brave enough to just ask him all her questions. He was the only one that could answer them. But could she trust him to tell the truth? A tiny voice in the back of her mind reminded Aspen that she had chosen him to be the first man she had sex with. That had to mean she was sure he was the right man.
Reaching his apartment, Tim ushered her inside and closed the door. He efficiently moved around the space to feed Boston before returning to her. “Let’s sit down on the couch, Little girl.”
When they were settled, Tim pulled off his sunglasses. He set them on the cushion beside him before turning to Aspen. “I was involved in a freak accident caused by a torrential downpour. When I woke up in the hospital, everything was blurry—like it was out of focus. At first, everyone hoped it might resolve, but it didn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “That had to be scary.”
“It was scary. I definitely didn’t realize how much my normal routine depended on being able to see. When I couldn’t… Well, it was a long adjustment.”
“At first, I tried to hide my vision loss to everyone. It didn’t help that the company I worked for suddenly viewed me as useless. I even offered to pay for equipment to enlarge the documents I needed to do my job effectively, but they weren’t interested.”
“They’re idiots.”
“I agree… Now. Then, I thought everything was lost. I took a chance with applying at Edgewater, and even showed up without my cane or Boston. Several people had to redirect me to the correct office for my interview. Once there, I was abrasive and gruff because I was sure Edgewater Industries would judge me as worthless as the company that was working to get rid of me. Sharon saw something in me that made her investigate. Thankfully, my reputation was still intact, and the shipping manager recommended me highly.”
He squeezed her hand slightly before continuing. “Over time, I’m getting more used to how my life is today. My family says I almost look the same. My eyes are a lighter blue than they used to be. I had my sight for so long, I act like I can see. For example, I still look at people when they speak. My brother still waves his hand in front of his body occasionally to double check if my vision has come back.”
“Could it come back?” she asked.
“Maybe? The doctors say it’s unlikely now. Too much time has passed.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Some days, I think it’s the worst thing that ever happened to me. Other days, like now, I realize that if I hadn’t lost my sight, I’d still be back at the same uncaring company and most importantly, I’d have never met you, Little girl. All of this,” he said, waving a hand over his face, “is worth finding you.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.” She tried to dismiss his words.
“I am definitely not sweet, and I’ll spank your bottom if you won’t listen to your Daddy.” He hesitated for a few seconds, as if making sure she was tuned in.
“My eyes may be damaged, but my heart isn’t. I’ve searched for my Little girl for forever. When my vision evaporated, that was the one thing I despaired about most. I can hire a driver. I have Boston to make life easier. I work for a company who cares about their employees and who provided me with the equipment I needed to do my job. But I didn’t have the Little girl I’d been looking for.”
“And now you didn’t have your eyes to see her,” Aspen added.
“I didn’t. Losing my sight forces me to rely on my other senses. The feeling of your sweet curves under my fingertips. The taste of your excitement as it coats you intimately. The sensuality of being buried deep inside your body, feeling the quivers of your excitement before you burst into flames around me. But most of all, that sweet rush when I sensed you at my apartment door.”