Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
“How would you know when you’ve barely even spoken to me. I came all this way to see you, Cash, and you have no time for me.”
There was some harsh breathing and she winced. Shit. This was a good way to push him away.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I had no right to say that.”
“No, you’re right,” he said. “I disappeared on you and Aidan. And I haven’t told you anything . . . because I don’t know how. I don’t know what to say that would make it all right. And the truth is . . . the truth isn’t something I can even really tell you. So, what do I do? Make shit up?”
“No, don’t do that. Just tell me . . . tell me you’re back for good. Or if you have to leave, that you’ll tell me first.”
He blew out a breath. “Yeah. I can promise you that. If I have to go, I won’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“All right,” she whispered.
“I missed you, pimpleface,” he told her.
“I missed you too, buttbreath.” She closed her eyes. “You’re safe, right?”
“I can take care of myself.”
That wasn’t really an answer.
“I want you to be careful,” he said. “I need to do some research into this Hack. And you should have been told me you were staying with him.”
“You think I should have told you?” Seriously?
“I have to go.”
“No, wait—” Before she could finish, he’d ended the call. Rats.
Her phone rang again. Hack.
“Hi!” she said brightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Why do you think something is wrong?” She’d tried hard to keep any upset out of her voice.
“You sound odd.”
“I was just talking to Cash.”
“Ahh.”
“He must have gone to Aidan’s place and I wasn’t there. He’s worried about me moving in with you when I barely know you. His words.”
“Bit late for brotherly concern.”
Yeah, it kind of was. But it was also nice to know he still cared about her.
“I’m so mixed up about him.” On the one hand she was happy to have him back. But it kind of felt like he wasn’t her brother anymore.
“I know you are, baby.”
“I just wish I knew what was going on.”
“You sound tired. It’s time for you to have a nap.”
“I don’t have time for a nap.” Damn, it sounded like a nice idea, though.
“How much more work do you need to do?”
“Umm. Probably about an hour.”
“All right. You can work for one more hour. Depending on what I’m doing, I might not be able to call you then. But I expect a photo of you in bed.”
“Kinky,” she commented without thinking. Then she felt herself flushing.
“I can get kinky if you want, baby girl.”
Yikes.
He knew how to make her insides melt. That was for sure.
“Now, did you eat all your lunch? You might need a snack to keep you going.”
“Lunch?”
“Yes, lunch. You did eat your lunch, didn’t you? I put an alarm on your phone.”
“Oh, that’s why it kept buzzing?” she said lamely.
“Little girl, you didn’t look at the message that popped up when there was an alarm?”
“Urgh, no. I kind of just put it on silent.”
“Have you gone to the potty all day?”
She didn’t think she needed to answer that.
Also, she really didn’t want to answer that.
“Ladybug,” he growled. “You are in so much trouble right now.”
Oops.
“I have to go, Daddy.”
“So you can pee?”
“Uh-huh.” It was very urgent. And she had to go right now.
“You’re going to pee, drink some water, and eat, understand me? I want photo evidence. And when I get home . . . you and I are going to have a chat, Little girl.”
Oh, goody.
Hack walked into the house. “Honey, I’m home.”
“Daddy!”
Greer came running at him from the living room. She was dressed in sweatpants and one of his T-shirts, her hair was a tangled mess, and caught up in a bun on her head, and there was a smudge of something that looked like chocolate sauce on the corner of her lips.
In other words, she looked fucking adorable.
He caught her up in his arms, closing his eyes in satisfaction. He hated being away from her. It just didn’t feel right.
Especially when she needed to be closely watched. He hadn’t forgotten that she hadn’t peed or eaten all day until he’d called her.
Lifting her up with an arm under her ass, he carried her into the living room.
“How are you feeling, Little girl?”
“Better now you’re home, Daddy.”
Yep. He felt like he was about fifty feet tall. It amazed him that she could trust him so much. Sure, sex might be a limit at the moment, but he didn’t think that would always be the case.
“You had your nap?” He sat on the sofa with her on his lap, facing him.
“Uh-huh, I actually slept for over an hour which is crazy.”
“You needed it, baby.” He brushed her hair back off her face. “I’m not happy that you ignored the alarms I set up and forgot to eat lunch or use the potty.”