Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 27069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Right. It was time for things to change.
Millie woke up as she was jostled.
“Nooo, I don’t wants to go to school today.”
A chuckle hit her ears. “No school for you, baby doll.”
“Oh good. Wants to sleep.”
“That’s good, since that’s all you’re doing today.”
Wait. Who was that?
As she was placed down on her back, she opened her eyes, staring up into Spike’s worried face. She smiled.
“Daddy! I loves you.”
“I love you too.”
Then she frowned at how pale he looked. Suddenly, she realized that she was in bed. She hadn’t gone to sleep in the bed.
With a gasp, she sat up. “You carried me!”
“Yeah. Because you were sleeping in a damn chair. That’s not happening, baby doll.”
“I didn’t want to disturb you,” she said worriedly. She knew how he felt about her sleeping in chairs. “And you shouldn’t be carrying me.”
“I’m fine,” he told her.
Sure he was. Only problem was, he was pale and looked like he was in pain.
“Right now, the person I’m worried most about is you,” he added.
“Me? But Daddy, I’m good. I wasn’t in a car accident. I don’t have a concussion.”
“But you’re running yourself ragged. You’re exhausted and you’re going to end up with a migraine or passing out if you continue. Then you’ll be in the hospital.”
“That won’t happen.”
“Damon texted me.”
“Rats. That tattletale. Wait until I see him again.” She thumped her fist against her hand. “Snitches get stitches.”
“He did the right thing and you know it.” He pointed a finger at her. “You’re spending the day in bed.”
“What? I can’t!”
He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a stubborn look.
Drat.
“I have to get your lunch. Do the dishes. The washing. And we have guests.”
“Guests who aren’t here and can take care of themselves. And everything else I’m capable of doing.”
Mr. Fluffy let out a woof as though in agreement.
“Whose side are you on?”
The dog yawned and rolled onto his back.
“Traitor.”
“Mr. Fluffy knows what is good for you. Now, I’m going to get you a onesie and a bottle. You can watch TV, read, or sleep. Those are your choices.”
“But you can’t go down the stairs on your own,” she protested.
What if he got dizzy?
Spike turned to look at her. “No.”
No?
What did that mean?
“You are not the boss. Daddy is. No fretting or worrying over me anymore.”
“But . . . but . . . I nearly lost you.” She didn’t mean to say that. It just sort of slipped out. But it was the truth. “And I have to take care of you. Because I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
His face grew soft and he walked over to her, kneeling on the floor beside her. Then he cupped her face with his hands.
“I know. And if I could erase all your worries, I would. But I’m all right. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I just . . . I get scared sometimes. When it hits me. Keeping busy helps me to forget.”
“Oh, baby doll.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and she patted his head before she started massaging his shoulders.
He groaned. “That feels good.”
“Yeah? I could give you a massage.”
Leaning back, he glared up at her. “Nice try. I’m looking after you.”
“But you’re always looking after me. I just . . . I want to take care of you too.”
“Looking after you makes me happy. I can’t relax knowing you’re running yourself ragged. So you being happy and healthy is the best medicine for me.”
“There’s some more Daddy logic,” she grumbled.
“But it’s working, isn’t it?”
“Kind of,” she admitted. “Just promise me . . . promise me you’ll always be here. That I won’t to lose you.”
“I promise. I will always be here. Always be yours. Just like you are mine.”
Fuck.
This was harder than he’d thought. He’d managed to going up and down the stairs to get Millie a bottle. He’d even put her in a onesie. But when he’d headed back downstairs, he’d had to sit and rest.
And he was still sitting on the sofa, resting.
He heard the front door opened and he glanced over as Damon walked into the living room.
“What are you doing here?” Spike asked.
“Nice to see you too.” Damon eyed him before taking a seat in an armchair opposite him. “What’re you doing?”
“Just thought I’d go run a marathon.”
“Good plan,” Damon replied.
Spike closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. “I feel like shit.”
“Not surprising. You were in a fucking car accident.”
There was something in the other man’s voice. Concern? Anger?
Spike stared over at him as Damon glowered at him. “I know.”
“Yeah, you know. Do you have any idea, though, what it would do to the rest of us if something happened to you?”
Fuck. He hadn’t even thought about how Damon would feel about all this. How it might be affecting him.
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” he pointed out.