Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
He looked awful. His make-up was sparkly and pink, his outfit tight and ridiculous.
Dear. Lord.
“Don’t you look beautiful, Daddy Judd!”
He bit off what he wanted to say. Because she looked genuinely happy. Her eyes sparkled, and there was red in her cheeks.
Lord, she was gorgeous.
And he knew he’d dress up like this every day if it would make her happy.
“You’re beautiful.”
She blushed. “Thanks, Daddy. Time for a tea party. Let me get all the guests. You wait there, Princess DJ. You’re the special guest.”
She put her alpaca and the teddy bear Hux got her on two of the chairs, then ushered him over to one.
“Come on, Daddy. Don’t be shy. It’s your tea party!”
“Is it?”
“Yes, but the mean old cook wouldn’t let us have any cupcakes.” She glared at him.
Because he was the mean old cook who had only let her have fruit and muffins.
“There’s nothing wrong with a cupcake, Daddy.”
“You need healthy, nutritious food, not sugar.”
She sighed sadly, but waited until he sat before she started pouring the tea. “Here you are Princess DJ, and Tickles, oh no!” she cried as she knocked a cup under the table. She climbed down to get it, then shuffled out.
He put his hand on the edge of the table as she got up. “Watch your head,” he barked.
She startled but moved back further before rising. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“Sorry for, uh, yelling.”
“It’s okay, Daddy. I know you just do it because you care sooo much. Right?”
He sighed. “Right.”
They ate their snack and drank their tea. Too late, he realized that the door to the playroom had opened. Turning, he saw Hux standing there. Hux burst into laughter, making Chloe jump in surprise.
“Oh my God! Where is my phone? I have to take a photo.”
Judd groaned. Fucking fantastic.
“You stop that, Daddy Hux! That’s not nice!” His avenging angel stood and stomped over to Hux, pointing her finger at him. “Don’t be mean to Daddy Judd. He’s being a princess for the afternoon and its very hard work. Goodbye!”
She slammed the door on him while Judd stared at her in shock.
“Now, where were we, Princess DJ?” she asked.
“I think that you had to come give this Princess a kiss.”
“Well, that sounds inappropriate, but okay.”
He drew her onto his lap and, with a finger under her chin, tilted her head back to kiss her. “Thank you for defending me.”
“That’s okay. I don’t want him making you feel uncomfortable. And besides, I think you make a very pretty princess.”
“Not as pretty as you. I want to treat you like a princess. Like you’re the most special person in the world to me. But I don’t quite know how to do that. I’m not as good as the others with my words, but I want to take care of you. To make sure nothing ever hurts you again.”
He was fiercely protective. That gruff outer Grumpzilla layer hid an inner teddy bear, at least for those he cared about.
“I always had a burning need to be better. My mom was a good person. She used to clean rich people’s houses. Worked for hours, slaving away, only for my old man to spend all our money on booze and horses. I hated him. He used to hit her. She did her best to shield me. But he used to hurt me a lot, too.”
“Oh, Judd.”
“I saw the way people looked at us. Especially the people she worked for when she took me with her. With pity. I never wanted to be pitied again. My old man took off when I was fourteen. I thought it was a good thing, but my mom got sick a year later. Pneumonia. I couldn’t make her better.”
She wrapped her arms around him.
“If we’d lived in a better place, had access to decent healthcare and food, she might have survived. It was survivable.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. My poor Daddy Judd. I’m so sorry.”
He took in a deep breath. “I got fostered by a decent family, but I was so angry that I didn’t appreciate them. After Mary dumped me, I took off, even though they wanted me to stay with them. I was eighteen by then, so I went back home and found Owen. He was in a bad place. Nearly lost to the darkness. I got him out and got us both into the armed services. I never wanted to go back to that life, you know?”
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
She just held him for a long time until he stirred.
“I’m going to do better by you, my Princess. My Baby Blue. I promise you.”
“You are a good man, Judd Stark.” She cupped his face between her hands.
He shook his head.
“Would I love you if you weren’t?”
He froze, gaping at her. “You love me?”
“I love you.”
“Thank fuck,” he muttered, making her giggle. Then he suddenly stood, carrying her out of the room.