Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
She picked up another peach. But she was so distracted that instead of cutting into the fuzzy flesh, she managed to slice into her finger.
“Ouch! Owie!” she cried, moving to the sink to wash off the blood. Then she grabbed a paper towel, pressing it to the cut. It wasn’t long, but it was kind of deep. And it stung.
“What happened? What’s going on?”
With a gasp, she glanced up as the Fox entered the room. She hadn’t realized that he’d gotten home.
“You’re bleeding.” He moved over to her quickly, drawing the paper towel away so he could inspect her cut. “What happened?”
“I was cutting some peaches for lunch.”
“For lunch?”
“Yeah, I was making peach tacos.”
“That’s a thing?” he asked.
“It is now. And then I nearly sliced my finger off,” she wailed dramatically.
“Right, that’s it. I’m taking you to a doctor.”
He picked her up.
“What? No, Daddy! I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. You’ve chopped your finger off.”
“I was exaggerating.” Yeah, she had to stop doing that.
He set her on the counter. “Let me see it again.”
She showed him the cut. “See? There’s hardly a cut at all.”
“It looks deep.”
“I’m really fine.”
He eyed her. “I’ll get the First-Aid kit. Don’t move. Where’s Brody?”
“He’s busy.”
“Busy doing what?”
“Gaming.”
The Fox grunted. “Stay.”
She wouldn’t dare move. He returned with the First-Aid kit. Then he proceeded to wrap up her finger with gauze and then a bandage.
“I think a Band-Aid would have been okay, Daddy.”
“It’s this or a doctor.”
“This is fine,” she said hastily. “Only, how am I going to make my peach tacos now?”
He wiggled a finger at her. “No more cooking for you.”
She sighed. “Okay, Daddy. I just wanted to do something nice for you. I was trying to keep my mind off . . .”
He gave her a concerned look, then cupped her chin. “Were you worrying, baby girl?”
“A little.”
“You should have called me.”
“But what if you were busy?”
“Doesn’t matter. If I can’t answer right away, then I’ll call you back when I can. But I always expect you to call. Understand? That’s why I gave you both those other phones.”
He’d wanted them to have more secure phones. But Brody had someone fixed it so that they still got their messages from their old numbers on the new phones. She had no idea how he had done it.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“I’m going to make some grilled cheese, you just sit there.”
She happily sat and watched him. “You’re very good at cooking, Daddy.”
“Well, grilled cheese isn’t difficult. But I had to learn to cook if I wanted to eat. There were plenty of times I went hungry as a child and I don’t ever want to experience that again.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” Tears entered her eyes, and he set a sippy cup of water next to her, before kissing her lightly.
“It’s in the past, baby girl. Drink your water.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“They dumped me in an orphanage when I was a baby. My mom died shortly after.”
“And your dad?” Sheesh, this was the saddest story ever.
“Keep drinking.”
She took a few sips. Wow, she was thirsty.
“My Dad? I never met him.”
He set the food on the table. She wondered if he’d ever get the high chair out and why she wanted that so much.
Picking her up, he carried her to the table then hit the button on the intercom. “Brody, get up here for lunch.”
“I’ll be ten,” Brody replied.
“Now, Pup, unless you want to eat lunch while sitting on a hot ass.”
She stared at the Fox with wide eyes. “Is Brody in trouble?”
“I don’t like the fact that I came home to find you anxious and cooking by yourself.”
“Brody isn’t to blame. Besides, I can take care of myself.”
He gave her a skeptical look before tying a bib around her neck. She was wearing a pair of striped pants and an oversized sweater that declared she was a princess.
She totally was too.
“I don’t need a bib.”
“I disagree.”
“Hey, what’s going on? What’s the rush?” Brody strode into the kitchen. His glasses were crooked and his hair was sticking straight up from his forehead. There was a stain on his T-shirt.
Huh, if anyone needed a bib it was Brody.
“Lunch is ready,” the Fox replied as he dished some up on a plate. “Bunny decided to make us peach tacos.”
Brody wrinkled his nose. “Peach tacos? Sounds . . . different.”
“Don’t worry. Daddy made us grilled cheese. Obviously, my idea wasn’t the best.”
Brody’s gaze moved to her bandaged finger, his eyes widening. “What happened?”
“Oh, nothing major.”
“She cut herself while making lunch,” the Fox said. “And it bled quite a lot.”
“Tutu! I’m sorry! I should have been helping you. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were busy. I didn’t want to interrupt. I would have been okay, but I got a bit distracted and . . . cut myself.”
Brody gripped the back of his neck. “Shit. The Fox wasn’t here, and you grew anxious.”