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)
“A little bit.”
“A little bit?” he repeated. “He upset you so much you had a panic attack and crashed your car. I would say that’s more than a little bit, wouldn’t you?”
She winced. Yeah, she would say that. But also . . . she didn’t like the dark note in his voice.
“Seems I need to pay a visit to your ex. Teach him not to upset you.”
Panic filled her. But a different sort than before.
“No, you can’t do that!”
“I can’t?” He sounded generally puzzled. “Why not?”
“B-because I said so. Because he didn’t do anything to me.”
“He broke up with you. That was dumb. I don’t like dumb people.”
She groaned. Was he for real right now?
“I don’t like that this happened. I need to protect you better.”
“You don’t need to protect me.”
“Ahh, but I do. It’s my job.”
“What? I don’t understand,” she said.
“Maybe I should just take you with me.”
“W-what?” Panic started to grab hold of her again.
“You were doing better. This is his fault.”
“I can’t . . . I can’t go with you. I’m not . . . I can’t . . .”
“Hush, Bunny. Shh. You’re okay. Don’t panic. Breathe. In. Hold. Out. Fuck, I’m being no better than him, causing you to panic.”
“You are nothing like him. You’re a good man.”
He let out a bark of laughter. “I’m definitely not that, Bunny. In. Out. I won’t take you anywhere. Not now. But no more panic attacks while driving. Understand? Maybe you just shouldn’t drive anywhere.”
“I have to drive.”
“You won’t if I forbid it.”
She gaped up at him. “What? You can’t forbid me.”
“Ahh, Bunny. I can do whatever I like. Any more accidents and I’ll take your driving rights away.”
He’d totally lost his mind. Or maybe she had. Perhaps she had a concussion. That had to be it.
She didn’t have the energy for this.
“Just . . . don’t go after Brad. Please. You can’t kill him.”
“I can’t? Why not?”
“Because I’m asking you not to?” It was weak but it was all she had.
He sighed. “Disappointing, but I’ll heed your wishes.”
“Thank you.”
“For now. And I might need more than a thank you.”
She grew tense.
“But not right now. You’re not ready. I’m a patient man. It’s part of my skill set. Sometimes you have to wait for the best time to strike."
She wasn’t certain that she wanted to know what he meant by that.
“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” he asked. “Maybe I should check you over.”
“I’m . . . I’m fine,” she said. “I just need to go home.”
“You can’t drive that car home. It’s not fit to drive and neither are you.”
She groaned. What did she do?
“Will you drive me home?” she asked.
“Best I don’t do that, baby girl. We need to phone a friend.”
“I don’t have any friends.”
“Don’t you?” There was something about the way he said that. Like she should have a friend.
“Brody! My phone! He’s waiting for me.” Oh no! He’d probably been calling her.
“Easy, Bunny. Let me get it for you. Where is it?”
“In my handbag. Can you get Freddy Fox for me, too? He’s in my handbag as well.”
Her Hero helped her up, setting her down sideways in the driver’s seat with her legs sitting out of the open door. Then he grabbed a blanket from the back seat, settling it around her before he moved to the passenger side to rummage through her handbag. He passed over her toy and she held Freddy Fox close, snuggling up against him.
After closing the other door, he came back around the car with her phone in his hand. “Seems your friend texted you six times and called you five.”
She winced. Whoops. She leaned against the seat, feeling so tired.
“I’ll tell him to come get you.”
“Don’t do that,” she said hastily. “I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Then how else will you get home?”
“Uh, walk?”
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” he said sternly.
“It’s not far. I could use the exercise. It’s like fifteen, twenty minutes tops.”
“It’s at least five miles from here.”
“How do you know how far it is?” she demanded.
“I rescued you. Your life is now attached to mine.”
“It is?”
“Yep. I know a lot of things about you, Bunny. I’ve been watching.””
“Like a stalker?” Shit. Why did she say that?
“Like a protective fairy god-daddy.”
“Right. Sorry. Didn’t mean to accuse you of being a stalker.”
“I’ve been accused of being worse.”
He had? She wasn’t sure if she should be alarmed by that. She shifted around on the seat. “Have you been sending me gifts?”
“Do you like them, Bunny?”
“Yes. But you shouldn’t send them.”
“Oh, Bunny. I do what I like. And it pleases me to send you things.”
What did she say to that? She had no idea. “I should call a tow truck or something.”
“I’ll take care of it. You just stay there.”
“Anyone ever told you that you’re bossy?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh. Well. They’d be right. You are.”