Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Startled by the deep voice that sounded so close, Cynthia jerked her head up and scrambled backward at the sight of Dirk O’Roark in bed next to her. “I’m so sorry. I must have gotten hot and crawled out of the covers,” she rattled quickly as she pulled his large T-shirt as low as possible over her thighs.
Cynthia tried to forget the feel of his hand cupping her bare bottom so intimately just a few seconds ago. Unable to stop herself, she scanned his scantily dressed form. The thin sleep pants did nothing to conceal his thick erection that tented the fabric. She slammed a hand over her eyes, not trusting herself to resist the temptation to look again. His chuckle made her peek between her fingers.
“Look at my face, Cindy girl.”
The tone of that commanding statement was gentle, but definite. Cynthia turned her head to meet his gaze and dropped her hand from her face. “Sorry.”
“I’m not. I’m glad you’re attracted to me. Little girls should be interested in their Daddies’ bodies.”
“I’m sorry I sprawled all over you,” she whispered.
“Do you realize we’ve been awake less than five minutes and you’ve already apologized three times? It’s okay, sweetheart. I enjoyed holding you as much as you seemed to enjoy being close to me. Did you sleep well?” he asked, rolling onto his side to face her.
With his body partially obscured by the rumpled covers, Cynthia didn’t have to battle to keep her focus from his intriguing pelvic area. Now, she just had to fight herself not to trace the grooves in his muscular chest with her gaze. She looked fixedly at his face and replayed his question in her mind to know what to say.
“I slept better than I have since…”
“I’m glad,” he stated when her voice died away. “I slept well myself. Let’s talk about what’s going to happen today before we go get some breakfast.”
“O-Okay.” She stumbled over the simple word, wishing she could freeze time and stay here with him.
“I know you’re scared. That’s okay. You don’t have to pretend with me.”
Cynthia nodded as her stomach churned inside. “Thank you for letting me stay here last night. I wasn’t a very good guest. You know—waking you up by screaming.”
“You didn’t plan to have a bad dream. That’s not your fault,” he reassured her.
“So, you’re going to take me to the police station?”
“Yes, and I will stay with you through their questioning process to help you.”
“Then you’ll have to go, and I’ll have to stay?” she asked.
“Yes. They’ll book you and put you in a holding cell until you can appear before a judge.”
“So, I say I’m guilty?”
“Did you mean to cause all the problems at Edgewater Industries? Did you understand the extent of the damage that would occur?” Dirk probed.
“No way. He told me it wouldn’t hurt anything badly. Just be an inconvenience—a way for him to get back at the company that caused him to lose his job. I should have figured out that Eddie wouldn’t be content with simply causing problems. It was dumb of me to take him at his word.”
“You were scared that he would provide the police pictures that would put you in the area where a gas leak could have been started with a wrench,” Dirk reminded her. “He was blackmailing you into taking the action.”
“Yes. I didn’t think there was another option,” Cynthia shared. She stretched out on the bed next to him to be on his level as she focused on getting her story straight to share with the police. “Do you think they’ll bring Eddie in to question him?”
“I think that would be a logical step.”
“He has a good lawyer, too. One that put my ex away for twenty years for embezzling.”
“And you have me.”
Trying hard not to read an implied commitment to her in his words, Cynthia changed the subject to something even more important.
“Can I still leave Bullyboo here? I know I asked before. It’s just important.”
“Yes, sweetheart. I promised to watch over him until you’re back. Where would you like to put him? Here in the guestroom?”
“No… Can I put him somewhere in your room? I’d like him to see people as much as possible. He’ll get lonely if he’s here in the guestroom,” Cynthia pointed out. “You know… If no visitors are allowed.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a pleasant spot for him. We’ll go look after breakfast. Right now, I want you to take a deep breath.”
Cynthia gulped in a huge inhale and held it until the edges of her vision wavered. Letting it out in a shaky gust, she waited to see why this dynamic man had asked her to do this.
“Let’s try that again. Breathe in with me.” Dirk inhaled slowly and held his breath for a second before exhaling gradually. “Again.”
Cynthia followed his pattern. She could feel her body relaxing and the panic ebbing.