Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Grabbing a cup of coffee, he headed into his office to check his email. He put out several fires at Guards, Inc. There were always more requests than he had the staff to cover. He needed to expand.
An advertisement in the paper didn’t get the right applicants. The last time, despite the requirements listed, he’d waded through applications from eighteen-year-olds who thought it sounded cool to be a bodyguard. Of course, they all wanted to be assigned to someone rich and famous and they had no training at all in how to protect themselves, much less someone in danger.
He didn’t dismiss them entirely by age because sometimes a jewel would emerge from the pebbles. A young man with extensive training in martial arts had just started an unusual internship. Kole had high hopes that he would develop the skills needed to excel at this challenging job—and be able to resist the temptations that came with being this close to a client.
With a groan, he ran his fingers through his hair. Like he could talk now. Kole had never become personally involved with a client. It wasn’t smart for the bodyguard and could be dangerous for the person who needed protection. In a threatening position, clients often fell for their bodyguards.
He knew it was different for himself. Kole had been in the game long enough to understand his own protective instincts. He’d frequently felt them in effect as he worked with clients.
This was different. He recognized in Gabby all that he’d ever searched for in a Little girl. She was it for him.
Could she make that distinction? Had she just fallen for him because he kept her safe?
“Daddy?”
Kole looked up at the sound of the sleepy voice. “Hi, Little girl. You slept well last night.” He opened his arms, and she instantly stumbled toward him, rubbing her eyes as she tried to wake up. Kole lifted her onto his lap and leaned back in his office chair.
He kissed the top of her head as she snuggled close to him. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
“I woke up and only Toffee was there,” she mumbled against his chest.
“Toffee, huh?”
“He told me his name this morning. I guess he decided to stay with me.”
“Toffee knows when he has it made. He’s a superiorly smart stuffie.”
“I still miss PupPup. Toffee and I talked about it this morning before he told me his name. He understands that I love PupPup and I’ve promised him I can love two stuffies,” Gabby shared, hugging the cuddly bear close. “Do you think there’s a chance I’ll get to see PupPup again?”
“If there’s a way, PupPup will find his way back to you,” Kole promised.
She nodded against his chest and yawned again. “I need some coffee.”
“No coffee for Little girls. That’s in the Daddy rule book.”
“No coffee. That might be in the mean Daddies’ rule book, but you’re a nice Daddy, right?”
“No coffee for Little girls,” Kole repeated, keeping himself from smiling at the sheer cuteness of her attempt.
“Tea?”
“Nope.”
“A soft drink?”
“Nope.”
“I’m going to have a headache,” she threatened. “I’m used to caffeine.”
“Then it’s time to cut out that addiction.”
“You drink coffee.” She pointed to his empty mug.
“Decaf.”
“That’s just wrong.”
He couldn’t prevent a smile from curving his lips at her woebegone tone. “How about if we wean you off so you don’t get a headache?”
“Better plan. I like that. Let’s try that one,” she suggested, pressing a forearm against his chest to smile at him.
“I thought you might like that idea. Let’s get dressed and I’ll make breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You’re not? Maybe we need to check on you.”
He set Gabby on her feet and rose to take her hand. Leading her back into the bedroom, he steered her into the nursery. “Let Daddy make sure you’re feeling okay. Put Toffee in the crib.”
“I’m fine,” she assured him as she followed his directions and even tucked Toffee in under the soft comforter. “I won’t get a headache if you let me have some caffeine.”
Kole boosted her up onto the changing table and laid her down. In a flash, he had a wide belt wrapped across her torso.
“What’s going on?” she asked, struggling a bit.
“Calm down, Gabby. I didn’t want you to fall off the table. I know this is new to you.” Kole opened the drawer and pulled out the large thermometer. He shook it down and set it safely out of her grasp before dipping his finger into the jar of lubricant. Wrapping his other hand around her ankles, he lifted them straight up until he had her bottom raised off the padded top. Shifting her feet above her head, he exposed his target.
“What? No!” Gabby said urgently as he spread the lubricant around the tightly clenched opening usually hidden between her buttocks.
“Try to relax, Gabby. This won’t hurt you a bit,” he assured her as his finger pushed inside her body. Kole could feel her attempts to push the invader out, but he pressed inside and held his finger deep inside her.