Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
It never failed to hurt her when he’d describe her as his ward, or himself as her guardian.
Or his best friend’s kid.
Yeah, that one bit.
She pressed the button that would pull back the cover that kept the water free from the falling leaves, not that there were any left.
She stared over the edge, and wondered what the water was like.
It had to be cold.
Instead of turning on the other button to begin warming the pool, she stepped to the edge and removed her clothing. Wriggling out of the jeans, she let them drop to the edge, then her panties, shirt, and bra.
The cold nipped at her flesh.
Her nipples tightened to an unbearable degree as the cold made them so hard.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the chill even as more tears fell down her cheeks. She hated feeling this way and had long ago promised herself she wouldn’t do this to herself.
Gripping the rail, she stepped down. Each step took her closer to the water. The moment her feet touched the water, she gasped. It was so freaking cold.
She couldn’t help but laugh a little. Slowly, she lowered herself into the water until her feet touched the bottom.
Stepping away from the side of the pool, she walked to the center. The cold was scary good. She loved how it surrounded her. Running her hands back and forth through the water, she closed her eyes.
Tears fell down her face, and the pain was still there, but it was numbed.
She felt so cold and so open, and so scared, but none of it mattered. Just like when she begged her parents to let her stay home, and they refused to speak to her again. Or the first day they dropped her off at boarding school with a suitcase full of clothes.
She’d begged and screamed not to go, but her dad had forced her out of the car and dumped her at the reception desk of the boarding school.
No one had cared that she was terrified and just wanted to stay at home. Everyone had seen a spoiled brat. A young girl who didn’t want to do as her parents said. It had been so far from the truth.
They had lured her into the car with the promise of ice cream and some shopping. They lied to her to get her out of the house.
That one drive had been both hope and the worst memory in the world. She’d believed while they’d been in the car that they wanted to do better, to try better. That she was good enough for them.
Only, it had ended with her making a fool of herself.
Not seeing them had soon turned into a comfort.
She had never realized that she didn’t need her parents at all. They weren’t important to her.
Luca would have to be the same. She’d have to find some way of dealing with whatever problem he was having because she couldn’t allow herself to break. Not again.
She was eighteen now. There was no way he could send her to boarding school. She’d be able to find her own path, one that didn’t include him.
Even as she thought about life without him, it filled her with a giant ball of sadness. He’d become part of her life and now she was thinking about leaving him behind. It was right.
Something had to be wrong, right?
You’re just a kid.
A kid that no one ever wanted.
And now you’re a pain, and it’s time for you to be on your own.
Chapter Nine
Luca was so fucking pissed off at himself. Work wasn’t a good distraction. The social worker, Annabel, was due to arrive tomorrow, and he didn’t like the thought of that blonde bitch being in his home. He certainly didn’t like that he’d pushed Mavis away at every turn during this past week.
He’d done more work in an attempt to distract himself, but it had only made him even more angry.
Work wasn’t important to him, not like Mavis. Last night, he’d kicked her out of his bed, and he’d watched her walk out of the room with a slump to her shoulders. He hated seeing her like this, knowing he was the one causing her pain, but he didn’t know what else to do.
What if they could take her away from him?
He was the one that was supposed to be in charge and responsible for her. He needed to tell her that Annabel was coming, but each time he tried, he found himself stuck. He didn’t want to blow the bubble that had surrounded them the past few weeks. Their life had been perfect without any interference from the outside world.
Of course, that world had to invade his home.
The ranch hands and businessmen he’d been speaking with had asked him how fatherhood was, or how he handled his young daughter far away from the prying eyes of the world.