Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I can see why you didn’t put carpet in here,” she commented finally, unable to take the silence anymore. “You’d have worn a hole in it by now.”
He grumbled something under his breath. She sighed. She was tired. And hungry. And she felt very sorry for herself. Getting lost hadn’t exactly been a fun experience.
“Kent, if you’re not going to talk to me, can I go home?”
“No. Sit back down,” he growled at her as she attempted to stand. She sat. Kent had always seemed so easygoing in comparison to Clint. Gentler, almost. He didn’t look that way right now. He looked like an angry warrior. He was frowning, his face cold, shoulders tense as he glared down at her.
“Look, I know I shouldn’t have wandered away. I really didn’t mean to. And I’m sorry I caused you to worry and inconvenienced you, but it all came out all right in the end. I mean, we don’t have to tell Clint, do we?”
He gave her a look of disbelief. “Seriously? Charlie, he already knows. I called him as soon as I realized you were missing. I don’t keep things from my brother, especially when it comes to you. You’re his world.”
Was she?
“I need to call him and let him know you’re safe. I just wanted to calm down a little first.” He took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly. She realized his anger all stemmed from worry over her. Which just made her feel worse.
Kent turned to reach for the phone. To call Clint. He had to be so worried. Why couldn’t she have just stayed at home? Now, she’d interrupted his work.
He deserves better than me.
Her insecurities rose up and swamped her. Clint was everything she’d ever dreamed of. Strong, smart, loving, and protective.
And she… she was nothing but trouble.
“Charlotte?” Kent asked. She didn’t answer him, just curled her legs up to her chest where she sat on the sofa, trying to make herself as small as she could. “Charlie? You okay?”
Kent crouched in front of her, his features blurred by her tears. He reached for her, drawing her against his chest and holding her tight.
“Hey, now. What’s this?”
“I messed up! I am such an idiot.”
“Shh, Charlie.” He sat next to her, then lifted her onto his lap.
All right, now she just felt awkward. She’d never sat on anyone’s lap except for Clint’s. And yet, when Kent’s arms wrapped around her, she felt safe.
“Shh now. Shh. You’re gonna make yourself sick if you keep crying like this and then Clint’s gonna wallop my ass.”
She let out a watery giggle. Kent reached over and grabbed a tissue from a box sitting on the small side table next to the couch. He wiped her face, then held it up to her nose. She quickly grabbed hold of it, blowing her own nose.
“I’m so sorry,” she told him in a low voice.
“I know you are. Although I wasn’t expecting any tears until you got your butt walloped.”
Horror filled her. “You’re not going to spank me, are you?”
“You’re under my authority while Clint is away,” he pointed out.
Oh God. She hadn’t thought about that.
“But don’t worry, I’m going to leave that to Clint. You want to tell me what you were thinking?”
“I just wanted to get a few photos. Did Ra… ah, Jed bring in my camera?”
“No. But we can get it from him later.”
“I only meant to go a short distance into the woods, then turn around and come back,” she explained.
“You’re not supposed to go off the pathways at all, though, are you?” he asked sternly.
“No,” she said with a sigh.
“And you should be wearing a warmer jacket, as well as gloves and a hat, shouldn’t you?”
“It’s spring!”
“It’s just come out of winter and this is Montana. Do you realize what could have happened to you? What if Jed hadn’t found you? What if it had gotten dark? What if you’d encountered a wild animal?”
“This is all the stupid bunny’s fault. I just wanted a few photos and it was seriously cute.”
He tapped her nose. “It was not the bunny’s fault and you know it. This was Charlie’s fault. And mine.”
“Yours?” she asked curiously.
“Yep. Because obviously you need closer watching. So, until Clint gets back, you are grounded.”
“Grounded?” What the hell did that mean?
His eyebrows rose. “You’ve never been grounded before?”
She shook her head.
“No, my aunt used to lock me in the closet to punish me.” her voice trailed off and to her surprise he squeezed her tight.
“Well, that will never happen again.”
“So, what does being grounded mean?” She wiggled off his lap, not entirely comfortable about sitting there.
She’d watched enough TV to know what it meant, of course, but she didn’t know how it pertained to her. She was an adult, after all. Her Little side only came out with Daddy. He was the only one she trusted with that part of herself.