Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“Shouldn't I be doing that with you on the other side?”
I grin. I love the way she pops her hip out and tilts her head dramatically when she’s about to give me hell.
“You don't really want me to leave, sweetheart.”
“You're not staying,” Zoe counters.
"We'll discuss it,” I compromise. “Where is your room?”
“You don't need to know because you're not staying.”
“Relax,” I coax, grinning at the incredulous look on her face. “I just want to know because I need to make sure it's safe. Then, if you want me to go, I will leave you to a nice, hot shower and your bed.”
“Oh,” Zoe says. I can hear both surprise and disappointment laced in that one word. She might be nervous that I'm here, but she really doesn't want me to leave, and I can build on that. "It's upstairs and on the right. I'll show you.” I follow her up the stairs but move in front of her when she stops at her door. She's frowning at me again. “You’re crazy.”
“I just want to ensure everything is as it should be."
“Fine. But I'm not sure what kind of life you lead that makes you afraid to come home to your own bed every night. I'm not even sure I want to know.”
“You can't be too careful, especially if you're a beautiful woman in the house alone. Being vigilant is a lesson I learned when I was barely seven, and my foster father at the time would come home from drinking all night, looking to find a reason to punish me.”
"You grew up in foster care?" Zoe asks, her voice filled with surprise.
I open her door and flip on the light with her walking closely behind me as I check out her room. I'm not surprised to find it is the opposite of mine. While mine is still set up the way it was when I bought it, hers is homey and comfortable. I bought the furniture that the realtor staged my home with because that was just easier. Everything in Zoe’s room is meaningful. Her bed is covered in what looks like a homemade quilt with vibrant colors. Her bookshelf holds knick-knacks and books. Her dresser has candles and a small jewelry box on it. I look over everything carefully, trying to gain more insight into the woman she is.
"I was in foster care for a while, but after getting into trouble a few times, I was sent to live in a state facility which was more like an orphanage of sorts but for troubled kids. That's where I met Niko." I turn to see the look of shock on her face as she comes to a complete stop.
"Niko was in an orphanage?" she asks. "How did I not know that? I don't think Emilia has ever mentioned it to me."
"Chances are that she doesn't know. Niko doesn't talk about his private life. Not easily, anyway."
Zoe nods in understanding. I know Niko would be pissed that I shared that information, but I can’t deny that I did it on purpose. I’m hoping that Zoe will share it with Emilia. Maybe it will soften her toward Niko a bit. Someone needs to do something because Niko won’t allow himself to give more to Emilia easily and I know he cares for her.
"Where is the bathroom?" I ask, leaning on her door frame. Her room is safe. Now, I just want to be positive the house in general is.
"Across the hall," she says, pointing at the closed door.
"Do you want a bath or shower?"
"I'd love to take a bath, but the problem is, even a baby would have trouble soaking in the tub, let alone me."
Now would probably be the wrong time to tell her that I have a giant soaking tub at home. Someday soon, I plan on using it with her. I wish we were at the stage where I could shower with her. I bite my tongue, but patience is not something I possess when it comes to Zoe, which means it’s hard. If I push her any further, however, it will ruin all of the progress that I’ve made.
"Shower it is then. I'll start the water while you get your things together," I tell her, walking into the bathroom. There's a small window that's still open down above the tub and shower. I close it, securing the lock.
"We're on the second floor. It's not like Dracula will be flying up and sneaking into my house," she says behind me as she sets her stuff down. I grin at her as I get the water going, ensuring it's warm before I'm in front of her. I smile at her joke and leave the room with a kiss on her forehead.
“I have a few calls to make while you shower."
"I thought you were going to lock up and leave?"