Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
She hadn’t managed to draw the sketch yet. She’d spent most of the last two days napping and having nightmares. Nap. Nightmare. Nap. Nightmare.
It was a vicious cycle.
“Daddy!”
He came running from outside, the mail in his hand. “Baby! Baby, I’m right here.”
She let out a sob as she moved into his arms. He set the mail down, then carefully picked her up, holding her cradled against his chest.
“I didn’t know where you were. I thought you left.”
“I’m so sorry. I just went to get the mail. I was going to make you some breakfast in bed. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”
She knew she was acting nuts. But she couldn’t stop it. Being separated from him felt like her heart was being ripped out through her chest. As though she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
As if all of her nightmares were pressing down on her.
The only thing that made her feel safe was being in his arms.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she told him.
“Hey, baby. We’ve had this talk. You have nothing to be sorry for. Understand me? I am here for you.”
But he couldn’t always be. Soon he’d have to go back to work. And she’d be all alone.
“Everything all right?” Stone stood in the foyer area. How long had he been watching?
So she guessed she wouldn’t be all alone. But it wasn’t the same. She knew Stone would keep her physically safe. However, it was her emotions that were all over the place. And only Hack knew how to take care of her.
Aidan and Livvy had been to visit her yesterday. But Cash hadn’t come with them, and she couldn’t lie, it kind of hurt.
He wouldn’t disappear on her again, would he?
“She’ll be all right,” he reassured Stone, before carrying her toward the bedroom.
“No. Stay with you,” she told him.
“Shh. It’s all right. I’m not going anywhere. I’m sorry I took so long, I got waylaid by someone.”
“Who?”
“Mrs. Fluffybottom,” he muttered.
“Mrs. Fluffybottom?” she asked.
“Yeah, she was wanted some attention.”
“She’s so needy. That must be so difficult for you.”
“I have all the time in the world for the women in my life. Never doubt it. You are not a burden. You are perfect.”
“I’m not. I was naughty. I broke the rules.”
He walked into the kitchen and attempted to set her on the counter. But she tightened her hold on him, not wanting to be put down. It was an instinctive move; she did it without conscious thought.
All she wanted was to be next to him.
“I know you don’t want to let me go, baby. But I need to make you some breakfast.”
“I can’t . . . I just . . .”
“It’s all right. I actually have something that might help. It arrived yesterday.” He moved over to a drawer and pulled an item out. She frowned, trying to work it out. He set it on the counter with one hand.
“Is that a baby harness?”
“Yes. But it’s made for adults. You have a lot of trouble being away from me, but I still need my hands to take care of you. So I thought this might help.”
“You can’t carry me around all the time,” she protested.
“Sure I can. With this.”
“But what about your back?”
“Baby girl, you barely weigh anything. In fact, you’ve lost weight, which is worrying me. Which is why I need to make you breakfast, so let’s get you in this so I can do that.”
“Always so fossy.” She grinned. Wow, that felt weird. But good.
He set her down on the counter, then clipped the carrier around his waist. He lifted her against his chest before pulling the carrier up her back then sliding his arms through.
Hmm. This was surprisingly comfortable.
Maybe at one stage she might have been embarrassed that someone might see her like this. But right now, she didn’t care.
He even produced her pacifier so she could snuggle in and let him take care of her.
Hack cleared away the dirty dishes after breakfast. He’d fed her every bite from his hand as she’d lain against his chest. She might have a new favorite thing. Now, they were sitting at the table while he finished his coffee. He’d pulled off the sleeves of the harness and was softly caressing her back.
“Baby girl?”
“Yes, Daddy?”
“Do you feel up to doing some sketching?”
She tensed. But it was time. She had to do this.
Twenty minutes later, she had a picture of the man in the shadows. She put as much detail as she could recall into it.
“It’s not perfect,” she told him as he stared down at it. Grabbing his phone, he took a couple of photos and sent them off.
“It will work. The Fox will find him.”
Or her secret stalker would.
“Come on,” Hack said. “Let’s take Wally and snuggle down in your nest. Do you want to put a different onesie on?”