Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
A ridiculous smile fluttered at the edges of my mouth.
I should fight it. The quickening inside me.
But I didn’t want to.
Not right then.
Not when this man made me feel truly seen for the first time since I was seventeen.
This sweet, terrifying, beautiful man.
My sister’s words echoed through my mind.
She deserves to have a father like him.
I understood it now, why she would have believed it, but what I didn’t understand was how she’d known it. How she’d known it when he had been nothing but a vacation hookup.
He barely even remembered her.
How had he made that much of an impact?
I blew out a sigh then pushed myself upright, sitting up on my right hip with both hands planted on the bed as I listened to the muffled sounds echoing from downstairs.
That tugging remerged in my heart, a prodding of my spirit, and I slipped out of bed, pulled on my shorts that were still on the floor, then tiptoed to Kane’s door, all covert-like as I popped my head out into the hall to make sure I was in the clear before I raced on bare feet to my room.
I used the restroom, washed my hands, brushed my teeth, then tied the mess of my hair up into a casual knot on top of my head.
Hair that smelled like him.
Spice and temptation and the most masculine things.
A shiver rocked my spine, and I shoved it off and tried to gather myself as I padded back out the door and into the hall.
Sounds from below rose to meet my ears. The clank of silverware and the tinkling of a giggle and the low, mesmerizing roll of laughter.
My belly shook.
I was in trouble. In so much trouble because I felt myself teetering on a ledge. So close to falling. A fool who was starting to believe this man would be there to catch me when I did.
Steeling myself, I crept downstairs, keeping my footsteps light. I hit the bottom landing and edged along the wide passageway toward the voices that increased in volume the closer I got to the kitchen.
I stopped at the entryway and peered in.
Kane was again at the island, this time cutting fresh fruit.
Wearing a fitted black tee, locks of shiny brown hair a mess, the most magnificent grin on his even more magnificent face.
The man was so handsome the sight of him sent an earthquake rolling beneath my feet.
My foundation rocked.
Maci sat on the island at his side, her back to me, hands animated where she waved them above her head.
“Just like that!” she gushed.
“No way,” he enthused, his love so distinct as he looked at the child.
“Yes, way!” She gave him an earnest nod. “I already told you I got a dragon and he’s blue and all sparkly and he’s got really sharp teef.”
She lifted her fingers like they were claws and snapped her mouth at him as if she was going to bite him. “Rahhhrr!”
“Whoa, that dragon sounds super scary. Are you sure you should be hanging out with him so much?” Kane teased, playing along with her sweet imaginings.
“He gots the sharp teef because it’s his job to protect me.”
An emotion swept through Kane’s features. So distinct my spirit wobbled.
Then he started making all these chomping noises as he leaned over and playfully gnawed at Maci’s arm and shoulder. “Like this?”
Maci shrieked with laughter, giggling and squirming as she put her hands out to stop him. “No way, Mr. Kane, my dragon is never gonna eat me! He really loves me and keeps me safe!”
Kane slowed, easing back as he gazed down at her, that rough voice tender. “That’s what I’m going to do, Maci. I’ll always protect you and keep you safe.”
Even from behind, I could see the way Maci beamed, her little shoulders hiking to her ears. “Because you love me?”
His thick throat bobbed, and devotion gusted across his strong brow. He set the knife aside and moved to fully stand in front of her. He dipped down to meet her gaze as he took her precious face in his hands. “Yeah, Maci, because I love you.”
I nearly came apart right there.
Broken.
Mended.
Destroyed and reborn.
Maci squealed and kicked her feet. “Are you my dragon, Mr. Kane?”
A jagged chuckle rolled out of Kane. “I guess I am, Angel Face. Your fire-breathing dragon.”
Emotion squeaked out of me. A riot of affection and fear. Hope and destitution.
His head jerked up.
Emerald eyes flashed, a rushing of greed that streamed through our connection. Memories of last night playing on repeat in our minds.
Our frantic kisses and our searching hands and the plea of our bodies.
It was all mashed up with the easiness he always met me with.
That sly, sexy grin that twitched at one corner of his mouth.
“Hey there, sunshine.” It was a gruff scrape of welcome.
I might as well have been with the way heat ate me up. A torrid blast that burst in the air.