Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
She instantly stilled and I immediately silently cursed myself. Understanding—even implied understanding—sure as hell didn’t extend consent. I was about to apologize but she not only beat me to it, but when she said, “Sorry, ticklish,” and not, “What the hell?” I looked over to see her looking at me. Her lips curled into a smile as I tried to figure out what the hell to say.
“I’ll be still,” she offered, letting me off the hook.
“And I’ll try not to tickle you,” I said, then added, “But if you twist your head back one more time, that little pop is going to discover it has lots and lots of friends. Got it?”
Green eyes widened and freckles stood out more against her flushed cheeks but she didn’t tell me where I could go. Instead she said, “Got it.”
“Good girl, here we go.” I made sure not to use my fingertips while slowly curling my entire palm around her foot before using my other hand to slip the belt from its multiple twists around her ankle. Once it was free, I hesitated to let it go, not only because it felt remarkable to hold even a part of her in my bare hands, but because I knew it was going to start swelling the moment it had nothing to constrict it.
“Pixie, it’s not going to be easy, but you really need to keep your leg as still as possible while I try to figure out the best way to get you out of the car.”
A soft whimper was her only response and I made up my mind. Since there was no way in hell there was room for two of us inside this matchbox, my choice was pretty clear. I backed out and moved to crouch down in front of her again as she slowly turned her head to look at me. “I’m proud of you, Livvy. We’re almost there. Can you be brave a bit longer?”
“I’ll try,” she said as a tear lost its hold on her chin to fall to the ground beneath her head.
That single tear tore at me in a way nothing ever had before. Being careful of her chin, I used the pads of my thumbs to brush the tears off her face and bent to kiss the tip of her nose. “Trust me?”
“Always,” she said softly.
It took a few more tears and a bit of audible cursing on my part as I knew that pulling her through the window wasn’t the most fun journey she’d ever taken. With a large rock blocking any chance of opening the door more than an inch or so, it was also the only choice we had. When I finally had her cradled in my arms, I was sure of two things. One, she was going to have one hell of a sprained ankle, and two, I was damn glad this red-headed pixie had finally found her way home.
By the time I’d reached my truck, I’d decided she didn’t need to lie prone in the backseat. Instead, I sat her on the front passenger seat then snagged the extra shirt I kept in the backseat.
“This is going to hurt but it’s also going to help,” I said as I began to use the shirt as a makeshift bandage around her foot and ankle. As I tied the sleeves together in a knot, I wasn’t sure whose heart was beating faster. Her knuckles were white where they’d clutched the edge of the seat, but she’d never once complained. When I looked up, she bent forward to kiss my cheek.
“Thank you for not being a bear.”
Thank you for not being a pig.
When her eyes went as round as saucers and her mouth dropped open to say, “You thought I was a pig?” I realized I’d said that out loud.
“Actually, a wild boar,” I corrected with a grin. “How about I tell you the story on the way to town?”
She nodded like a bobblehead doll which reminded me how she’d come to be in my vehicle and not hers. “First, you have to promise to sit still and try not to move your head. Besides your ankle, you could have whiplash and your chin might start to bleed again.”
Her nose scrunched up in distaste at that possibility but her head remained still, her eyes fixed on me. “I’ll be a statue.”
Pretty sure that would be impossible for a girl who’d never seemed to stay still, but satisfied she’d be as immobile as she could, I carefully tucked her legs inside, fastened her seatbelt, and after I’d settled behind the wheel, I began.
“Once upon a time, there was a girl named—”
“No, not a girl! A piggy…”
I glanced at her. “Do you wanna tell it?”
A curl shook before my arched brow had her rolling her eyes.
“That’s one.”