Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34149 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“This is Emma. She’s shy. It will take her a while to warm up to you.” Josie’s breath hitches. “I mean if you come over again.”
I sit on the edge of the bed and stroke my Little girl’s face. “Every day, princess. And I’m worried about you tonight. You had a stressful evening. Would you mind if I stayed and slept on your couch? I would be nervous leaving you.”
Her eyes go very wide. “Okay.”
“Do you need anything else, Baby girl? Do you use a pacifier or have a special blankie?”
She shakes her head. “No, I…”
“You what, princess?”
She rolls onto her side, curls up with her stuffie, and brings one hand up to her face, showing me her thumb. She sucks her thumb.
My heart stops when she tucks her thumb into her mouth and closes her eyes.
I stand slowly, still stroking her shoulder because I can’t bear to leave her. I could stay here all night watching her sleep.
She pulls her thumb out and looks up at me. “Thank you, Daddy. Even if you don’t mean it and you change your mind and leave, I’ll understand. This was the best night ever.”
My chest hurts. I hate that she doesn’t think I’ll be here in the morning.
Patience, I remind myself. She will find me here in the morning. She will find me here every time I’m not working. She will learn to believe me and trust me.
I lean over, kiss her temple, and nuzzle her ear. “I’ll be here when you wake up, princess, and if you’re scared in the night, call out for me, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
It takes willpower to leave her room. I pull the door partly closed, but not all the way. I want to be able to peek in and see her. I want to hear her if she whimpers or cries out. I want to be in her bed, damnit.
Alone in her small living room/kitchen, I remove my buttoned shirt. I have a T-shirt on underneath. It’s a police shirt. I’m pretty sure she knows I’m a cop. Nearly all my shirts have police insignia on them.
I take my wallet, my phone, and my badge out of the pockets of my pants. After setting my wallet and badge on the end table, I send a quick text to Misha. I forgot to have Josie do that. It was mostly for her peace of mind. Not mine. Misha knows me well. She knows I wouldn’t harm a soul.
My gun is safely locked in the console of my truck where I left it before entering the Dungeon. I would never bring a firearm into the club, nor would I bring one into Josie’s apartment.
When she starts coming to my house, I’ll have to educate her about guns and make sure she knows where they’re always safely locked away and that she’s never to touch them. But that’s for another day.
I have to work in the morning. It can’t be helped. I don’t have a very good excuse to call in and get someone to take my shift. I might need time off in the near future to help Josie move into my house and adjust. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Jesus, this is happening so fast. I had no idea when I headed to the club the night would end with me in Josie’s apartment. I wonder if she has help. Parents or siblings who helped her move in. She’s obviously self-sufficient, but I have a hard time picturing her actually moving or doing heavy lifting.
I drop onto her couch and tip my head back. My life is officially changed. Starting about two hours ago, I am no longer single. I have no idea how I managed to know Josie for as long as I have without ever crossing the line we crossed tonight, but I’m so fucking pleased now.
I push to standing, turn off all the lights, and recline on her couch. I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to sleep, but I close my eyes anyway.
It seems like seconds later a sound wakes me up. Knocking. Someone is at the door. I sit up quickly and snag my phone to see the time. It’s six am. Who would be at the door at this hour?
A voice comes through the door. “Josie? Honey, are you in there?”
I rush over to the door, peek through the peephole to see a middle-aged woman, and then open it. I have a suspicion I’m about to meet Josie’s mother.
She takes a step back, eyes wide. “Oh. Uh. Who are you?” She glances at my shirt. “Police?” Her eyes go wider. “Is Josie okay?”
I take a step back, opening the door farther.
“Mom?” The soft voice behind me tugs at my heartstrings. I feel so protective of her, and I suspect she’s about to feel uncomfortable. I hate that. I don’t mind meeting her mom, but the woman probably has the wrong idea about me.