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)
Jeez. He took up all the room. His legs parted and his shoulders were so wide that she had to shuffle over.
Leaning forward, Jeb placed his elbows on his thighs with a sigh.
“I’m really sorry about today,” she blurted out. “It won’t happen again. I know I was irresponsible. If I’d fallen in front of Wyatt and hurt myself, he would’ve been terrified. He would’ve had nightmares. I shouldn’t have done it.”
“You’re right,” he said. “You shouldn’t have climbed that tree. But not just because of the impact that would’ve had on Wyatt if you’d fallen. But the impact it would’ve had on you.”
“I know. It might’ve stopped me from moving to Santa Barbara.”
“It might’ve stopped you from breathing at all,” he said, finally turning his head to give her a scolding look. “You need to take better care of yourself, Casey.”
She nodded, looking out at the darkness. If she had a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream, she’d be in heaven.
Oh, and if she didn’t have a big man scolding her.
“You are not indestructible. I feel like you don’t put enough thought into your own safety and care.”
“I put plenty of thought into my own safety and care. What does that even mean?” she asked.
“It means that you nearly broke your neck instead of waiting to ask me for help. It means that you slept in your car rather than call someone and be a bother. It means that you weren’t going to go to the doctor after burning yourself. And it means that you’ve tried all night to hide the fact that you hurt yourself today.”
Shit.
“How did you know?”
“Because you ate dinner entirely with your left hand,” he said. “And you kept your right hand hidden. So what have you done?”
She sighed. “It’s just a splinter.”
“Then you won’t mind me looking at it, will you?” he asked.
“You can’t see anything in this light,” she protested. “I’ll clean it up soon and it will be as good as gold.”
“Show me, little girl,” he said firmly.
A shiver ran through her and she had to stop herself from leaning into him. Now that she knew he wasn’t calling her little girl due to her height, but because of her Little, well, it changed things.
A lot.
Casey wanted to hear him call her that more. She wanted him to hold her and tell her that he’d protect her. She wanted him to be her Daddy.
But he can’t be.
So there is no point in wishing for something that can’t possibly come true.
Jeb drew out his phone and turned on the flashlight as she held out her hand so he could look at it.
“Ahh, baby. This looks sore,” he said as he gently grasped hold of her hand.
He doesn’t mean anything by that. You are not his baby. It’s just a word.
Jeb sucked in a breath, letting go of her hand and leaning away from her. He put his phone away. “Fuck. Sorry. I shouldn’t have called you baby. I’m not doing very well at being your employer, am I? If you’re uncomfortable, tell me. I can arrange a ride back to the motel for you.”
“What? No! I don’t want to leave. Unless you want me to leave. I get it if you do. I haven’t done a very good job at this, well, job. It just doesn’t feel like a job. I know that’s bad. It’s because I like hanging with Wyatt. I mean the housework stuff is crap. I’m crap at it. But with him . . . well, I guess I’m just not used to a job being fun, you know? However, I get it. I’ll leave. I was so stupid today. I don’t know what I was thinking!”
She slapped her hands down on her thighs, letting out a cry of pain as the splinters shifted. “Ow. Ow. Ow.”
“Hey! Stop that!” he ordered, taking gentle hold of her hands. “Don’t hurt yourself.”
“I deserve it.”
“You do not,” he said firmly. “And if anyone is going to punish you for your behavior, it will be me.”
And he just did it again.
Fuck.
He couldn’t stop himself, could he? At this rate, he was going to find himself in trouble for sexual harassment.
Jeb was in a place of authority over her so he needed to ensure that she didn’t feel pressured into doing anything that she didn’t want to do.
“Shit,” he muttered. “I apologize. Again. And again if you feel at all uncomfortable and want me to stop or to leave, tell me. If you want you can just say red.”
“You’re giving me a safeword?” she whispered.
“Yeah. If that’s easier for you. I know that sometimes it can feel intimidating to tell someone older than you, or in a position of power exactly what you need or want. To tell them no. I want you to know you can always say no to me. Or ‘red’ if that’s easier.”