Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Yes, please. That sounds fun.” Her worried look had evaporated, and excitement had replaced her drawn face.
“Then we’ll do it. I’ll get it arranged.” Max parked the truck and squeezed her thigh when she automatically reached for the door handle. “Daddy’s got the door, little girl.”
“I can open it.”
“I know. That’s not the point. I want to take care of you. Let me.”
“Yes, sir!” Saylor said, saluting.
“Good girl,” he complimented and chuckled. Getting out, he circled behind the truck to escort her out. To his surprise, she walked eagerly to the entrance. Pride filled him at the strength of his little girl.
The office welcomed them with calming, pale blue walls and comfortable chairs. Max took a seat with his back to the wall, where he could see the entrance and the door into the inner spaces. The receptionist welcomed Saylor and handed her a form to complete. Good. That will keep her from thinking for a bit.
Saylor turned and smiled when she spotted him. Gratitude that he could be here for her filled Max. She would have been fine without him, but was more relaxed with support.
She checked the last box on the paper and stood to return the clipboard to the desk when the door opened, and a pleasant-looking woman in her late thirties and funky glasses called Saylor’s name. Saylor turned to look at him.
“You’ve got this, baby,” he said softly and watched her straighten her shoulders. When she disappeared through the door, Max sent good vibes after her. He loved her so much.
Pulling out his phone, Max slogged through all his messages and emails as he kept an eye out for Saylor to return. He sent a message to the team notifying them of the gathering and got thumbs up from everyone but Hank. That bastard must be on base, working out.
When the door opened and Saylor appeared, Max stood. His little girl’s face was blotchy like she’d been crying, but she looked good. Like the visit had gone well even though it was tough. She thanked the therapist and flew across the waiting room to throw herself into his arms. Max noticed the therapist and receptionist smiling. Saylor was in good hands.
“Coming back?” he asked.
“Next week,” she confirmed.
“Go make your appointment.”
She almost skipped back to the desk. When she came back, Saylor unwrapped a small sucker. “Barb says sugar helps your brain settle after an appointment.”
“That makes sense.” He held his hand out for the wrapper and shoved it into his pocket before taking her free hand. Then he escorted his precious Little out of the office.
CHAPTER 17
The entire process of entering the base fascinated Saylor. Security had taken her ID and copied it as well as checking Max’s military identification. Equipped with a visitor badge, she’d walked into a large building teeming with activity.
“You need a haircut, son,” a man with rows of insignia and ribbons told Max curtly. Even totally clueless of the military, Saylor knew the stranger was someone important.
“Sir, yes, sir,” Max answered, saluting.
“You weren’t kidding that you needed to get your haircut,” she whispered when they walked away.
Max winked at her. “We’ll go there first.”
A few minutes later, she stood behind a barber’s chair as a soldier buzz-cut Max’s hair back into submission. It was over in less than five minutes. She spent more time talking about what she wanted done with her hair stylist than Max’s entire haircut had taken.
“Office next and then we can go to lunch,” he said, joining her.
Saylor couldn’t resist rising onto her toes to rub the short bristles over his ears. An erotic thought popped into her mind of feeling that sensation on her breasts or between her thighs. Her cheeks heated despite her efforts to push those images away.
“We are so making whatever that was happen, little girl,” Max told her.
She nodded. Not trying to deny anything, Saylor slipped her hand into his. She loved this feeling. Having someone in her life who made all her fantasies reality and cared about her was a dream come true. She forced herself to walk sedately next to him when she wanted to skip with happiness. Soon they would be home, and she could let her little side out.
“Good morning. I need to change my beneficiary forms,” Max announced. Spacing out, Saylor glanced around the office as he stood at the desk filling in the paperwork.
“I’ll need your ID, ma’am,” the clerk said to her when Max finished.
“My ID?” Saylor repeated as she fumbled with the small phone wallet she carried for her driver’s license.
“They need to confirm who you are, Saylor,” Max told her.
Confused, Saylor glanced at the form in front of them. Her name jumped out at her. “You made me your beneficiary?”
“Yes. And my next of kin. The military can talk to you now if anything happens to me,” Max explained quietly.