Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
He’d tell me to keep my hands and dick away from his sweet, innocent daughter. Which she is. Lily talks a big game and has a filthy mouth. But that’s where the toughness ends. She doesn’t lash out either, until recently, and it’s directed at me. It’s deserved. I know I’m being a dick for keeping her locked away, but what’s the alternative?
We both know what lingers in the air between us that we don’t say. She is my captive. There is no other way to put it.
“Are you going to ignore me the whole flight?” I break the silence; it’s become unbearable, eating away at me slowly.
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“That’s a first.” That has her swinging her head toward me and flipping me the bird. I fake an annoyed expression, making her smirk. I’ll take it. Any time I can get a reaction from her is a plus.
“I don’t understand why I had to come with you.”
“You didn’t used to mind traveling with me.” It had only been a few times, but she enjoyed it. I cut it off because she was too tempting. I shouldn’t have. It doesn’t matter where she is. Lily is always a temptation to me.
“Things change.”
“You wanted to travel,” I remind her again.
“You’re just going to shove me in a hotel room while you go do whatever it is you need to. That’s not what I had in mind when I said I wanted to travel. Thanks for ruining it for me.” Her words hit their mark. I shouldn’t let them, but I honestly hate when she’s unhappy. My intention is never to ruin anything for her.
I don’t have a plan. This is all very last second, fly by the seat of my pants, which is not like me at all. I’m not a knee-jerk reaction person. I plot and predict before I make a move. This time I responded in fear, which is never good.
I could tell myself it wasn’t fear but worry, but lying to myself hasn’t helped me when it comes to Lily.
“We can do things if you like. Make a list.”
“I don’t need pity hangouts.” She rolls her eyes at me. “Maybe I could have real friends if I were allowed to go out and meet people.”
“What about friends from school?”
Lily stares at me with a dead expression, and I know I’ve missed something big. Even before she can say it, it’s already hitting me. I’m a fucking moron.
“I didn’t fit in. If you haven’t noticed, I’m not like the other girls in your world.”
“You’re the only girl in my world.” Everything is work and Lily. I’m incapable of handling much else.
As of late, work has been slipping through my fingers. I would never allow that to happen, but there are a lot of things I believed I’d never allow before Lily. She has a way of making me change my own rules.
“Sasha—”
“I suppose.” I have known Sasha for as long as I can remember. We grew up together. I tolerate her out of courtesy for my mother. I told my mother after she begged me to hire her that this was it. I’m not doing any more favors regarding Sasha.
The girl doesn’t need a job. She’s a trust fund kid. I assign her the simplest tasks, yet she still cannot complete any of them without asking me countless questions. I always end up handing over her task list to Joey to handle for me. That way he can fix any fuck-ups Sasha makes.
“Speaking of. How was your dinner last night?” Lily asks with an annoyed smirk. Is she upset we didn’t have dinner together? I thought she would be thankful with how her mood has been. That gives me a measure of relief.
“It was fine.” It wasn’t fine. I had dinner in my office while going over details for today and hounding Killian for updates, which he has none. In fact, his responses have been rather vague or non-existent most times. That also has me on edge and in super overprotective mode when it comes to Lily.
“Whatever. I really don’t give a crap anyway. I’m sure Sasha will make sure I hear all about it when I get back.” Her response gives me pause. They don’t hang out, which circles me back to her schooling.
“Were you getting bullied?”
“By Sasha?”
“What? No.” I shake my head. “At school.”
“What does it matter?” she tosses back at me while pulling out her e-reader. I hate that thing most days. It gets her undivided attention which I’m always seeking. I had to ban it from meals. Yes, I’m jealous of a fucking device.
I see the way that thing makes her smile, and I hate it. I’ve thought about breaking it more times than I’m willing to admit. It’s one of the only things that makes her happy these days, and that’s the only reason it’s not in the garbage.