Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“Oh . . . well, good. I wouldn’t want you to choke.” She shot Jack a look. He just licked his spoon clean.
“I knew he’d be all right. No sandwich would ever dare choke Ian Blackstone.”
Well, that was true.
A wave of tiredness ran through her.
“Hey, are you all right?” Ian turned toward her. “You look exhausted.”
“I’m a bit tired.”
“Sugar drop from eating dessert for dinner,” Ian told her.
“There’s nothing wrong with dessert for dinner. I think it should become a new thing. I might start a trend.”
“I think not, Little Misfit.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you can be too bossy?” she asked.
“They haven’t.”
“I have.” Jack held up his hand, waving it around. “All the time.”
She yawned, swaying on her feet.
“Time you were in bed.” Ian picked her up again, holding her against his chest. What she wouldn’t give to be able to bury her face in his chest and let go. Let him take care of everything.
But you can’t.
However, she did let him carry her up to her room. And over to her bed. He set her down while he drew back the covers.
“In you get.” He patted the mattress.
Was he . . . was he really going to put her to bed?
And was she going to say no?
No, she was not.
She climbed into the bed and watched in amazement as he took the job of tucking her in very seriously.
“What else do you need to sleep? Where is your zebra?”
“He got all dirty, so I had to give him a sponge bath. He’s in the bathroom.” She attempted to free herself from the cocoon of blankets, but he placed a hand on top of her.
“Stay there.”
She didn’t take offense to the command. Because she really just wanted to stay where she was. All wrapped up and snuggly.
He brought back Ziggy and placed him under the blankets with her.
She let out a big yawn.
“Do you need a light left on, Little Misfit?”
“No, I like the dark. Uncle Willy and I used to play games in the dark.” Her eyes opened. “Monkeyballs! I forgot about Uncle Willy. I need to stay up and wait for him to get home from the palace.”
Ian gave her a curious look. “Why would you need to stay up for him? One of Beta Team will bring him home. He’ll be fine.”
“Oh, um, yes. I guess. I’ve been meaning to ask why you guys don’t have a name?”
“What?” he asked.
“If there is Alpha and Beta, are you Delta? Or do you not have a name yet? Maybe you want me to name you? Hmm . . . what about Grumpy Knickers team.”
“You need sleep,” he said dryly. “Clearly, you’re delusional.”
She snorted. She was not.
“Close your eyes now. You’re exhausted. I don’t want you getting out of bed until after nine tomorrow morning.”
“Have you always had these delusions?”
“Delusions?”
“Yeah. That you’re the boss of the world.”
“I don’t want to be the boss of the world. Just you, I think.” The last four words were so quiet that she decided she must have imagined them.
Same as she imagined the lips that were pressed to her forehead.
It was a nice dream.
But it would never be her reality. And she had to remember that.
20
Aloud crashing noise followed by a yell woke her with a fright. She sat up, sliding her thumb from her mouth as her heart raced frantically.
What happened? What was that?
Pushing the covers back, Maggie stumbled from the bed and out the door. She heard someone yell downstairs. That sounded like Jack!
Without a thought to what was going on or to her own safety, she ran toward the stairs, launching herself down them. Someone had turned the lights on and she could see Jack was crouched at the bottom of the stairs.
There was something else there . . . no, someone else.
“Uncle Willy!” she cried out.
Ian appeared, his phone to his ear, staring up at her in concern.
He ended the call and rushed toward her as she continued down the stairs, nearly tripping in her haste.
“Be careful!” he barked.
“Uncle Willy! Oh my God. What happened?”
“He fell,” Ian told her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close to him.
“Is he all right? Please tell me he’s all right,” she begged, trying to free herself from Ian’s hold.
“Stay calm, Little girl,” Ian said. “He’s going to be all right.”
A sob escaped. “Why isn’t he waking up? Let me go. I need to go to him. He needs me.”
“He’s hit his head,” Jack told her. “It knocked him unconscious, but his pulse is steady.”
“Promise?” Tears raced down her cheeks as she swiped at them and her nose.
“I promise.”
She nodded, trying to slow her frantic breaths.
“An ambulance is on the way,” Ian said. “The best thing you can do for your uncle is to get dressed. And grab your handbag. Can you do that?”