Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Theo scoots so the rolling chair is right in front of me. He sets his palms on my thighs over the blanket. “I know you’re nervous, Little one, but I can’t just leave you alone. I’d be worried all night.”
I bite my lower lip.
“Do you have someone you can call? Someone who would at least know where you are tonight?”
“Where will I be?”
“My house, Little one. I have plenty of space. You can stay as long as you want.”
At least he isn’t suggesting he come to my apartment. That’s not happening. But how can I just go home with a stranger?
“Do you have a girlfriend you can call, Layla?” he repeats.
I look down at my lap. “My friend Sophia is out of town, and my friend Amelia just moved away.” I’m pitiful.
“Amelia? I know an Amelia. Does she by any chance have a Daddy named Noah?”
I gasp and lift my head. “You know Amelia?”
His smile grows. “Not well, but Noah is a very good friend. I’m a realtor. I took over several of his clients when he moved permanently to Regression Island.” Theo scoots closer, setting his hands on my hips. “What a small world. See? It’s fate. If you still feel uncomfortable when we get home, I’ll call Noah so you can talk to him and Amelia.”
I lick my lips. “I’ve caused you so much trouble.” Tears escape to run down my cheeks again. Stupid tears.
“You haven’t caused me any trouble at all, Little one. In fact, I think we were meant to collide today. Do you know how long I’ve been looking for the perfect Little girl to call my own?”
My breath hitches, and then I hold it. Me? Be his Little girl? I must have hit my head much harder than I thought. I’m not lucky enough to accidentally run into a Daddy and keep him for my own.
Chapter Four
Theo is beaming now that we’ve discovered we have mutual friends. He lifts me by the hips and stands me on the floor before squatting in front of me and holding out the pair of shapeless drawstring pants.
I grab his shoulders and bite my lip while he pulls them up. He’s a total gentleman about it, even being careful not to let them rub across the back of my thighs. When he’s done, he lifts my flimsy gown up to my waist. “Hold this for me, Little one, so I can tie the string on these pants.”
The pants are ridiculously loose and long and far too wide at the top. Even after Theo cinches them as much as possible, I still have to hold them while he turns me around and ties up the back of the gown.
He comes back to my front just as the nurse returns. She holds out an envelope. “This is a list of what to keep an eye on after a concussion as well as suggestions on what to let her eat and drink and when to resume physical activity. It’s all in here.”
“Thank you.” Theo tucks the envelope in his back pocket. “Is it still raining?”
“No, it’s stopped.”
“Great. I’m parked a few blocks away. I was hoping you could help Layla get to the front while I go get the car.”
“That’s a perfect plan. I’ll get her in a wheelchair and cover her with a blanket so she doesn’t get too chilly in that thin gown. She doesn’t even have dry shoes.” Kristen grabs my bag of wet clothes and hands it to Theo.
It’s weird how they’re making all these plans without really consulting me. I guess it doesn’t matter. Apparently I’m going home with Theo.
He doesn’t even give me a chance to respond before he cups my face, smiles, and rushes out of the room. All this is happening moments after the big man dropped a bomb on me, leaving my jaw hanging down.
His Little girl?
Now I don’t know if my head is spinning because I slammed it into the sidewalk or if it’s because my life seems to have flipped upside down or if I’m still lying on the concrete unconscious.
Nurse Kristen helps me into a wheelchair, tucks the blanket around me, hands me the teddy bear, and pushes me to the front door. All the while, she keeps up a running dialog. “You’ve hit the jackpot with that one, Layla. Theo is one of the best men I’ve ever met, and I’ve known him for years.”
“I don’t even know him,” I mutter, for all it’s worth.
She puts the brake on my wheelchair when we get to the front door. Luckily there isn’t anyone in the waiting room. I’d be mortified for someone to listen to this odd conversation. Kristen bends over to speak softly near my ear. “I saw the way he looked at you. Sometimes you just meet the right person, and you know. Sometimes the right person is running down the sidewalk in the rain and barrels right into you. Fate, I tell you. Don’t turn your back on it.” She smiles as she pats my shoulder. “Oh, there’s Theo now.”