Daddy’s Little Runaway by Lila Fox
Chapter Five
Emma woke up and flinched when she moved her arm. Then she looked around the room. She could tell it was daytime from the light coming in through the crack in the drapes.
She sat up and examined her arm. The man, Devon, must have rewrapped it. He’d done a much better job than she had, and it didn’t hurt as much.
The urgent need to pee had her sliding out of bed and heading toward the bathroom. After doing her business and washing her hands, she glanced at herself in the mirror.
The circles under her eyes were still there but weren’t as dark, and she did feel a little better. She caught sight of the new toothbrush and toothpaste by the sink. She thought about the pink one she had bought months ago, but it was still in the house she’d grown up in with the rest of her things.
Something as simple as that made her feel desolate.
A tear slid down her cheek when she thought of what her mother had done and the fact her aunt knew nothing about it.
A knock sounded, making her jump.
“Honey, how are you doing?” he asked through the door.
“I … I’m fine.”
“Can I come in?”
She looked down at herself and decided she was covered. “Yes.”
The night before, she’d thought he was handsome, but after getting some rest, she realized he surpassed handsome. Her pulse began to beat erratically, and her body softened.
God, she’d never seen anyone so hot before unless it was on the television.
A fiery blush covered her face when she realized she’d talked out loud.
“Don’t be embarrassed because you like the way I look. It makes me feel very good that you feel that way. I also find you extremely attractive.”
She snorted. “No, you don’t. I’m nothing. I’m less than nothing.”
He scowled. “Where did you hear that?”
“My mom.”
“Well, it’s bullshit. You’re a strong, beautiful woman, and I find I want to get to know more about you.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
She studied his expression and only found sincerity.
“How’s your arm feeling?”
She glanced down at it. “It still hurts, but it’s better than it was.”
“Good. The doctor will be back today to check on it.”
Her eyes widened. “A doctor? Does anyone else know I’m here?”
“Just my friend Cason.”
Oh, God. “I should go…”
He shook his head. “You’re not going anywhere.”
She tried to walk around him. “You don’t understand. I’ve got some horrible people after me, and you could get hurt.”
He rolled his eyes. “What is it with little women trying to protect us men?”
“What?”
He grasped her shoulders. “No one is going to get to you.”
“You don’t know…”
“Stop,” he growled. “You’re not leaving, and you’re going to let me take care of you.”
“Why would you want to do that?” she asked.
“I’m not sure why, but I already feel like your mine in some way.”
Her heart and hopes lifted. “How?”
“That’s something we’ll have to figure out as time passes. But for now. You’re with me to stay unless you hate it here. Then I’ll find someone else for you to stay with until everything is safe for you.”
She couldn’t describe the feelings of faith, trust, and happiness she felt at that moment. They were feelings she’d taken for granted with her grandmother and aunt, but otherwise, she hadn’t felt that way about anyone except Devon.
Emma nodded.
“I have some questions to ask you, pet. But, first, I want you to eat something.”
She bit her lip, and her stomach took that moment to growl. Food had become secondary to hiding the last several weeks.
He chuckled and held a hand out. “Come on, let’s get you fed.”
She took his hand and bit back a gasp as tingles and warmth radiated up her arm. She’d never felt that sensation before, but she was still too tired to think about it and what it might mean.
He walked her down a long hallway. She peeked in the rooms that had the doors open and saw a bathroom, an office, and what looked like a storage room filled with boxes.
“I still have a lot of things I need to unpack,” he explained to her when she looked into the room.
The whole place was fancy and new but masculine and with very little color.
“How long ago did you move in?”
“Several months ago. I’ve been busy building my business.”
“Oh.”
He led her around an island and lifted her into one of the stools.
“Are you allergic to anything?”
She shook her head. “No, but there are a lot of things I don’t like, though.”
“I’ll learn those as I go along. How about some scrambled eggs and toast? That shouldn’t upset your stomach.”
Her stomach was cramped in hunger. “That sounds good.” Besides the food she’d received from the diners she worked at the last few weeks, she’d barely had anything. She’d been too afraid to go into stores. She knew she lost too much weight, but she’d be able to gain back her strength quickly.
He placed a plate with a piece of toast and scrambled eggs with cheese in front of her.
“I have coffee, water, milk, or juice.”
“Juice, please.”
She liked it when he sat down beside her and ate his own plate. It felt natural and easy to be with him.
He took her plate when she finished.
“I can help.”
He smiled at her. “When you’re stronger, you can. Right now, I just want you to rest.”
She watched him quickly clean up the kitchen.
A vague thought popped into her head.
“What are you thinking about?”
She jerked. She hadn’t realized he was watching her.
“I just thought that I’d lost too much weight, but my mother would be pleased for once.”
Devon leaned on his elbows on the island and faced her. “Explain that.”
“I’ve always been a fat person…”
“Whoa, is this your mother’s opinion you’re talking about?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, it’s bullshit, but go on.”
“Anyway, when she came to visit me, that was usually her first complaint.”
“Visit you where?”
“My grandmother’s.”
“Is that the huge white Victorian house?”
Her eyes widened. “Yes. How did you know?”
“I’ve been trying to find you, and I found that address. When I went there, your mother said you didn’t live there.”
She blinked several times, but she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. She hadn’t let herself because she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop if she broke down.
“Ah, honey.”
She gasped when Devon picked her up, sat down in one of the living room chairs, and set her in his lap. He pressed her head against his chest.
“Cry, sweetheart. You’ve had a tough time lately.”
She nodded, and then sobs started tearing out of her throat as she clutched his shirt in her fist. She had no idea how long she cried, but when the storm of misery passed, she felt wrung out and unable to lift her head.
“I’ve got you, baby,” he murmured against the top of her head.
She felt safe for the first time since her family was separated. She’d felt safe with her grandmother and aunt, but she never knew when her mother would show up and want to take her with her.
Her fear started to grow when her grandmother died, and then it got much worse after her aunt had a stroke and had to live in a facility that helped her rehabilitate. However, Emma was afraid she’d never been able to come home again. They had been teaching her to do as much as she could so she’d be able to take care of herself. All she knew was she hated being the only one there. It left her in the house alone and defenseless.
