Fiery Fighter Daddy by Scott Wylder
CHAPTER FIVE
Hazel
Before I could reply, there was a knock at Scott’s door. He glanced back. “Just think about it, okay? But first, breakfast.”
The thought of food was appealing. My stomach was rumbling, and I could definitely use some coffee. Even after I fell back to sleep, it had been restless, and I was feeling exhausted. Food and caffeine would do me some good.
Scott wheeled the breakfast cart into my room. My eyes widened at the display before me. It looked like he had ordered one of everything on the menu. There were pancakes and waffles and scrambled eggs and omelets and bowls of fresh fruit and a bunch of other dishes I didn’t know the names of, as well as a coffee carafe, a pitcher of water, and even some freshly squeezed orange juice. My mouth watered at the sight of it all.
“I wasn’t sure what you wanted so I got a little bit of everything,” he said as he wheeled it over to the sitting area. He started to set dishes down on the coffee table and jerked his head over to the sofa. “Come on. Let’s dig in.”
I got out of bed and sat down cross-legged on the sofa. I waited until he grabbed a plate of egg whites and bacon before making my choice. Hesitantly, I grabbed a plate of chocolate chip waffles. Todd always hated when I had too much sugar and he complained it would make me fat. But Scott only smiled at me when I took a bite. I groaned as the sweetness hit my tongue. It was perfect.
“Thank you. This is amazing,” I chuckled. “It seems like all I do is say thank you.”
“It’s really my pleasure, Hazel,” he said. “I want to take care of you.”
“But why? You don’t even know me.”“I know. But I just don’t like the thought of someone hurting. Especially if I can do something about it. My manager says I’m too protective for my own good, but I think I’m just the right amount. And I hate that I’m at least a little to blame for the mess you’re in. The least I can do is help you get out of it.”
I bit my lip. I didn’t have anywhere to go. And even though Scott was intimidating, he had been very nice to me so far. I only had two options: go back to Todd and take whatever awful punishment he would inflict on me or go with Scott and hope things would be better.
“Where is your home?” I asked.
“It’s in a town called Knoxville. It’s an old ranch house on the outskirts. That’s where I live and train. It’s quiet and has a bunch of rooms and plenty of space. You can recover and spend as much time as you need to figure things out. And because you lost your job due to some ridiculous fiction spun up by the tabloids, my lawyer can help you sue for slander and libel. It’s the least you’re owed.”
His lip curled slightly in anger and a flutter of fear entered my stomach. I forced myself to take a deep breath. He wasn’t mad at me. I had to remember that.
“Are you sure I won’t be in the way?” I asked. “I don’t want to be a bother.”“You’re not a bother,” he said firmly. “I want you to come. If anything, I would enjoy your company.”
“Then, if it’s all right, I’ll come with you. But as soon as I find a job, I’m going to pay you back for everything.”
He chuckled. “Only if I let you.”After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel. Scott called his manager and had him book me a plane ticket. Then we decided to drive to my place to get my stuff. I bit my lip as I directed him into the sketchier part of town where I lived with Todd. It wasn’t a great neighborhood, and I could see his eyebrows crease with concern the further we drove.
“It’s just up here,” I said, gesturing to the dilapidated apartment building. “I’ll only be a moment.”
He was glaring at a group of guys leaning against the side of the building.
“I’ll go,” he said. “You stay here with the doors locked.”
“Scott--”
“Stay. Here.” His tone was firm and offered no room for argument. I found myself frozen to the seat. He gave me a small smile before he left.
I waited anxiously for him to come back. I knew Scott could handle himself, obviously. He was a professional fighter after all. But the thought of him getting hurt because he got my stuff for me made my stomach twist up in knots.
A few minutes later he came back with my suitcases in hand. There was a scowl on his face, but it melted into a smile as soon as he saw me. He put my suitcases in the back.
“All ready to go,” he said. “I believe I got everything of yours. Todd was also willing to take his name off your bank account, so you now have complete control of your money.”
I frowned. There was no way Todd was willing to do that. I glanced down at Scott’s hands and noticed a few more bruises on his knuckles than there were a few minutes ago.
“You really didn’t have to do that,” I said quietly.
“I wanted to,” he said. “Besides, it didn’t take him long to see reason.”
“I’m sure it didn’t.”
He glanced at me as he pulled back onto the road. “You okay? Did I scare you?”
I wasn’t sure. I felt more unsettled than scared. But the more time I spent with Scott, the more sure I was that he wouldn’t hurt me.
“Just don’t beat somebody up over me again. Please.”He looked like he wanted to argue, but instead he sighed.
“I’ll try not to. But if anyone else hurts you the way he did, then I can’t promise anything.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
Scott smiled at me. “Good.”
Luckily, the ride to the airport and the plane ride itself were uneventful. We took a cab to his home in the middle of Knoxville.
“How long have you lived here?” I asked.
“Only about a year or so,” Scott said. “Believe it or not, I ended up moving here because there’s a really good restaurant called Flynn’s the next town over. It’s some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. Maybe soon I can take you there.”
I smiled. “That sounds delicious. I can’t remember the last time I ate at a restaurant.”
“Then we have to go.” He grinned at me, and I felt butterflies in my stomach. I liked seeing him happy. It made me feel all warm inside. And after only about a day, I was pretty sure I was starting to crush on him. That was insane. I knew how scary and dangerous relationships could be. Why would I start developing feelings for a man I had just met, especially one as scary as Scott? But I couldn’t help it. He made me feel safe, safer than I had felt in a long time. It made me want to stay in his life as long as he would let me.