Page 23 of Shades of Loyalty
“There you go, you can stay in this room for the night.” I thank him quietly as he opens the door and leads us inside.
He explains further, “I didn’t have the chance to have someone prepare a room for you two yet. But I was thinking…” Silence fills the small bedroom for a moment.
The only sound audible comes from Mary as she shifts from one foot to another. She can never stay still for long, but I’m used to that. She’s the energetic type of kid.
“For tonight, the both of you stay here. But in the future, Mary, you could stay in a room with my nephew?” he smiles at her again. Like before, his smile is genuine and sweet.
Fuck, he looks at her like a proud dad… A dad she never had. I don’t know if it excites me, worries me, or breaks my heart. Perhaps it’s all the above. Or maybe I’m just having PMS.
Mary nods excitedly and looks up at me. “Mommy, please, can I—”
“Of course, you can.” I agree immediately. That is, if Daniel’s nephew is around the same age, and if he’s nice to her.
And the most important part—if she’s safe there. It’s my only condition. She’s allowed to do anything as long as she’s safe.
Daniel smiles at us. His eyes move towards me, and I can feel him observing my body.
“Well, then. Get settled and take a shower if needed. The bathroom is right there,” he explains, “There are a few clothes on the bed that you can sleep in.”
“What about our other things?” I ask. I didn’t provide for my daughter just so he could take us somewhere without our things and act like some rich asshole who buys anything he wants within moments.
“I’ll make sure to have them here by tomorrow morning. I just—”
“You need our address, I get that,” I sigh.
“Nope, already got that,” he replies with a subtle nod.
Now, what? How did he even…
I push the thought away for now, knowing exactly what I’d do the second I find out how he managed to get my address.
I’ll gladly be mad at him and call him a dirty, nasty asshole for finding my information like that—but not in front of my daughter. Not now. My girl shouldn’t hear these words.
“Okay, fine then.” I nod.
“Get ready for bed, girls,” he firmly says. “You both had a long day. Especially you,” he looks at me.
His eyes wander towards my body once more, making me feel… weird. Watched? Desired? Scared?
For fuck’s sake, I can’t even tell. It doesn’t even make me feel bad, which is exactly the weird part which makes me worry. It’s more like it turns me on. But fuck, I’m just straight-up confused and sleep-deprived.
Or perhaps, I am ovulating.
How dare you even think of him like that, brain? I keep trying my best to stop my thoughts, but I can’t help it.
He’s hot, let’s face it. Shoulder-length dark, curly hair, brown eyes, a subtle beard… If I hadn’t met him standing in front of a dying man, maybe I’d ask him out on a date. But this is different. He’s dangerous.
Dangerously attractive.
He bites his lower lip softly while his eyes stay focused on my chest. And while he thinks I may not notice, I do… Fuck. This isn’t good.
“Do you have a bathtub?” Mary’s voice suddenly startles both of us, immediately killing off any sexual tension which has been building between us.
Fuck. Ican’tthink of him like that. Not after what happened this morning.
“Uh, I actually do, yes…” Daniel mumbles, his mind probably filled with filthy thoughts.
“You can use it as many times as you want, towels are in the bathroom,” are the last words he says before he leaves the bedroom in a hurry and leaves us alone.
