My sunshine.
Taking a deep breath, I go to the bar and eye the unopened bottle of whiskey, then scan the rest of the offerings. I grab a package of gummy bears, smiling at the small gold package that brings back so many memories of playing poker with my dad. Then I spot some chocolate squares with a soft caramel center and take a handful of those. Before I go back to her, I get her a bottle of water from the mini fridge.
She’s curled up under the blanket when I set everything down, but when I lean down to look at her in the dim light, her eyes are open, her long lashes fluttering slightly.
“Hi,” she whispers, slipping her hand from the covering to slide her pink-painted fingernails through my beard.
I stare at her, blinking slowly.
There are so many words swirling in my mind right now.
Questions.
Feelings.
Demands.
Fears.
Quinn has been through hell.
Pure fucking hell.
This sweet, beautiful, spirited woman deserves so much more than anything I can offer her.
I’d carve my heart out and hand it to her on a platter right now, but she deserves awholeheart. Not one that’s mangled andshattered into pieces. Quinn deserves the world. Because she is the whole damn sun.
“Hi, baby girl.” I can’t give her what she deserves, but I also can’t walk away. I don’t have that kind of strength. And fuck me, when she looks up at me like this, with her wide, sparkling eyes, like I’m her entire universe, I’d do anything for her. Absolutely anything.
“I’m sorry I cried. You didn’t deserve to have all of that dropped on your shoulders.”
She moves to sit up, but as soon as she does, I perch on the edge of the bed, frowning.
“Don’t ever apologize to me for crying in my arms, sunshine. It’s a fucking privilege to hold you like that.” I reach out and brush my thumb over the apple of her cheek. “Everyone needs a safe space. It’s my honor to be yours.”
CHAPTER 28
Quinn
THAT’S RULE NUMBER ONE
Everyone needs a safe space.It’s my honor to be yours.
Tears threaten to burst out of me again.
When was the last time I felt truly safe?
Maybe when I first moved in with Jason?
I’m honestly not sure if I even felt that way then.
But when I’m in Xander’s arms, everything disappears. My mind goes quiet. My heart feels so whole when I’m around him.
This wasn’t supposed to feel like this, but it’s like we’ve had this pull toward each other ever since we met. I wish I could explain it. Or even understand it. I just know that when I’m with Xander, I can let go completely because he will take care of me.
“You need to drink and have a snack.” He holds up a bag of gummy bears and a bottle of water, and I can’t help but smile even though my eyes are watery from fresh tears.
Yeah, definitely a Daddy.
