Page 55 of Holden’s Resurrection

“I don’t want you to leave,” Faith blurted out.

“I’m not going to leave,” Holden assured her.

“You’re gonna leave,” she proclaimed.

“Doll, I’m going to go to work while you’re in school, but I’ll come back over when you get home.”

Charleigh made what Holden was now deeming her signature disgruntled noise—a cross between a grunt and a choking sound.

“If you go to work, then Mom will be alone.”

Holden finally got it, and when he did, he didn’t stop the broad smile that pulled at his mouth.

“So, you’re worried about your mom.” Holden waited for Faith to nod, then he continued. “She won’t be alone, doll, she’ll be going to work with me today.”

“What?” Charleigh’s voice pitched much like her daughter’s had earlier and that made Holden smile bigger.

Damn, she’s cute.

“Jonny texted me. He needs to talk to you. I told him I’d bring you into the office with me.”

“I have work to do,” she protested.

Holden didn’t take his eyes off Faith because now that he’d opened himself up to the little girl he couldn’t stop looking at her. He wanted to soak up her features, he wanted to learn all of her tells, he wanted her to know she could depend on him.

“You can use my office,” he told Charleigh.

“I have appointments.”

“Then after you talk to Jonny, I’ll take you to them.”

“I don’t need a bodyguard, Holden.”

“You’re right, but if it makes Faith feel better, you’re getting one.”

There it was again, Charleigh humphed and Faith smiled.

“She hasn’t had coffee yet,” Faith whispered conspiratorially.

“Well, that explains a lot.”

“You both remember I’m standing right here, right?” she snapped and Faith giggled.

“Yeah, baby, there’s no way to miss the pre-coffee grumpy Charleigh.”

Holden winked and told Faith, “You get ready for school and I’ll get your mom coffee.”

“You promise you’ll be here after school?”

“Promise.”

Faith looked over her shoulder at Charleigh and nodded. “I’ll go to school.”

He wasn’t sure if Charleigh was praying for patience, fighting an eye roll, or planning to murder him as soon as Faith left the room. What he did know was, she was the picture of natural beauty. Further, he knew he was going to catch shit for making more promises to Faith. Which he intended to keep doing indefinitely. Each day, he’d make a new promise to stay until it was simply a given he wasn’t leaving.

He needed to sort his Airstream and find a house to rent. A nice place with a yard for Faith. And a dog. Jameson had mentioned how much Faith loved Tank. It wasn’t beneath him to bribe Faith into wanting to live with him. Nothing was off-limits, he was willing to play as dirty as he needed to in order to win.

“I’ll help you find some clothes.”