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He couldn’t stop staring, especially when it blew in the breeze as they exited the mall again.
“Do you like pizza?” He opened the car door, waiting for her to crawl inside.
“Yes. I’ve had it before. Sarah made it once, but Daat and my brothers didn’t like it, so she never made it again. I’ve never had it from a restaurant though.” She graced him with a smile as she hopped on the seat, smoothing out her dress.
“Let’s go get pizza, then.” He leaned over to buckle her in, then closed her door and rounded the truck, sliding in to start the engine.
“Mr. Foster?”
“Yes?” From the corner of his eye, he noticed her hands fidgeting in her lap. He turned his body to face her, puzzled over her sudden anxiety.
“Thank you for the job. Thank you for the room. Thank you for the clothes. I am so grateful for your help. You’re a very good man, helping me like this.” Her stark blue eyes brimmed with sincerity, and she looked achingly vulnerable at this moment.
The urge to gather her in his arms was unbearable.
He wanted to hold her and promise everything would be okay. To tell her she would grow up to have a wonderful life, despite being estranged from her biological family. He ached to soothe her fears. He also ached to possess her, to teach her pleasure and keep her with him forever. To cuddle her and take care of her the way a sweet little girl like her deserved. The thought of eventually letting her go, the thought of sending her off into the cruel world he’d once escaped, filled him with angry despair.
Though she was incredibly shy and quiet, he saw a fire burning within her. An independent streak that had been squashed by years of living under her father’s overbearing authority. He was more than glad to help her overcome it.
As the silence loomed, Ben decided it wouldn’t hurt to show her some physical affection.
He covered her hands with his.
Their first skin-to-skin contact.
The temperature in the truck rose ten degrees.
Panic flickered briefly in her eyes, and she surveyed the parking lot, as if to make sure no one was witnessing this semi-intimate moment.
“I’m happy to help you, Hanna. You’re a good kid. You deserve the best out of life.” He grinned and gave her hands a gentle squeeze, reveling in the warmth of the touch. “Besides, I enjoy your company. Helping you is no hardship to me.”
She returned his smile. “I’m not a kid, Mr. Foster.”
He almost sucked in a quick breath but stopped himself. Instead, he mumbled a placid response, released her hands, and drove to the pizza place while trying to fight off yet another erection.
Tony’s Pizza wasn’t fancy by any means, but by the way Hanna gawked around with open wonder, it could’ve been a five-star restaurant.
To his surprise, she made small talk with the waitress who came to take their order, and she smiled at a few of the patrons sitting nearby.
It seemed Hanna was starting to come out of her shell, little by little.
He alone would witness her transformation.
He would help make it possible, and he felt charged with the responsibility to guide her and keep her safe.
Failing her wasn’t an option.
She visited the restroom as he paid the bill. His mood was light, until three college-aged girls who reeked of marijuana and beer walked past the counter and into the same restroom. He waited and waited, wondering what was taking Hanna so long. Just as he was about to storm in after her, she emerged, laughing amidst the group of stoners.
Ben frowned as they all approached him.
“Daddy, I was wondering if I might go to a movie with Carla, Theresa, and Vicky while you run your errands?” Hanna gestured at her newfriends.
Ben’s jaw tightened. Carla, Theresa, and Vicky probably knew Hanna used to be Amish based on her accent. He hadn’t taken her Dutch accent into account when he’d come up with the grand idea of pretending he was her father. No doubt these girls thought it would be funny to get Hanna high or corrupt her in some other fashion.
His teeth ground together as he glared at the three mean-spirited young women, but his countenance softened when he regarded Hanna.
“Not today, sweetheart,” he said. “I need your help picking out some things.”
