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“Why not? You call me Ladybug.”
“That’s cute.”
“So is Fossy.”
“Yes, but I am not cute. I’m dark and dangerous.”
“You hand out treasure and keep a magic wand in your medicine bag,” she pointed out.
“Well, obviously. Those are essential tools when taking care of sick and injured Littles. But make no mistake, Little girl, I would kill to protect you if I needed to.”
Shit. Why did that make her go all gooey inside? With all the violence she’d experienced in her life, you’d think she would shy away from his commanding ways. From just the threat of violence.
But he was promising to protect her. She knew he’d never turn on her. Which was the difference.
“And I do have a say in what you do. I’m your guardian.”
Right . . . now he’d gone from violent threats to delusions.
“Ahh, no, you’re not.”
“Yes, your brother put me in charge of you.”
“First of all. I am twenty-nine years old! Nobody has to be in charge of me. I have lived on my own for years.”
“During that time, were you looking after yourself? Giving yourself what you needed?”
Shit.
Lie, idiot.
She couldn’t, though. She tried to glance away, but he gently grasped her chin and tugged her face back.
“Greer?”
“No,” she said hoarsely.
“No. You weren’t living, baby. You were surviving. And you’re exhausted, aren’t you? Tired of carrying everything on your shoulders, of making all the decisions.”
“And you think . . . I should just let you take over?”
“It’s what I do best.”
She couldn’t tell whether that was a joke or not. But knowing what she did about him . . . she was going with no.
“You liked it when I took over that night at the hotel, didn’t you?”
Shoot. She had. “Yes.”
“Let me help you, baby. I won’t push you to give more than you’re willing to. But I’m not comfortable with you staying here on your own. It’s not safe. I won’t be able to go back home, knowing you’re here alone. All I will do is worry about you. You wouldn’t want me to worry myself to death, would you? I’d fade away from hunger . . . I wouldn’t sleep . . . I’d start having delusions and probably propose to my neighbor’s cat.”
“Is she cute?”
“My neighbor? She’s about ninety-eight and can’t hear a word I say.”
“No, the cat.”
“Ahh, yeah, she’s adorable.”
