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“Aye aye, captain.” His other hand came down in a hard swat on her blanket-covered ass. “Hey!” She glared at him, but his brow just rose in that way that meant his spanking hand was getting itchy.
“Lay down, pretty girl.”
Grumbling under her breath, she laid back on his chest, sighing as he ran his fingers through her hair again. Then, to her shock, he began softly humming. It was a song she didn’t recognize, but she didn’t need to know it to love it.
Slowly, she began drifting, her eyelids getting heavier and heavier. She relaxed into his body, letting his massive arms cradle her, protecting her from the world.
“I love you, Abbie,” he finally said, rousing her enough for her to tip her head back and peer up at him. Stretching her body as much as she could, he met her halfway and pressed his lips to hers.
“And I love you, Daddy.”
thirty-one
Shaky hands smoothed over her silky black dress, such a contrast to the one she wore last night, but tonight was different. It wouldn’t end with a picnic at the park because the restaurant was too stuffy for their liking. She knew it would end with her wrapped in Jett’s arms, but everything that happened before that was out of her control, was out of Jett’s control.
They were at the mercy of her parents.
Swallowing thickly, she turned toward Jett, and not for the first time tonight, panic rose in her chest. He’d been nothing but incredible to her, and she was taking him into the lion’s den? No, it was worse than a lion’s den.
It was dinner with her family.
“You really don’t have to go,” she blurted again. It had been something she kept telling him, and his answer was always the same?—
“I’m going.”
Her chest rose as she took a deep breath. Looking forward, she ran her hands over the dress covering her thighs once more. She couldn’t stand the thought of her mother being cruel to Jett.
She could handle her hatred being spewed at her, but at Jett? It would be too much. She couldn’t—no, she wouldn’t handle it. She wouldn’t have a choice but to stand up for him, right? There was no way she’d allow her mother to be anything but amazing to her boyfriend, and she knew that would be impossible.
Another deep breath.
“Are you really that anxious about this?” he asked, his big hand sliding over hers. Her gaze slid to him, her heart skipping a beat at the tenderness in his eyes. He always had a way of calming her nerves, even when she felt herself on the brink of a spiral.
"Yes," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm terrified, Jett. My parents...they can be difficult. Especially my mother. I just don't want her to ruin..." She trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.
She didn’t want her mother to ruin them. She didn’t want Jett to change his mind after meeting her.
He gently squeezed her hand as he turned into the parking lot. Her stomach twisted tighter, and her heart lurched into her throat.
"Listen to me.” He turned toward her, the dim lights from the restaurant illuminating his face. Reaching out, he stroked his thumb down her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, savoring him. "I love you, pretty girl. No matter what happens tonight, we'll face it together."
She took a deep breath, letting his comforting words sink in. Closing her eyes, she let this moment of safety linger for a bit longer. Jett pressed his lips against her cheek before he pulled away and her eyes fluttered open.
His eyes searched hers, his fingers flexing around her hand. Leaning closer, he rested his forehead against hers as he whispered, “Ready?”
* * *
The room was dimly lit,with floor-to-ceiling windows and white tiled floors. It was far too fancy a place for Jett to be in. What the fuck was he thinking?
Straightening his suit jacket with one hand, he squeezed Abbie’s with the other and took a deep breath as they strolled through the museum-esque restaurant. The hostess in front of him, wearing a black pencil dress and the highest heels he’d ever seen, sauntered toward a table near the back.
Buttery potatoes and the rich scent of meat floated through the restaurant, mixing with fruity wine and smoky whiskey. His stomach would’ve growled if he wasn’t so nervous about this evening.
He could feel Abbie’s anxiety wafting off her in waves, and he tried to soothe her by running his thumb along the back of her cold hand. Glancing down at her, the expression he saw was unlike anything he’d seen before.
She was detached, cool and calm on the outside, but he could feel her. Feel the slight tremble in her hand, hear the way her breathing was harsh, see the way her pupils were pinpricks.
Maybe he should’ve told her to cancel. He didn’t realize she’d be like this.
