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“You . . . what . . . you’re going to spank me?”
“I’m your guardian.” He moved so he could settle on the couch with her on his lap.
He didn’t know why she wasn’t eating. But it was evident that she really wasn’t taking care of herself.
He needed to step in.
Both as her guardian and her soon-to-be man.
She didn’t know it yet, but everything for Hannah was about to change.
8
Hannah wasn’t sure what was happening right now.
She didn’t really know why Raid was here . . . he was acting odd. Since she’d been back, she’d barely seen him. Of course, that could be because she hardly went anywhere. To the clinic for her part-time job. To the grocery store or the pharmacy.
Well, there was one night when her friends had guilted her into going to Dirty Delights.
Which had been a mistake. Unfortunately, she couldn’t go back and change it. Only now, for some weird reason, Raid seemed to think he was in charge of her.
Her guardian.
She’d never had one. Jake had always looked out for her. But she’d never given him cause for concern.
Until she’d learned that it didn’t matter how good you were, how much you tried to be good and do what you were told.
Someone could still screw you over.
There will always be bad people who could hurt you.
Lord, she was stupid.
“Hey, darlin’. Where did your mind just go?” he asked gently.
She was kind of surprised. She hadn’t realized Raid could be gentle. Funny, yes. Sexy, of course. And the other night, she’d learned he could be stern and commanding.
But this was something new. And she was learning that she might have been a bit short-sighted when it came to him.
“I, um . . . Raid, you’re not my guardian.”
I like you.
He didn’t mean that like she hoped he did. There was no way he could.
And even if he did . . . would he want her when he knew what had happened to her?
“I am. I claimed you the other night in front of Duncan. And I just told Jake earlier that I’m now your guardian after he called me because he was concerned about you.”
“He shouldn’t have done that.” She hadn’t agreed to anything.
“Of course he should have. Because I need to know if something happens to you. Like you fainting. Now I want to know why you didn’t go to the hospital for some more tests. And also why you left the clinic and hid yourself in your apartment.”
“I wasn’t hiding.”
She’d totally been hiding.
“Don’t lie to me, baby. I get that something happened to you. I know that it wasn’t good. I’m guessing your bastard ex had something to do with what happened, and that makes me furious. But whatever you want to tell me, whatever else happens, just do not lie to me. Understand? You can refuse to answer, but no lies between us.”
She tried to calm her breathing. Looking up at him, she gave a short nod. “No lies.”
“That’s my good girl.”
She had to close her eyes against the pain of those words. Words she would have once loved to hear from his lips. Months ago.
Words which now flayed her.
“Can you not call me that?”
He stiffened. “A good girl?”
“Yeah. That.” She cleared her throat. “Please.” Her voice broke on the last word and he held her tight.
“I won’t say it to you again. At least until I know what the fuck is going on.”
There was a note of frustration in his voice. And she got it. She’d be frustrated with her if she were him, too. Which meant he wouldn’t stick around for long.
So maybe you should take what you can get while you can get it.
Because this might be the only time Raid Malone held her like this. And even though she didn’t want to melt into his arms, to feel a sense of safety, that’s what was happening.
And perhaps, for a little while, she could forget that she was messed up. That she couldn’t have normal.
That she couldn’t have someone as beautiful as Raid Malone.
“I can’t ever tell you,” she whispered.
“You will.” There was a note of steel in his voice.
“You won’t . . . you really would be better just leaving, Raid. I’m not worth the hassle. I promise.”
“That’s the last time I want to hear you say that, too. Unless you want me to start keeping track. Then, when you’re feeling better, we can have ourselves a reckoning.”
“A reckoning?” she asked.
“Yeah, where you learn the error of your ways. And when I say ‘your ways,’ I mean this bullshit you have going on where you try to tell me that you’re a hassle or a problem or not worth it. Damn it, Hannah.”
She winced at his tone more than his words.
He’d see.
The more time he spent with her, the more he’d see.
