Page 16 of Babydoll

But right now? Grizzly Jeff may as well be unwrapping a fresh Nova Scotia lobster the way I hunger for it.

“How do you know I never take a break?” I ask, to distract myself from a quickly forming fantasy involving pudding, his sandwich, and us buck naked.

“I’m observant.” He flattens the cellophane and picks up half the sandwich, handing it to me.

“No thanks,” I say, but my mouth waters. I fight the urge to rip the food from his fingers and tear into it like a savage stray dog.

“Reece will expect me to share my lunch with you. She made it.” He looks at it and my eyes follow his. There’s jam oozing out of the side and I lick my lips instead of what I really want to do, which is lick his friggin’ sandwich and then him.

All. Over.

“Reece?”

He picks up the other half of the sandwich and takes a bite, still holding the offered half out for me. His mouth moves, chewing the food thoroughly. I feel guilty, as if I’m watching porn because my body reacts with more salivating, a deep ache in my gut and a throbbing between my thighs. I shove my trembling hands under my pits to steady them. I’m not sure which one of my body’s needs is more prevalent. Am I hungrier or hornier? I’m horngry?

“My sister had an eating disorder. She struggled with it until the day she died.”

Does he think I’m anorexic? Anger flares in me at the thought.What, Grizzly Jeff, you think I need saving? That Ican’t take care of myself ?I clench my jaw, but don’t say what I want because the rest of his words sink in.

His sister died. The flicker of intense grief in his eyes hits me straight in the chest, taking my air with it before it's gone.

“When I pick Reece up after school every day, we make food a big part of our time together. She helps me make dinner and our lunches every day before my mom picks her up.” He looks down, fiddling with the cellophane. “She’s smaller than other kids her age.”

He’s just worried about his niece.Down, Lu, down.

I swallow hard. I seem to do this a lot around him. I don’t know what to do with him… where he belongs in my head. He’s this tough, bossy guy one minute, sweet and funny the next, and then he goes ahead and shows his vulnerable side. This guy must be every girl’s wet dream.

He puts both halves of the sandwich down, sighs loudly, and leans back in the chair.

“Listen.”

The tough guy is back and I’m suddenly very conscious of my situation. I’m alone and in serious trouble. And this guy has some sort of philanthropic hero complex. As if saving me will somehow save his sister, or niece or whatever. Screw that.

“No, you listen.” I cut him off, rudely, narrowing my eyes when his harden on mine.

Yeah, yeah, I’m rude. Whatever, get over it.

I have to accept the mercy of Satan’s Ransom, but I do not have to accept charity or whatever it is this guy’s offering. I work hard, and yeah, right now things are tough, but hopefully in a few more months I’ll have my debt paid and can get back to my life – Tallulah Jane Olsen’s life. A life that won’t involve hot Grizzly Jeff and his goddamn pity pudding.

“I’m not anorexic, you judgmental prick.” I soften my tone as his eyes widen and that damn grief flashes again, eating myinsides. “I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m not your sister. You can’t save me to make up for losing her.”

His eyes shutter as he seems to come to terms with my words. Words? Daggers is more like it. After an awkward moment of his eyes pinning me in place, and me doing my best impression of someone far more intimidating than a five-foot-four, ninety-eight-pound woman, I shove the chair back with a loud scrape and add, “And I don’t have time for a goddamn break.”

“You’ve got an impressive attitude, Lu.” His brow arcs sharply. “Might be enough to scare some off, but it’s nothing Grizzly Daddy can’t handle. If you think I’m going to jam the food down your throat, you’re wrong, babydoll.” His eyes narrow further. “I have other ways of getting naughty girls to do as they’re told.” He rises and I don’t actually trust that he won’t force feed me, but also that I won’t throw myself at him, so I shove past him and walk to my cart.

Grizzly Daddy. Pfft. I used it as a joke, not even a joke, an insult.

So why’s your heart thumping in your panties then?

God, I could brush off the heat that blossomed in my belly when I called him Daddy, but fuck, him calling himself Daddy is a hundred times hotter. And I’m sure every inch of my skin is flushing from it, so I lower my face. A shiver shoots up my spine when I hear the deep, crusty sound of his humourless chuckle as he leaves the room.

Good god, he does sound like a grizzly bear.

Chapter Five

Jeff

You’re right, Lu. You’re not my sister, because I wouldn’t be thinking of her the way I’m thinking of you.

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