Page 55 of Break Me, Daddy

“I don’t feel like a good person these days.”

“Why?”

The truth burned on the tip of her tongue. She should tell him about the conversation with her father, the things he’d said. But for some reason, the words just wouldn’t come.

“I flunked out of school. Put you and Lottie through hell worrying about me. Now you’re still taking care of me even though you’re not getting anything out of it. A good person would have walked away and let you live your life in peace.”

“You’re wrong, little siren. I geteverythingout of taking care of you. It feeds a part of me that hasn’t been fed in a very long time. I was never in this for the sex, Francesca. I was always in it for you.”

Jesus, how the hell was she supposed to keep things platonic between them when he kept saying shit like that? “You deserve more than me.”

“There is nothing more than you. Not for me.”

Closing her eyes, she let her head fall forward, their foreheads pressed together as she simply breathed in the scent of him. “I’m sorry I can’t be what you want right now.”

“Baby. You don’t have to apologize for needing some time to figure shit out. When you’re ready, I’ll be right here, waiting. That’s a promise.”

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware she couldn’t keep him waiting forever. That eventually he’d get tired, and he’d move on to someone else. Someone who didn’t need him quite so much.

But for a few precious moments, she allowed herself to believe he’d wait as long as she needed him to. And that was enough.

Chapter20

Frankie

“What time is your therapy appointment today?”

Fuck. She’d forgotten all about her pretend appointment. What time had she told him? “Um. Two, I think. I’ll have to double-check the email they sent me.”

The corners of his lips dipped down into a frown, and her heart pounded against her ribcage. If he called her bluff somehow, there was no doubt in her mind she wouldn’t be sitting very comfortably the rest of the day. Or he’d make her write more fucking lines.

Ugh.

“Show me the email, please.”

Shit, shit, shit. Panic dug its thick claws into her chest, making it ache, but she forced an apologetic smile. “Left my phone upstairs. Can I get it after breakfast?”

In a Hail Mary attempt to distract him, she opened the fridge. “I think I want some eggs this morning. Maybe bacon. Do you want anything?”

“Eggs and bacon?” Suspicion crept into his voice. “Really?”

“Yes. Is there something wrong with eggs and bacon?”

It was manipulative, putting that hint of worry in her own voice, as if she was scared she’d made a bad decision with her food. But it cleared that look out of his eyes, and she was rewarded with a smile.

“Of course not. How do you want your eggs?”

“Oh, um, I can make it myself. You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I enjoy cooking for you. And you can run upstairs to grab your phone while I’m making us breakfast.”

So much for her Hail Mary. Should she just come clean? Maybe if she told him the truth now, it wouldn’t be quite as bad as if he found out all on his own later. And she really did feel bad lying to him, especially about something so important.

But before she could bring herself to fess up, he frowned again, this time reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone. “Merlin. What’s up?”

Watching him go from concerned Daddy to ‘work Holden’ was fascinating and, she could admit, a bit terrifying. Spine straightening, his head snapped up, and there was a look in his eye she’d never seen. Flipping off the burners on the stove, he strode out of the kitchen without even giving her a second glance.

What the hell was going on?

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