Page 31 of Daddy’s Protecting

“Yes, this is Cynthia.”

“This is James Flanigan. I have been appointed as your release officer while you are awaiting your court date. Are you having any trouble with your ankle monitor?”

“No, sir.”

“What address are you staying at?”

Cynthia ran to the refrigerator and dutifully reported Dirk’s address. Thank goodness her Daddy had thought of writing it down for her.

Disconnecting the phone, she returned to the couch. As she looked around, Cynthia missed having her own job to go to. She’d loved her job at Edgewater Industries.Damn you, Eddie!Loneliness settled around her in the empty house.

You okay?A text message buzzed into her phone.

I’m good. Thanks for the address. It helped.

I’m glad, Little girl. A grocery delivery will come in a couple of hours. Do you mind putting it all away?

No, Daddy. I’m glad to do it.

Thank you, sweetheart. See you soon.

CHAPTER 11

Dirk could smell the delicious concoction when he stepped out of the car in the garage. Abandoning her bags in the car, he walked into the kitchen to find everything silent. He opened his mouth to call for Cynthia and spotted her legs sprawling across the couch. A slasher movie played on the screen.

He shook his head at her choice of movies. Little girls and horror films didn’t usually go well together. Walking to the couch, he heard a small snore. As Dirk got closer, he discovered Cynthia and Bullyboo curled up with a soft throw draped over her body. Enchanted, he stopped to watch her sleep.

“Mmm,” she murmured, blinking open her eyes. The motion on the screen captured her attention, and she scrambled to turn off the slasher in action.

When she sighed in relief as she sat back against the cushions, Dirk cleared his throat.

“Ahhh!” she screamed, jumping to her feet. “You scared me.”

“Maybe scary movies aren’t the best choice for you to watch?” he suggested.

“No way. I was watching a show on leopards and I must have fallen asleep. That wasn’t anything I would have chosen,” she assured him.

“Good girl. Did you have a fun day?”

“I missed you,” she whispered, and rushed forward to wrap her arms around him. Cynthia loved the tight hug she got in return. She felt his lips against her hair and tilted her chin up to request a kiss. To her delight, he captured her mouth in a fierce kiss that sent shivers down her spine.

Raising his head, Dirk assured her, “I missed you, too. I have a lot of things for you in the car. Shall we bring them in to see how well I did in gathering your things?”

“I’d love that. Did you find my e-reader?”

“I did. You are very tidy. I checked the refrigerator, but there was a note on the door from Piper. She’d come in and disposed of anything perishable.”

“Thank you for checking. She’s so nice to me and…”

“We’re not going to dwell on the past. I’m sure she was glad to help. You’d do the same for her, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Come on. Let’s bring everything in.”

Guiding her with a warm hand on the small of her back, Dirk escorted her into the garage and to the trunk. When he popped it open, she saw a new set of gleaming suitcases in her favorite color.

“Those are gorgeous. Do you like yellow, too?”

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