Page 32 of Daddy's Damaged Little Girl

He was pleased to see her smile more often, and he even made her giggle a few times when they bumped into each other in the kitchen. Even though she seemed to be relaxing around him more, he was going to touch her as much as he could.

They finally sat down to eat, and he watched her take the first bite.

“Mmm, this is good,” Sage said. “What did you put into it?”

“Vanilla.”

“Really? I never would have thought that would taste so good.”

“I think we’ll plan to have this for every Sunday breakfast from now on. What do you think?”

“I love the idea. We might have to miss it once in a while if we have a group come in.”

“Yes. Now, what would you think about moving in today after we’re done with breakfast?” he asked.

She set down her fork and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Are you sure it’s not too soon?”

He reached for her hand. “I’m positive.”

He watched her think about it for a moment before she nodded.

“Okay.”

He smiled and kissed the palm of her hand. “Good. We’re going to be so good together.”

“As long as I’m with you, I’ll be fine,” she murmured.

“You’re damn right you will.” He took the last bite of his toast. “Let’s get this done, and then I want to celebrate.”

She grinned. “I’m excited.”

He pressed against her and wrapped an arm over her shoulders. “I am, too, Sweetheart.”

Chapter Sixteen

Sage grinned as she walked up to her daddy’s office door. She stopped outside when she heard her name.

“I knew I’d seen her before, but I didn’t know where,” Sebastian said. “I didn’t know where until I read over the report of the group we saved. I remember that she was in rough shape.”

“You’ll have to decide if it’s something you want her to know,” Cason said.

“I already know I don’t. She doesn’t need any more turmoil in her life. We finally got her to a point where she’s comfortable, and better yet, she smiles and laughs all the time now. I don’t want to take that away.”

“You don’t think she’ll remember you?” Cason asked.

“I doubt it. It was chaos when the Feds rushed in. The bastards that were there fought but were quickly subdued. The women screamed, which was understandable. They’d been traumatized, and here come more men. I hated terrifying them, but it was the only way to get them out of there.”

Sage went over what they were saying. It took a minute before she remembered the day she and many others were saved and brought back here. She gasped in horror, knowing he’d seen her at her worst, and it had been terrible—the way she cowered with a group of women, crying and begging to be saved.

She’d been thin and dirty and had just been used by one of the guys, so she smelled horrible. Sage thought about the day she had freaked when she found out about her father and fiancé setting her up to be kidnapped. She’d lost it, and she knew she hadn’t looked her best, but it was nothing compared to the way she was when she was rescued.

A wall of shame swept over her, and she knew she couldn’t face him right then. Maybe never. She rushed away before they caught her and ran up to the sixth floor. She still had the code for her old place, so she went in. It felt so cold and barren to her, just like she felt inside her body.

Sage needed time to think and be alone. She wouldn’t be able to face him until she knew she could handle it. She went into the bedroom closet. It was a soothing space where no one would bother her.

The tightness in her chest seemed to get tighter instead of better. She had to concentrate on breathing because she felt she could easily hyperventilate.

As she breathed, she wiped away the tears that fell, and she knew they wouldn’t stop anytime soon because of the thoughts in her head. It felt like she had been on a roller coaster for the last several months, and a few minutes ago, she’d been at an all-time high. She loved her job and all her new friends, but she especially loved Sebastian and had thought they’d be together forever.

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