Daddy's Little Angel (Daddy 4)

Her chest tightened at the thought of all the time lost with her mother and all because of her father. She felt a kernel of hate take root inside of her, replacing the fear he’d always cultivated in her to control her. No more. She was an adult, and he couldn’t make her do anything she didn’t want to. She had friends who stood up for her, and now she had Patrick. A man who was quickly becoming the center of her world.

“Where is she now?”

“She lives in the next county over. She’s been trying to get you away from him, but he’s got too much influence. She’s been working two jobs trying to save up for a lawyer. The reason he took you out of school your senior year was that he caught her watching you. He also found out your mom was trying to get the school involved.”

“Can… Can I see her?”

“Yes, of course. Darian is going to get the two of you together tomorrow.”

A thought popped into her head, and a wave of panic swept through her.

“Will I have to go with her when she leaves?”

“I really hope you choose to stay with me, but you can see her any time you want.”

“I think I just want to see her right now.”

He nodded. “How about we eat lunch and then spend the afternoon in the media room watching movies?”

“I’d like that. I’ve never seen a movie.”

He hugged her to his chest. “You can see all the movies you want, any time you want.”

He helped Eve off his lap and reached for her hand.

She knew she probably looked dazed by the information and was glad that he gave her time to process it.

Agnes had lunch on the table when they entered the kitchen. Patrick held out Eve’s chair and then sat down beside her.

They both dug into chicken salad sandwiches and homemade chips. They talked about the weather, when she wanted to see her friends, and what she wanted to say to her mom.

After they were finished, he helped Eve to stand.

“Thank you for lunch,” Eve said to Agnes as they walked to the door. “It was delicious.”

“Thank you, child.”

Chapter Ten

He led her into the media room and sat her on the deep sofa beside him and picked up the remote.

“Would you like to see the Cinderella movie since we read the book last night?”

She glanced up at him and smiled. “That would be wonderful.”

He ran through Netflix until he found a version he thought she’d like. Then he reclined back into the cushion, set his feet on the low table in front of them, and pulled her against his side with an arm around her shoulders. He released the breath he’d been holding when she relaxed against him.

He watched her expressions throughout the movie and professed to himself he’d never get sick of looking at her. Her profile was so feminine, and her features were perfectly proportioned. Her complexion was pale and smooth, telling him she didn’t spend a lot of time outdoors.

Her sad blue eyes got to him every time he looked into them. The beauty of her soul shone through and made him feel like she was touching a part of his heart he hadn’t known existed until she’d come into his life.

He found himself smiling when she did and got worried when she frowned. It was probably ridiculous, but he knew he was already in love with the woman. A part of him would wither and die if she left him, and he knew he’d do whatever was necessary to make her happy, even if it wasn’t with him.

He watched her doze off beside him and cuddled her closer to his side as the credits to the movie ran down the screen. He turned the volume low as another show came on and then lay down, pushed a pillow under his head, and pulled her on top of him. He smiled when she grumbled but relaxed against him until she was draped across his chest.

Patrick pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa and covered them. Although he hadn’t thought he was tired, the peace she brought him had him feeling drowsy enough to fall into a light slumber.

They woke about an hour later.