My Own Daddy (Daddy 1)

She shook her head. “That’s not possible. Look, I have to get back to work. I’m sorry if I disappointed you or made you angry.”

He tightened his grip on her hand. “When do you get off?”

“Two.”

“How about I take you out to breakfast?”

Larkin bit her tongue and looked around the room. “It’s just… I don’t know you.”

“My name is Darian, sweetheart. Ask your friends or your manager who I am. If I had wanted to hurt you, I could have last night. Besides, we’ll be in a public place. I know a diner that sells great food twenty-four hours a day.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to my friends.”

“Good. I’ll be waiting here.”

She nodded again and took a step away. Turning, she walked away but then looked over her shoulder at him, almost running into another table.

Darian cringed. He was glad when she caught herself before hitting the table.

****

Darian watched her the rest of the night as she glanced at him and blushed. He smiled every time because it was incredibly charming. To pass the time, he made notes in his phone as he waited on her. He even made a few calls. He wasn’t one to sit idly around, so he took the opportunity to get a little work done.

A throat clearing got his attention. He looked up to see Larkin standing beside the table with her purse over her shoulder.

He stood right away and slid an arm around her waist as Mr. Turnbell walked up to them.

“We were glad to have you with us tonight, Mr. Marsh.”

Darian stopped. “Thank you for letting me get a membership at such a short notice.”

“Oh, my, anytime.” Mr. Turnbell looked from one to the other. “So, you two know each other?”

“Yes,” Darian said.

“Have you known each other long?”

Darian nodded at the same time that Larkin shook her head. When she scowled up at him, he grinned and tightened his arm. “Thank you, again,” he said to the manager and maneuvered Larkin out of the lounge before the man could ask any more questions.

He led her to his car parked down the block. A drop of sweat rolled down the middle of his back when she started to balk. “Come on, honey. Everything’s going to be okay.”

He watched her exhale, nod, and slip into the car. She sighed when she sank back into the soft leather seat. He felt a satisfaction knowing this was the first step to having her as his own.

Chapter Five

Larkin stared at him when he stood with the door open, waiting for her. The inside of the vehicle was very dark, yawning, and ominous. Her next move would be a big step. Like if she got into the car, her whole life would be changing.

With a sigh, she got in and waited until he closed her door and walked around the car.

Darian reached over her and pulled her seatbelt across her midsection, securing it. He looked up at her and smiled. “I want you safe.”

Her heart tripped at the look in his eyes. Apprehension and excitement made her feel slightly dizzy.

He pulled out and drove through the town. The streets were about empty at two o'clock in the morning, and it always felt eerie to her. Without the cars and people, the shadows seem to grow more menacing.

When Darian pulled into a parking space, she gazed around in interest. The place looked a little rundown but was amazingly busy for that time of night. She jerked when her door opened.

Darian held out his hand. “I know you’re tired, so I won’t have you out long.”