Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies 7)
Page 92
She winced. It was harsh but accurate. “I guess so. For a start, I was just so happy they were noticing me. I was no longer a burden. Someone to be ignored. I went along with everything they wanted.”
“Even though you didn’t want it.”
“Stupid, huh?”
“Not stupid. You were starved for attention and affection. But why do you keep doing it?”
“I don’t know. I support all of them. Except my brother. They need me.”
“They don’t need you. They use you. Time for them to stand on their own two feet.”
“They like to remind me of how much they sacrificed for me. All the money they spent on therapists and tutors to make me normal. Sometimes if I push myself enough, it can stop me from thinking. It can stop me from stressing. I go numb. That’s why I was running. The drugs kind of do the same thing, but I don’t want to take them.”
“Why do you keep supporting them? Why keep putting yourself through this for people who never cared about you?”
“I don’t know. Out of a feeling of obligation. Or maybe loneliness. If I didn’t have them, as awful as they are, who would I have?”
“You’re not fucking alone anymore. You have me. And I would never use you. Never allow anyone to use you again.”
“Before they arrived, I was coming to tell you. . .to ask you. . .”
“Spit it out, angel,” he said in his usual blunt way.
“I was wondering if I could come with you when you go back to Montana,” she rushed out. “I still have contracts to fulfill so there will be times I’d have to leave to do that. But maybe I could spend most of my time creating music, the way I always wanted.”
“Nothing I would want more. But are you sure that’s what you want? I don’t want you giving up everything for me.”
“I’d give it all up for you. Every last cent.”
“Angel—”
“But the beauty of it is I don’t have to. I don’t want any of this. I want you, a small log cabin in the woods, and music, laughter, love. I want to be yours. In all ways. I want you as my man, my protector, my daddy.”
She sucked in a breath. She’d laid it all out there. Was it really what he wanted to?
“Angel, nothing would make me happier to be all of those things, to love you for the rest of our lives.”
She leaned up and kissed him.
“But you might want to see that log cabin in the woods before you agree to live there.”
She narrowed her gaze. “It does have running water and an indoor toilet, right?”
“Has all the modern amenities. But it ain’t all that close to civilization.”
“Yeah, well, civilization isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. I can live without the lattes and bright lights. Can’t live without you.”
“Just don’t want you to regret it—”
“I won’t.”
He studied her. “If you can’t live there or you regret making the move then I’ll move here with you.”
Her eyes widened then she burst into laughter.
“That was a genuine offer. You weren’t supposed to laugh.”
“Sorry. Sorry. It’s just. . .Bain, you hate it here.”