Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Which was another issue.
Two men. One of her.
Were they even interested in her? Sometimes, she got the vibe that they were. But she wasn’t sure if she was reading them wrong. It wasn’t like she had much experience with men. She’d thought Jenner had enjoyed kissing her, but then he’d kind of ran away.
“Face it, Immy. You have no idea what you’re doing. And even if they were into you, how could you choose?” she asked herself.
Short answer: she couldn’t.
And even though she knew that there were all different types of relationships out there, she was aware that neither of those men were the type to share.
“Getting ahead of yourself much?” she muttered.
“Immy? You all right in there?” Jenner called out.
“Um. Yep. Coming.”
She walked back into the room, wishing she was wearing something slightly sexier. But she’d been after comfort tonight so she’d put on a pair of her oldest pajamas. They were ones she’d bought herself after leaving the cult. They were soft and worn in places with images of broomsticks and castles on them.
When she put them on, they felt like a huge warm hug.
Moving over to the bed, she climbed onto it and turned to look at both men.
“Um, hi,” she said. Then she waved.
Awkward.
And lame.
“I need a cookie.” She reached for one of Jenner’s, but he lightly brushed her hand away.
“No cookies.”
“What? Why not?” she cried. “You have to share.”
“It’s not about sharing. You can’t have sugar right before bed.”
“But you are.”
“I’m not a Little girl,” Jenner told her.
She sucked in a breath. What was going on? What were they doing?
Tobias walked over to her. “Lie down, and I’ll get you all tucked in. Do you want some warm milk?”
“What . . . what are you guys doing?”
“Taking care of you,” Jenner said. “I’m going to spend the night.”
Tobias stiffened and stilled. She waited for him to say something, to protest. She tensed. She didn’t want them to argue. But then he simply nodded and finished tucking her in.
To her shock, he leaned over her and kissed her forehead before placing his forehead and nose against hers. “I’m going to keep you safe, Immy. Understand?”
“I know you will.”
“Nothing is going to harm you.” He drew back and cupped her face between his hands. “Nothing. I want you to sleep easy knowing I will protect you with my life.”
Now he was kind of starting to scare her. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“It won’t. Sleep tight, Cherry.”
She watched with shocked eyes as he left. Then Jenner cleared his throat and she turned her head to look at him. A light blush filled her cheeks.
“Is there something going on between the two of you?” he asked.
“What? No! Why would you ask that?”
“Just the way you look at him sometimes. As well as the way the two of you act around each other. Guess I’m used to you looking at me like that.”
“Jenner,” she said in a shocked voice.
He shook his head. “Ignore that I just said that. Come on, baby. Time for sleep.” He leaned over her and kissed her on the head too. “I’m here for you as well. I’m not going anywhere. I know that I might not have Tobias’s skills. And that I haven’t always proven that I can be there for you. But I will be. Nothing and no one will touch you, Immy. Not while I’m here. Now, sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
Dear Lord.
She guessed they’d both thought they were being helpful. That they would ease her mind so she could sleep.
But now she was just more confused than ever!
30
Immy sat up in bed with a squeal. “It’s Christmas!”
Throwing herself from the bed, she slid her feet into her reindeer slippers and raced out of the bedroom. She ran down the hallway, knocking on everyone’s doors.
“It’s Christmas!”
A door opened down the end of the hall and Tobias stepped out, looking dishevelled. He’d moved into the main house for security reasons.
“What are you doing, Cherry?” he grumbled.
She threw her hands into the air. “It’s Christmas!”
Abe walked out next with a yawn. “I need coffee.”
“It’s Christmas, Abby!” she cried, running at him. He grabbed her, swinging her around with a grin.
“Too early. Coffee. And my name isn’t Abby.” He winked at her.
“Jesus, it’s early, Immy,” Sampson grumbled as he walked out of his bedroom.
She noticed they’d both put on their Christmas pajamas. She knew that they wouldn’t have worn them to bed, but they made the effort to wear them for Christmas morning.
“I know! Because it’s Christmas!”
“It’s Christmas!” Jenner sang as he moved into the hallway and opened his arms.
Immy ran to him with a giggle and he lifted her up onto his hip. “Come on, let’s head downstairs and see if Santa Claus has been.”
“I don’t think he came to Sammy,” she told him solemnly. “He’s been really naughty this year.”