Page 5 of Break Me, Daddy

“Always.”

“Good. Because you’re going to be staying with me for the foreseeable future. Understood?”

Relief loosened the band of anxiety that had been around her chest since she’d first woken up and realized she was in the hospital. If there was anybody in this world she trusted to take care of her, to help her get back on her feet, it was Holden Prescott. Dragging in her first easy breath in what felt like ages, she nodded.

“Yes, Daddy.”

Chapter2

Holden

Yes, Daddy.

God, he’d waited so long to hear her say those two little words again. But the joy of having her call him Daddy was mingled with the fear and worry of seeing her looking so small and lost in that damn hospital bed. The sooner they got her home where she could properly rest, the better.

First things first, however, she needed to eat. It hadn’t escaped his notice how she’d balked at the idea of ordering breakfast, but he’d be damned if she starved herself on his watch.

“Did you figure out what you want for breakfast, baby?” he asked, picking up the menu that had slipped from her hands during her conversation with Sandra. “That oatmeal the nurse was talking about sounded good.”

Frankie’s nose crinkled. “I think I’ll just get the eggs.”

“You need more than just eggs, Francesca.”

Pink blossomed on her cheeks. But he didn’t feel the usual rush of pleasure her adorable blushes brought him. Because now the color only highlighted the sharp angles of her too-hollow cheekbones.

How the fuck did I miss this?

Setting aside his own frustration with himself, he scanned the menu. “What about yogurt? You like yogurt. With some granola and fruit, maybe.”

“I only like some yogurt and I don’t know what kind they have here.”

That was the first he’d heard from her that she only liked certain kinds, but then, they hadn’t spent very much time together before she’d cut him out of her life. Which was another discussion they needed to have.

Later. When she was feeling better.

“They have a few different muffin options. What about blueberry?”

Lifting her head, she jerked her chin up, and damn if it wasn’t a relief to see her usual bratty fire in her eyes. “I already said I just want some eggs. I don’t need anything else.”

Stubborn little brat. But eggs were better than nothing, and the last thing he wanted was to get her so worked up she refused to eat at all. “Eggs it is.” Dropping the menu back into her lap, he leaned in, dropping his voice to a low growl. “But just so you know, little girl, this isn’t going to fly when we get home. Youwilleat, or you will have a very disappointed Daddy to contend with. Am I clear, Francesca?”

“Yes, Daddy.” Unlike before, when she’d said those words with a sigh of relief, now her voice trembled ever so slightly.

Good. He didn’t want her terrified of him, but a little apprehension went a long way with his babygirl.

“Good girl. Let’s order those eggs and then I’m going to see where the hell your doctor is.”

Frankie

Staringdown at the tray in front of her, Frankie willed herself to just pick up her fork. Pick up the fork, eat the damn eggs. One bite. All she needed was one bite, and then the rest would come more easily.

For fuck’s sake, they were just eggs. One of the few foods she usually had no problem eating because they were basically nothing but pure protein.

Eggs aren’t the enemy. Eggs won’t make you fat.

No. No, that wasn’t right. That wasn’t what she’d been taught. And the whole reason she was in this fucking bed in the first place was because she’d strayed so far from the things that had helped her heal the first time around.

Food is not the enemy. My body is worth nourishing.

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