Page 4 of Bash

“But you have things to do, you don’t have time to help me!” I cried. Tears were freely rolling down my face by now. Why was he being so stubborn?

“Oh, you silly little goose. I will always have time for you.”

Eloise opened the truck door, and he set me inside before buckling me in, then he helped Eloise in the back seat before climbing in the driver's seat.

“I’m going to take you back to the shop, Eloise. Can you tell your daddy you’re on the way?”

“Yes, Sir,” she answered. Her voice was strained and I felt even worse knowing I was worrying her too.

“You’ve been such a good helper today, Eloise. Make sure you tell your Daddy that, okay?” Bash said as he started the truck and pulled out of the hotel parking lot.

I couldn’t see Eloise from the backseat, but I hoped she was okay. I needed to tell her thank you for all her help today too. She was such a good girl and she deserved all the praise. Guilt filled my belly even more than before. I wasn’t being a good girl. I’d missed work, made Bash leave work,andmade him reschedule a client.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, turning to look at him. All the movements and emotions must have made my nausea so much worse. I slapped a hand over my mouth, but before he could evenstop the car, I vomited all over myself and the inside of his new truck.

Definitely not a good girl.

Chapter Two

Bash

“I’m so sorry,” Allyson sobbed again.

I helped her from my truck and started leading her into the house.

“Honey, it’s okay. You couldn’t help it. It was an accident and I’ll never be upset with you for having an accident. Besides, do you know how much Smoke drinks? It’s not the first time I’ve had someone puke in my truck,” I teased, earning a teary grin.

She looked so small standing there in her sports bra and leggings. We’d tossed her shirt in the garbage and cleaned her up the best we could with some wipes before dropping Eloise off and driving to my house.

“There’s a sweet smile.” I punched in the code to the door and guided her inside.

“Y-your house is really nice,” she said. It sounded very practiced and I hated she felt like she needed to be polite and polished around me. I knew a bit of her past, but foster care came with so much trauma that I’m sure I couldn’t even scratch the surface of what she’d dealt with.

“Thank you, Allyson. I am proud of it. I grew up in foster care too and buying my own home felt wonderful after never having a permanent home as a teenager.”

She didn’t need to know the unethical ways I’d earned the money to purchase my home. Well, not right now anyway. If she decided to let me be her Daddy, I’d tell her the truth. I didn’t believe in dishonesty in any relationship.

“Y-you were in foster care too?” she asked, trembling. Poor baby was so sick.

“I was. We can talk about it when you’re feeling all better. For now let’s get you upstairs and into the bath, yeah?” I tried to lead her up the stairs, but she tugged her hand free and planted her feet on the hardwood floor. I turned back to look at her. Was she scared? Maybe I needed to let her go up alone.

“No, I can just hose off in the back. I don’t want to get your bathroom dirty.”

Hose off in the back? Like an animal?“No, Little girl. You absolutely will not. Youwilltake a warm shower upstairs and I will bring you some cozy clothes to put on. Then I’m going to tuck you into my bed and pamper you until you feel all better.”

Her lip trembled and more tears rolled down her face. I instantly regretted my firm tone. Perhaps softer-spoken wordswould work better on her. Because of her past, I might need to be extra gentle.

“Honey, don’t cry. It breaks my heart when you’re upset. I’m not angry with you. It just shocked me that you feel like you’d be better to just rinse off in the backyard with cold water—like some kind of animal.”

“I don’t w-want to get your house d-dirty,” she cried. “You’ve already had to do so much for me today.”

“Honey.” I tried to reason, but she shook her head.

“I already m-made you l-leave work, reschedule a client, and I t-threw up in your truck. N-now I’m in your house and I’m g-gross.” A shiver wracked her body and she wrapped her arms around herself.

I reached down and lifted her into my arms before carrying her across the living room and climbing the stairs. “First of all, you didn’tmakeme do anything. I left because I was worried about you and wanted to see you. You didn’tmakeme reschedule a client either. That was also my choice. I didn’t want you to be by yourself when you weren’t feeling good. I care about you, honey. More than just as a friend. I’ve had feelings for you since the first night I met you. Did you know I used to only work three days a week at Daddies Ink?”

Her pretty green eyes went wide, nearly doubling in size and she shook her head before laying it against my chest. Heat from her body radiated through my shirt and I made a mental note to ask Elliot if it would be okay to give her something to bring her fever down even though she was vomiting.

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