Confused, he followed to find her grabbing an umbrella which was clear with daisies printed on it and had a frill around the edge.

She now had yellow rubber boots on.

“Cherry, you goin’ out in this?” he asked.

“Uh-huh.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s raining!” she cried. As if that should tell him everything.

She rushed out the back door, and shaking his head, Tobias walked out after her. He stood under the back porch as she ran around, jumping in puddles and laughing in delight.

Tobias hadn’t had a lot of happiness in his life.

He’d been a single child, with a mom who had worked all the time to feed and clothe him. And a deadbeat dad he’d never met.

Everything he had in this life, he’d had to fight for. He’d done things that would likely make other people fear him. He didn’t always follow the law. But he had always been someone who’d known what he wanted.

And when he desired something, he did everything in his power to get it.

Watching this girl . . . her beauty, her innocence, he knew that he shouldn’t desire her. He could easily corrupt her. But he also knew he could protect her.

Physically. And emotionally.

It would just take more care. He’d have to take baby steps with her. Insert himself into her life so much that she wouldn’t see where she started and he ended.

And that would also avoid her friends stepping in and separating them.

They wouldn’t notice the serpent in the grass until he was wound around her so tight that nothing could come between them.

“Come join me!” she cried.

“Haven’t got a rain jacket,” he replied.

“So? Have mine!”

She started pulling hers off. Nope. He wasn’t having that.

“Put that back on,” he ordered.

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

The brat poked her tongue out at him.

Oh yeah, did he mention he liked the sassy side to her as well? He was going to have so much fun with that. Especially when he got to put her over his knee.

She needed some discipline. But not too much.

Delicate. Delicate.

“You’re a party pooper!” she cried.

“Keep your jacket on or you’re coming back inside.”

With a squeal, she ran and jumped into a rather large puddle. It sent water flying up and she giggled.