Page 13 of Zale's Little Girl
“Baby girl. You’re frozen. Can you talk to me?”
She shook her head. Pippa couldn’t form words to tell him how terrified she was. She’d kept herself from panicking for hours in that car as she tried to think of something she could do. There had been nothing. She’d even considered running once when he’d stopped on a deserted road for her to pee, but there’d been nowhere to go. Just open fields.
“I couldn’t get away.”
“You survived, little girl. You waited for your opportunity, and you ran. I think you were smart and brave.”
“I don’t feel very brave,” Pippa whispered.
“You get to feel however you want. I’m very proud of you.”
She couldn’t believe how good his praise felt. Pippa didn’t know why his approval meant that much to her, but it did. Tightening her arms around his neck, she wiggled closer.
“Still cold, kitten?”
Pippa nodded. “Is this ever going to get better?”
“It is. We’re going to make it better.”
“How?”
“Tomorrow morning, we’re going to the police station. We’re going to tell them what happened and make sure whoever is involved in your abduction pays,” Zale said with steel in his voice.
“I-I don’t want to do that,” she stammered, leaning back to meet his gaze. The fear in the pit of her stomach rekindled.
“That’s the only way to stop your fear, Pippa. You can’t keep looking over your shoulder. You take back your life.”
Hope battled fear inside her. Could she ever feel safe? She couldn’t live with this paralyzing terror. Pippa jumped as his fingers slid through her hair, interrupting her spinning mind.
“You’re okay, Pippa. I’m going to make sure of it. Will you trust me?”
Pippa couldn’t think of anyone she’d trust more than Zale. Even after less than twenty-four hours, she knew he was rock solid. “I trust you.”
“Thank you, kitten. Let’s get out of this closet. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Good girl.” He reached to the side for the fierce alligator stuffie that had fallen out of her arms when he’d scooped her onto his lap. “You hold on to Toothie.”
Zale slid a muscular forearm under her legs and powered his way to his feet in a move that made Pippa aware of his strength. He carried her into the bathroom and set her on the vanity. Grabbing a washcloth from the towel rack, he wet it and wiped the traces of her tears from her face.
“There. I bet that’s better.”
She nodded and watched him open a drawer to pull out a hairbrush still in its packaging. Zale opened it. After discarding the plastic shell, he picked up a section of her long hair andran the bristles gently through the lower half. When he had that section tangle-free, he started on another.
Zale never rushed or seemed bored with his task. Pippa relaxed as he proceeded to untangle the top section just as cautiously. Her scalp had always been tender. He didn’t hurt her at all.
“You’re good at that.”
He winked. “For a guy with no hair,” he teased.
She considered his military short hairstyle and said, “You have hair. It’s just abbreviated.”
“That word is longer than my hair.”
Her gaze met his. Her heart lurched in her chest at his twinkling eyes. Zale made everything better. Those dark eyes could be frightening when he was in protector mode. Now, they danced with humor and enjoyment of the smallest of things.
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
