Page 11 of Scarlett's Mountain Man
CHAPTER 4
SCARLETT
Iblink several times, trying to come to terms with what he just said. He’s a Daddy Dom? I didn’t hear him right; I mustn’t have. He couldn’t have said that.
Yet he called himself Daddy twice. My mind can’t be playing that many tricks on me. Unless something is majorly wrong.
“I’m not dying, right?” I ask, my eyes going wide. “Oh my goodness. I am, aren’t I? I need to find someone who can take care of Juniper when I leave. I can’t leave her in his custody. I can’t. You have to help me get her to some place safe so he can never find her.”
My breathing picks up as I speak, panic flowing over my body like a torrential downpour.
“Please, a nice family who can take care of her when I’m gone. Someone who will love her like she is their own, but will also tell her that I love her when she gets older. I don’t want her to think that I gave her up.” Tears run down my face as I continue to speak.
I hold Juniper a little closer to my chest and look down at her. She looks so peaceful.
“I don’t want to die,” I whisper. “I really don’t want to leave Juniper.”
Thorin’s hands wrap around my face, holding me steady as I look him in the eyes.
“You aren’t dying,” he gently says. “I’m not going to allow you to die or give your daughter away.”
“I’m not dying?” I ask, trying to process his words.
“You aren’t dying. Aiden said you are going to be okay.” Thorin rubs his thumb across my cheek.
“Really?” I look at him like he has the world in his hands.
“Yes, really, Little One. You aren’t going to die. I won’t allow it.” He gives me a firm look.
I relax into the bed, melting into his hands as he continues to touch my face. His warm hands are so calming, and I can’t help but close my eyes and relish this feeling. Will he ever touch me like this again?
“Are you feeling okay?” he gently asks.
I open my eyes and look at him. “Yes.”
For once, I actually am. It’s crazy to think about, but having Thorin’s hands on me just makes everything seem like it’s going to work out. Like he is going to make sure everything works out.
“Now, why did you think you were dying?” he asks. “Do you think you can tell me, or is it going to make you panic?”
I pull my face out of his hands and close my eyes again, trying to hold back a whimper. I don’t want to pull away, but I’m embarrassed about. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that, but I’ve been on edge for several days.
“You’re okay,” he coos at me. “Everything is going to be okay. You’re safe at the Whiskey River Mountain Lodge.”
“I know,” I whisper.
The safety I feel now is nothing I’ve felt before. I never want to leave, but I know sooner or later I’m going to have to when the money runs out. I paid everything upfront several weeks ago, so now I only have a little money left.
“I panicked because you said something, and I thought I was becoming delusional. I just need to know that if anything happens, I have to get Juniper to someone who will love her and take care of her. I need them to adopt her if I am going to die.”
“But you aren’t.”
“But I’m not,” I repeat his words.
“What did I say to make you think you were becoming delusional?” he asks, searching my face.
My cheeks heat up, and I shake my head. I’m not going to say those words if he doesn’t mean them or I imagined them.
“Scarlett.” His voice holds a warning in it. “Tell Daddy.”
