Page 16 of Scarlett's Mountain Man
“Scarlett, Little One. I’m staying near you for a while. Taking the next couple of days off work to be with you in case you need anything.”
My eyes bug out. “You don’t have to do that!”
He shakes his head. “Don’t need to, but Iwantto,” he grunts. “Someday, I am going to get that through to you. If I never do, then I’ll always remind you. I don’t have to do a lot of things, but I will if it involves you and Juniper in any way.”
I blink several times, not knowing how to respond. My first reaction is to tell him to stop, but I don’t. My second reaction is to cry, which I don’t want to do either.
“Shhh, you’re okay,” he whispers, cupping my face with his hands. “Daddy is right here. I’m not going anywhere. I know you’ve been through a lot in the past couple of days, but I’m here now. I’m going to protect you and our daughter.”
Ourdaughter.
He called Juniper our daughter and notmine. Oh my goodness. Does he actually mean it?
“Yes, our daughter. I’ve laid my claim on you, and I’m not letting you go. Never. You’re stuck with me on this mountain for the rest of our lives.”
“I’m okay with that,” I mutter, not fully thinking through my words. My eyes go wide once again. “Umm, let me think about it?”
He chuckles. “You can think about it as much as you want, but you aren’t going anywhere. I will tie you to the bed if I have to. I’ll feed you every meal and take you to the bathroom if you try to leave.”
“That will kind of be awkward when Juniper gets older and asks questions,” I mumble.
“Or our other kids, but yes, awkward. But if it comes to that, I’m sure we’ll figure out a reason behind it.” He shrugs.
My mouth drops open. He did not just say that.
“You are not tying me up!” I exclaim, overcoming my shock.
“Won’t tie you down unless you try to leave me.”
“Caveman,” I growl.
“More like Mountain Man, but yes.”
I roll my eyes and look away from him. He can be infuriating, and he knows it with the smug grin on his face.
“Now, do you want to stay in this bed or be moved to a different one?” he asks.
“You really are going to sit in the chair the whole night?” I look back at him.
He nods. “Would put another bed in here, but the room is too small. I also don’t want to get in the way. Need to be alert in case anything happens.”
I suck in a breath. “Something is going to happen?”
“No,nothingis going to happen. But even then, I will always be prepared. With me sitting on this chair as both of you sleep, I am between you and the door. When you are comfortable with me in your bed, I will always be closer to the door so I can protect you and Juniper for as long as she’s in our room.”
I stare at him as he finishes speaking. “Wow,” I whisper.
“What?”
I shake my head.
“Little One,” he growls.
“I just wasn’t expecting that!” I rush out. “Wasn’t expecting to say you were going to put yourself between the door and us,” I quickly explain.
Thorin leans forward and cups my face with his hands. “I don’t know who you were with before, but you already mean everything to me. You and Juniper. I am going to protect you with my life. You are going to be safe, and nothing is going to happen. You two are my top priority right now. If we have more children, they will be protected, too.”
I open and close my mouth several times, and tears pool in my eyes. I blink several times, trying to get them to stop, but they just fall down my cheeks.
