Page 16 of Her Hero Daddy

She smiled and nodded, pulling the blanket up to her chin.

The rest of the drive was quiet. Haylee didn’t talk very much, and he didn’t want to force her to interact. He wanted to ask her everything about herself, her life, and all the small little details about her that most might not find to be important, but he would.

“When we get to Pinebrook, we will go straight to my house so you can get settled. Luke and Ally will come over tomorrow so you can shower and rest for today. Luke is going to take your statement about what happened when he comes, and then an arrest warrant will be issued, and that jackass will be arrested immediately.”

“Oh… um… okay. I’m excited to see Ally. I haven’t seen her since I left for college. I’ve missed her so much.”

There was a sadness to her voice as she spoke, and it pulled at him.

“Ally is very excited to see you too.”

“She seems really happy with Luke, huh?”

Kane smiled and nodded. They were both happy. Even an outsider that didn’t even know them would be able to see how much they belonged together. Ally seemed to embrace being his Little girl, and the way she looked at him, with pure admiration and love, made Kane long for something so sweet and special.

“Yes. I think she is really happy with him. Luke loves her very much. He’s a good guy.”

“I’m glad. Ally deserves someone good. She deserves happiness.”

Glancing over at her, he reached out his hand and placed it over hers.

“You deserve it all too, Haylee.”

“I’d like to believe that.”

“Well, believe it, little one.”

He would make her believe it. If it was the last thing he did, she would know what she deserved.

9

HAYLEE

The drive to Pinebrook felt like it took forever. She was thankful that she didn’t have to drive it by herself after all. Kane seemed deep in thought during much of the drive, but every time she said something, he gave her his full attention. Not that she had said much. What would she say to this massive, terrifying-looking man? It was still nice to have the quiet company.

Being in such a confined space with him made it that much more difficult to ignore the inviting smell of him. She wondered how he smelled so good when he had been driving all night and didn’t have any luggage with him. Maybe he just had a naturally yummy scent.

Wow. Get it together, Haylee. He’s rescuing you, not taking you on a date.

Glancing over at him as slyly as she was able, she studied his features. Despite the fact that she was sure that he fought alligators for a living, she found him quite handsome. His dark beard was neatly trimmed, accentuating his sharp jawline, and his matching dark hair was combed but not perfectly gelled like Tim kept his. Her eyes wandered to the steering wheel, where his large, rough hands steered the car toward Pinebrook. She had a thing for men’s hands, particularly when they were large and masculine like Kane’s.

When they passed the Welcome to Pinebrook sign, Haylee felt herself relax against the seat. She was finally home. The place she thought she wanted to leave but had missed and longed to come back to for years.

You don’t know anything, you stupid bitch. You are just a piece of white trash who is trying to fit in somewhere you don’t belong.

Tim’s words flashing through her head made her flinch. Kane looked over at her immediately with concern.

“You okay?”

Nope.

“Yep, I’m fine.”

Kane furrowed his dark eyebrows at her, making her feel a little uneasy in her seat.

“No, you’re not.”

How would he know?