Page 21 of Her Hero Daddy

Haylee giggled and nodded her head. He loved that sound.

“You look like you might win.”

“Oh, I would win. So, you just keep that in mind when you try to disobey me,” he said, winking at her.

She blushed and looked away from him.

“Maybe you and Ally can come to watch my next alligator-wrestling match.”

She giggled again and nodded. “Poor, poor alligators.”

He felt a warmth spread through him. Little by little, he would show her that she was completely safe with him.

“Are you going to be okay out here? You can always stay in the main house if it would make you feel more comfortable. I should have set you up in there in the first place.”

She hesitated before answering, which he didn’t like. If he had it his way, he would move all her belongings into the main house immediately. He’d be able to look out for her better there.

“I’m fine. It’s really nice in here. I like it,” she answered, though her words didn’t match her eyes.

He wondered if he should push her to come to stay in the house, but he didn’t want to start demanding things of her and potentially push her away. He just nodded.

“Luke and Ally will be here around ten tomorrow morning, and my friend Logan—he’s a doctor—he’s coming at noon to check on you.”

Haylee slumped her shoulders. “Ugh, I hate doctors. I’m fine, really.”

“Logan is very nice, and it’s not up for debate. I didn’t take you to the emergency room, but I told you that you were still going to get checked out.”

“Fiiine. It’s just that… going to the doctors and hospitals scares me. I hate it.”

“I understand, and I will be right here with you the entire time.”

She peeked up at him under her dark lashes. “Promise?”

Hell yeah, he would promise. He wasn’t going to leave her side if she was scared. Plus, he didn’t want her alone with his better-looking, smooth-talking friend anyway.

“I promise.”

Her features relaxed, and she let out a deep breath. Kane wanted to do a happy dance knowing she wanted him there with her when Logan came. It meant she was feeling somewhat safe with him, and that meant the world to him. He stood and grabbed the ibuprofen bottle off the counter.

“Have you taken any of this since this morning?”

She shook her head, making an ick face. Too bad she was going to have to take it again until he could get the orange kind. He opened the bottle, measured it out into the tiny cup, and set it in front of her on the table.

“No, thank you,” she said, shaking her head.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “You need to take it. It will help you feel better so you can sleep. Doesn’t your body and head ache? And before you answer, remember what we talked about earlier about being honest.”

Haylee snapped her head toward him and glared. Kane just smiled and lifted the cup to her lips.

Pulling her head back from the cup, she looked up at him. “It’s sooo icky. I don’t want it.”

“Icky, huh. Okay, well, I have another option for you.”

Her eyes lit up instantly. “Okay, I want the other option.”

Oh, she does, does she?

“The other option is pain-relief suppositories that go in your bottom.”