Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 47381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
He snapped his fingers. “I have an idea for that. After we brush your teeth. And I eat my breakfast. Don’t want my eggs to get cold.”
He was terrible.
Half an hour later, he carried her out to the small kitchen area.
Surprise filled her as she noticed that he’d laid a blanket out along the counter. He’d also stacked the two pillows he’d taken from the bed, one on top of the other by the edge of the sink. There were two towels. One on the other side of the sink and one over the pillows.
He’d also put her shampoo and conditioner next to the sink.
“What are you going to do?” she asked as he sat her down on the blanket.
“Wash your hair. I just hope that you’re elevated enough that you won’t cough.”
“I-I think I’ll be all right.” She gaped at him in amazement. “You’re really going to wash my hair?”
“I am. Why, do you not trust me?” He frowned slightly.
“No. Of course I do. It’s just… it’s really sweet.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You don’t think I can be sweet?”
“I didn’t before. I’m beginning to see that I could’ve been wrong.”
“Come here. Lie back. If you are uncomfortable or start coughing, we can move you, all right?”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Hold on to Buzzy.”
Once again, he surprised her as he carefully washed her hair. He shampooed it twice before massaging in the conditioner. Her eyes drifted closed and she very nearly fell asleep as he rubbed her scalp.
Ooh. That felt so good.
“You all right, baby?” he asked quietly as he turned off the water and dried her hair with the towel.
“Better than all right, Daddy.”
Sitting her up, he wrapped her hair in the towel before picking her up and cradling her against his chest.
“That was the best head massage I’ve ever had.”
He sighed. “It’s a curse, really, being this talented. From rock god to hairdresser royalty. I mean… where does it stop?”
She broke into giggles that ended in a coughing fit.
“Right. Time for bed.”
“No, Daddy. Please,” she begged. “I’m missing out on all of my holiday. Can I just sit up and watch TV or something?” Jolie leaned back to give him a pleading look.
“Two hours. Then it’s lunch and a nap.”
“Perfect, Daddy.”
Brand carried her to the sofa and set her down. “I’m going to dry your hair. I’ll go get the blow dryer and your hairbrush.”
“It will be all right if you just let it dry, Daddy.”
“No, I don’t want you sitting around with wet hair. It might make you sicker. And you have to get better before the Fourth of July so you can cheer me on.”
“Why would I need to cheer you on?” she asked in confusion.
“Because I’m the entertainment.” He disappeared into the bathroom.
“You are?” she asked as he reappeared. “Wow.” That must have cost Derek a fortune.
“Hmm, it was how I was allowed to stay here. They sent me an offer. I agreed without Kelly’s input. He wasn’t happy,” he told her as he returned and plugged in the hair dryer. “But getting in here to see you was far more important than whatever deal he wanted to reach. I didn’t realize it then, but I’m guessing it was a test.”
“How?” she asked.
“Well, I think if I’d said I wanted to get my agent involved, or that I wanted money or whatever, Derek would have known that meant more to me than you. But I would have signed an agreement with the devil himself to get to you, Bumblebee.”
Wow.
Just. Wow.
CHAPTER 15
A knock on the door got Brand’s attention.
He was working on the playlist for the Fourth of July concert while his girl took a nap.
Who would that be?
He hadn’t ordered any food, although it was getting close to dinnertime so he should get onto that. He was determined that he was going to get her to eat more than a few bites.
Getting up, he opened the door.
Hmm. He should have guessed.
“Derek.” He nodded to the other man, who was standing there holding a large basket.
“Brand. Won’t keep you long. My girl and her friends heard that Jolie was under the weather and unable to attend any of the programs here. So, they put together a get-well-soon basket.” He handed it over.
The thing was huge.
“Tell them thanks. I’m sure Jolie will appreciate it.”
“Everything all right? Jolie feeling okay? Nurse Beverly said she came by earlier.”
“Yeah. She did. Jolie’s feeling better. Still coughing and having temperature spikes, though. Nurse Beverly wants her to keep resting and having lots of fluids.”
“I heard you put in an order to the store.”
“Is there anything that happens around here you don’t know about?” Brand asked.
“Not much.”
There was a noise from the bedroom. “Daddy?”
Brand studied Derek’s face as Jolie called out to him. Derek just smiled. “See you later. Just remember, if you need anything, I’m here.”