Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
What do you do for work, Little girl?
He probably should have dug into her history and figured out what her career had been before now. Why had Kingsley asked him not to? And how long had the man wanted her history to remain a mystery? In any case, Magnus had been so worried about her safety that he hadn’t had the time to investigate anyway.
He couldn’t ask her now. She’d shoot daggers at him with her eyes and possibly kill him. He didn’t know her well enough to know how long she might need to cool down or even if she would cool down after he’d hurt her feelings.
Fuck. He knew he was an awkward guy. That’s why he hadn’t had a long-term Little girl in the first place. He wasn’t the sort who was easy to get along with. He didn’t tolerate many people in his space. He’d been skeptical about joining these other five men and becoming a team with them. It wasn’t his thing. He usually preferred to work alone.
He looked across the room, and his heart hurt. Maybe he hadn’t been searching for a Little girl, but he’d found her anyway, and there was no doubt she was his. He loved her so much that it really stressed him out that he’d hurt her feelings.
A quick look at the monitors told him most of the resort was still asleep. He could take a few minutes to try and smooth things over with Juniper.
Determined, he shuffled toward her.
Yeah, she was furious. She didn’t look up at all. She just kept moving around the giant blue sheet. She’d already dropped pins and sticky notes in three locations.
He set his palms on the table and said the first thing that came to mind. “Are you an architect?”
She didn’t look up as she responded, “Nope.”
Oh, damn. This was bad.
“Juni…”
“What?” She moved to another section of the schematic and studied it hard.
“I’m sorry I never asked you what you do for a living. I assumed it was photography, but you said that’s just a hobby.”
“Yep.”
Yikes. She couldn’t get any colder.
“Did you take a leave of absence to come here on a long vacation?” The thought of her needing to return to work someday made his chest tighten.
“Nope.”
He ran his hand over the top of his ballcap. He’d created this problem. He needed to dig out of it. “Will you tell me what you do for work, Juni?” he asked nicely.
“Someday. Not today.”
At least she hadn’t told him to go to hell.
All he could do right now was bare his soul and hope for the best. “Juni, you are my world. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. I really am. I’m not very good with people. I didn’t expect to ever meet someone who could be my forever Little girl. I didn’t think it was in the cards for me. I’m too difficult. Grouchy. Set in my ways. I don’t share easily. But when I first set eyes on you, I knew you were it for me. I know it in my soul. You are my life. I would do anything for you. So, I’m very frustrated with myself for bungling my words and insulting you. I hope you can forgive me.”
She stopped what she was doing and took a deep breath. Finally, she looked at him. “I didn’t expect to find someone either, Magnus. I’ve always been a loner. I’ve only had a few super close friends. Sammi was one of them. When my father died, I realized I didn’t really have anyone left I cared about. It shook me to the core and caused me to take stock of my life. The first thing I did was quit my high-power job. It was sucking the life out of me. I have plenty of savings, so I can go a long time without looking for work. I had planned on it. And then you dropped into my life and shook things up. I’m probably not good at relationships. But I know one thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked, filled with hope.
“I love you, too, and we’ll work this out. I just need some time. Can you give that to me?”
“Yes, Little girl. Absolutely.” It was about the best he could have hoped for. At least she was talking to him.
“Thank you. Now, let me find the last few portals and mark them before everyone else gets down here, okay?”
“Yes. Can I hug you?”
She jumped down from her seat and came to him. She wrapped her arms around his middle, tipped her head back, and kissed him.
He smiled. “That’s much better than a hug.”
She shrugged. “I guess I’ve made you squirm long enough. Do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“This is important to me, Magnus.”
“Okay, Juni. Whatever you want.” He meant it. He’d do anything for her.
“I know good and well you’re capable of marching over to that giant computer of yours and finding out every single detail about my former life in less than two minutes. Don’t.”