scaled room that’d been transitioned into an extra bedroom. Close to the guest suite, an additional set of short stairs led to the upper level.
Dropping the duffle bag, he headed to the closest bedroom.
The door was slightly cracked.
From the doorway, he watched as his six year old daughter slept.
Like a little angel, she was nestled under the covers, and a tiny smile pursed her lips. But, still, even as the shadows played in the room, he could see her flushed features.
Again, he struggled to control his emotions.
Wasn’t Meghan the only good part of him that he had left? But still, wasn’t he too damaged to give her the love and care that she deserved and needed, he thought, releasing a frustrated breath.
Being careful not to awaken her, he pushed the door open further before treading into the room. “My little Poppet,” he whispered as he reached the bed. Then, as he knelt down alongside it, he grasped her tiny hand in his. “I love you, do you know that? While my world is endlessly crazy, you’re the one thing that grounds me. My only hope is that I will be the father that you need and deserve.” The burning tears smarted in his eyes. “But, I can’t let you suffer for my sins. In the end, I hope that I don’t end up hurting and disappointing you like I have everyone else who loved me. You deserve better than that, Poppet.”
Standing, he felt her forehead to check for any lingering fever, and to his relief, she was cool. As he turned to move away, her tiny hand clung to his. “Daddy?” she murmured sleepily. “Is that you?”
“Sshhh, go back to sleep, sweetheart,” he smiled down at her. “We’ll catch up in the morning. Ok?”
Nodding sleepily, already turning onto her side, she fell back into her slumber. Satisfied that she was resting peacefully, he moved away from the bed.
As he stepped back into the hallway, the dark shadows were splayed across the floor. And finally, even he had to grudgingly admit that fatigue was winning out.
His eyes shot to the guest suite.
That’s where his innocent pawn lay…
A heart wrenching scream filled the landing.
Before good sense won out, he found himself heading in that direction. As he drew closer to her door, her screams grew louder, and there was no denying the terrifying nature that filled them. With an unsteady hand, Jarrod opened the door.
After a brief hesitation, he entered.
As he stared at her, he was sucker punched, and the emotional war raged against him. The unwanted feelings surged like a wild torrent of rain, drenching the depths of his lost soul, and like a helpless moth, he was drawn to the forbidden flames.
The single word that he whispered was barely audible. “Olivia.”
But, rather than answering, she thrashed in the bed.
Unable to resist the pull, he left the open doorway.
The moonlight revealed his presence as he crossed the room, and he clearly sensed her unrest as he drew closer to the bed.
A wide shadow played along the bed.
And not even it could hide her distress.
Or her breathtaking
Dropping the duffle bag, he headed to the closest bedroom.
The door was slightly cracked.
From the doorway, he watched as his six year old daughter slept.
Like a little angel, she was nestled under the covers, and a tiny smile pursed her lips. But, still, even as the shadows played in the room, he could see her flushed features.
Again, he struggled to control his emotions.
Wasn’t Meghan the only good part of him that he had left? But still, wasn’t he too damaged to give her the love and care that she deserved and needed, he thought, releasing a frustrated breath.
Being careful not to awaken her, he pushed the door open further before treading into the room. “My little Poppet,” he whispered as he reached the bed. Then, as he knelt down alongside it, he grasped her tiny hand in his. “I love you, do you know that? While my world is endlessly crazy, you’re the one thing that grounds me. My only hope is that I will be the father that you need and deserve.” The burning tears smarted in his eyes. “But, I can’t let you suffer for my sins. In the end, I hope that I don’t end up hurting and disappointing you like I have everyone else who loved me. You deserve better than that, Poppet.”
Standing, he felt her forehead to check for any lingering fever, and to his relief, she was cool. As he turned to move away, her tiny hand clung to his. “Daddy?” she murmured sleepily. “Is that you?”
“Sshhh, go back to sleep, sweetheart,” he smiled down at her. “We’ll catch up in the morning. Ok?”
Nodding sleepily, already turning onto her side, she fell back into her slumber. Satisfied that she was resting peacefully, he moved away from the bed.
As he stepped back into the hallway, the dark shadows were splayed across the floor. And finally, even he had to grudgingly admit that fatigue was winning out.
His eyes shot to the guest suite.
That’s where his innocent pawn lay…
A heart wrenching scream filled the landing.
Before good sense won out, he found himself heading in that direction. As he drew closer to her door, her screams grew louder, and there was no denying the terrifying nature that filled them. With an unsteady hand, Jarrod opened the door.
After a brief hesitation, he entered.
As he stared at her, he was sucker punched, and the emotional war raged against him. The unwanted feelings surged like a wild torrent of rain, drenching the depths of his lost soul, and like a helpless moth, he was drawn to the forbidden flames.
The single word that he whispered was barely audible. “Olivia.”
But, rather than answering, she thrashed in the bed.
Unable to resist the pull, he left the open doorway.
The moonlight revealed his presence as he crossed the room, and he clearly sensed her unrest as he drew closer to the bed.
A wide shadow played along the bed.
And not even it could hide her distress.
Or her breathtaking
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