But while Arianna was rich, with legions of fans, it was obvious that she didn’t much like the notoriety. He didn’t know why he’d warned her not to speak of Tom’s relationship. She’d never once indicated that she was someone to look down on other people. To judge others.
No. That was all on him. He was the one being the judgmental prick.
Time to pull your shit together, man.
He couldn’t act on his desire to have her. But he could work on his attitude.
How often had she had people over since he’d been living in her apartment? How often had she gone out? How often had she fucking smiled?
She was sad. And lonely.
Yeah, he needed a big attitude adjustment. He was fucked if he knew what to do, though. Apologize? Be a good start. Work on his professionalism? Also a good idea. He should tell her about her sleepwalking.
He’d called and spoken to Dominic who had managed to find Joe. Apparently, the older man had acted kind of cagey, which worried him. Arianna loved him and Estelle like family, it would hurt her if Joe was up to something. Dominic was working on getting rid of the crowd outside the apartment. He’d also spoken to Larry, the asshole, who was gonna go back to the concert venue early in the morning to get everything Arianna had left.
He’d be having a chat with Larry himself tomorrow.
Rugger barked and he jumped from the bed, grabbing his gun off the nightstand.
Fuck!
He moved out of the door, sticking to the shadows. Rugger let out another quiet bark. He saw movement to his side and turned as he saw Tom walk down the passage.
“Rugger, what is it? Arianna? You okay?” Tom asked.
Bain moved forward and saw Arianna standing at the top of the stairs. Rugger was next to her. She was wearing a large T-shirt. One he guessed belonged to Tom since it was swimming on her. And didn’t that just rile his protective, possessive instincts?
Fuck.
Then he noticed that Rugger had the bottom of the T-shirt in his mouth. He tugged on it with a soft growl.
“Ari?” Bain called out quietly, having guessed what was going on. Although how the hell Rugger knew was beyond him.
“Is she okay?” Tom asked.
“She’s sleepwalking. She’s done it before.” He moved carefully forward. Fuck. How had she gotten past his door? He thought he’d been on alert for her.
“Don’t think Rugger wants her going down the stairs.”
“She’s not used to stairs.” And she could have fucking hurt herself if she’d taken a stumble.
His heart raced with fear just thinking about it. Fuck. Somehow, she’d gotten under his thick skin, slipping through the barriers he’d erected.
And all the snarling and snapping in the world wasn’t going to make these feelings for her disappear.
“Shouldn’t we try to get her back to bed?” Tom asked.
“Angel, you need to go back to bed now.” He gently grasped hold of her shoulders and turned her towards her room.
As soon as he let her go, she turned back.
“No.” She stomped her foot on the floor.
“Okay, seems she doesn’t want to go to bed,” Tom said with amusement.
They both watched as Arianna stuck her thumb in her mouth.
“Shit,” Tom said. “She regresses when she sleepwalks?”
“You never saw this,” Bain growled at his oldest friend.
“Jesus, you shithead, like I’d ever tell anyone this.”
“Sorry. It’s just. . .I don’t even know if she knows. . .”
“Fuck. You haven’t told her?”
“How the hell do I tell her?” Bain snapped.
Tom ran his hand over his face. “Yeah, I can see the problem. But man. . .”
“I know, all right,” he snapped. “I know how it fucking looks. I’ll tell her. Just let’s get through tonight. She’s been through enough today.”
“Yeah. Agreed. Everyone has their breaking point. All right, what do you need?”
“Ice cream and a stuffed toy if you have one.”
“Yeah, Jen has a teddy bear Mac gave her one year for Valentine’s Day. How are you going to get her downstairs? Should she walk down them?”
He stepped around the other side of Arianna. He positioned himself in front of her, so if she did try to step forward, he’d be able to catch her. He looked back down the staircase with a shudder. Long way to fall. His stomach dropped at the thought. Reaching out, he patted the dog’s head. “Good job keeping our girl safe.”
Our girl. He was fucked.
Tom returned with the soft toy and Bain took it with a nod of thanks.
“Angel, it’s me. Bain.” He wanted to say Daddy. But he didn’t dare.
“Got a teddy for you. You wanna hold him?”
She looked down at the toy and for a moment he wondered if she was awake but then she grabbed the huge, stuffed bear by the paw. She hugged it with one arm and stuck the thumb of her other hand in her mouth.
“Want some ice cream?”
Ari nodded.
“There’s stairs. You can’t walk down them.”
She frowned, her thumb slipping from her mouth. She shuffled forward a step, a stubborn look crossing her face. The defiance in her move was clear. He actually felt his lips twitch. Oh, she was being a bit naughty tonight, was she?
“You’re too little to walk down them on your own, angel,” he said firmly. He was all too aware of Tom’s gaze on him. But the other man knew what he was. Bain knew Tom would never tell anyone about this.
She stomped her foot and shook her head. It kind of surprised him. She was usually very sweet and obedient in Little mode. Then again, he generally gave her what she wanted.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “You got a choice. I carry you and you get ice cream. Or you go to bed without any ice cream.”
Her lower lip dropped and then she held her arms up. She was so short, that even standing on a lower step, he was still taller than she was. Very carefully, he lifted her into his arms. She burrowed in against him. So trusting. Her small arms wrapped around his neck; her legs went around his waist. He placed one arm under that round ass.
Fuck. Thought this through, didn’t you, asshole?
He took a second, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of her. He could smell the soap she’d used from her recent shower. But under all that was her scent.
A mix of citrus and vanilla. Which sounded like an odd combination, but it seemed to work.
“Good girl. Hold on.”
“Do you want any help?” Tom asked.
Bain shook his head. Tom called to Rugger, who looked from Arianna to Tom then back again.
“He can come,” Bain said then he turned and walked with his precious bundle downstairs. He settled her at the island on a stool.
She made a protesting noise and climbed off. Then she shocked him by wrapping her hand up in the back of his T-shirt, one he’d borrowed from Mac.
“Shh, Angel. Just getting your ice cream.”
Another whimper of protest. He looked down at her, but she was staring off into the distance. He decided to just go with it. It seemed she felt better being close to him. He opened the freezer door and found a tub of ice cream. Cookies and cream.
It would have to do. He searched through the cupboards with her still clinging to the back of his shirt. He pulled out a bowl and a spoon then scooped some ice cream out.
He set the bowl down then tried to turn and grab her. She just kept moving with him. If she wasn’t sleepwalking, he’d think she was playing with him.
“Ice cream’s ready. It will melt.” She didn’t move. Shit. “Let go of my shirt and come sit on the stool.” He made his voice sterner and it seemed to do the trick as she let go of his shirt.
She moved around to the stool; Jen’s teddy still held in one hand. He lifted her onto the stool. She sat and stared at the bowl of ice cream, not moving to grab the spoon. Her thumb moved into her mouth.
“Bab
y, what’s wrong?” he crooned, sitting on the stool next to her. He turned to her and she leaned into him, her side resting against his chest, her body between his open legs. He ran his hand up and down her back as she sucked on her thumb and held the teddy tight.
“Poor baby, you had such a rough night. Not surprising you’re out of sorts. Everything will be okay. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
Fuck. He meant every word too. Christ. He knew he needed to talk to her about her sleepwalking. And sooner rather than later.
She buried her face in his chest. He ran his fingers gently through her thick hair which had once again become tangled. “Do you want me to feed you?”
She nodded and turned her face.
He helped her sit and spooned up a small mouthful of ice cream. She opened her mouth comically wide and he had to grin at the sight. He placed the spoon into her mouth, and she wrinkled her nose, giving him an upset look.
“I know, but it’s all Tom had.”
She sighed. A long, drawn out sigh that was filled with her displeasure but then she opened her mouth again. So she wasn’t happy that it wasn’t caramel, but not so upset that she wouldn’t keep eating.
He fed her the last few mouthfuls. Then put the bowl in the sink. He turned, not really surprised to find her right behind him. He was getting used to the way she kept managing to sneak up on him.
He lifted her against his hip, and she clung to him like a little monkey as he made his way up the stairs, Rugger on his heels. He set her down and she walked into the bedroom, yawning, the bear in her hand practically dragging on the ground. She moved to the bed then stood there. He stared at her in puzzlement. What was she waiting for?
Then it struck him. He shook his head, his lips quirking in amusement as he wrapped his hands around her small waist and lifted her into bed.
Little minx.
He settled her on her side, facing him, her thumb already in her mouth. He tucked her in, unable to stop himself from kissing her forehead. Longing filled him. What if things were different? What if he’d met her under other circumstances? Where she wasn’t Arianna Silvers, famous rich singer and he wasn’t just her bodyguard?
Where he could be her Daddy and she could be little Ari?
He turned the light on in the connected bathroom and kept the door open. Rugger jumped onto the end of her bed and settled in with a deep sigh.
“Don’t wake her,” he warned the dog. Then he tried to leave.
And found he couldn’t.
“Shit.”
He moved to the other side of the bed and climbed on top of the covers. He probably still wouldn’t sleep, but he knew he couldn’t leave her side tonight.
9
Smelly, hot air brushed against her face.
She screwed up her nose. Eww.
She opened her eyes, right into a pair of dark brown eyes. She gasped. Then the owner of those eyes reached out and licked her. Right across her face.
Gross.
She giggled. She loved dogs. She loved all animals, but she thought she might love dogs most of all. She wrapped her arms around Rugger’s thick neck and rested her head against him. A low-grade headache thumped behind her temples.
She was kind of surprised she’d slept. She’d expected to be woken with nightmares. She shuddered as she remembered last night. She held on tight to Rugger, who just lay there and let her cuddle him. Maybe she should get a dog. It no longer mattered that her mother was allergic to dog hair, she didn’t live with her.
And maybe it would stop her from visiting.
Bonus.
She sighed, knowing she had to get up. Last thing she wanted was Bain coming to wake her up. It would no doubt just add to the negative opinion he had about her. Staying in bed and hugging Rugger wasn’t going to fix her problems. She forced herself to sit up. She had to get back home, check on Joe and Estelle.
Rugger gave her hand a slobbery kiss. She patted him then got up and dressed. She took a look in the mirror, sighing at the state of her hair before pulling it back and twisting it into a bun. It was a total rat’s nest that was going to take her a ton of conditioner to untangle.
Later.
She wandered downstairs, Rugger trailing after her. She followed the scent of coffee and found Tom at the stove in the kitchen.
“Well, good morning,” he said with a smile. Then he looked down at Rugger. “Thought that must be where you were, Rugger. Hope he didn’t annoy you.”
She shook her head with a smile. “No, not at all.”
“Coffee?”
She nodded. “Please.” He poured her a cup. “Creamer and sugar are on the counter already. Bain’s in the living room, he’s watching news reports about last night.”
She wrinkled her nose. She knew she had to face reality at some stage. But not right now.
“Would you mind letting Rugger out? Just open the sliding door, the backyard is fully fenced.”
“Sure.”
She walked towards the back door, coffee in hand, and slid it open. Some air sounded like a great idea. Rugger slammed into her on his way out and she dropped the cup of coffee, watching with horror as it fell onto the tiled floor, smashing and spilling hot coffee on her bare feet.
Oh no. Oh no.
“Rugger!” Tom yelled, making her jump.
“I’m so sorry! Let me clean it up.”
You clumsy idiot, Arianna.
“Hey, it’s fine. It was Rugger’s fault for bumping into you. Just a broken cup. No issue,” Tom soothed.
“What’s going on? Ari? Are you okay?” Bain walked in.
She stared down at the mess she’d made. Her feet were stinging from the hot coffee.
“What happened? Shit! Don’t move!”
Bain strode towards her and operating on instinct she moved away from him, hissing out a breath as she stepped on a piece of sharp ceramic, cutting her foot.
“Rugger bumped into her and she dropped a cup of coffee. She might be burnt,” Tom told Bain.
His face darkened. Shoot. She was always causing him trouble.
“I’m so sorry,” she muttered. She crouched down to start picking up the broken pieces.
“Nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart,” Tom soothed her. “Please leave it. I don’t want you cutting yourself.”
“No. . .no, I’ll clean it up.”
Bain picked her up. She let out a cry of surprise. Rugger barked, then growled.
“Rugger,” Tom scolded as Bain carried her over to the counter.
“Bain! I can’t sit up here,” she worried.
“You’re fine.” He grabbed her cut foot, inspecting it.
“Put her feet in the sink, run the cold water over them,” Tom directed.
Bain picked her back up and set her down next to the sink. She shook her head; she couldn’t put her feet in the sink. She could just go upstairs to the bathroom. It was just a few small burns and a cut. Although she guessed Tom didn’t want her traipsing blood through his house.
No, that would just cement her role as the worst houseguest ever.
“I’m so sorry, Tom,” she said. “You’ve opened your home up and I broke your cup and made a mess—”
“Just a mug,” Bain told her. “No big deal.”
Maybe not to him, but if she’d done that growing up, her mother would never have let her hear the end of it.
But you’re not in your parents’ house. And it was just a cup. Although the coffee. . .
“I should mop up the coffee so it doesn’t stain.”
“I got it,” Tom told her with a gentle smile. He probably thought she was a complete twit. He left the room.
Bain had her feet in the sink by now and had turned on the cold water. Water splashed the bottom of her sweatpants.
She frowned. Damn man could have given her a chance to roll them up at the ends. She tried to pull her feet back out. That water was cold.
“Keep them in there,” Bain snapped.
“I’m sorry I’m such a
bother,” she told him.
“Not a bother.”
She had to hope that Tom would lend her another pair of pants. Tom walked in with the mop and started cleaning up.
“I’ll do that,” she told him, trying to move.
“Stay where you are,” Bain commanded. He looked at her feet again. “Gonna take you to the Emergency Room.”
She shook her head frantically. Nope. No way. “No.”
He grabbed hold of her chin, his grip firm but not painful. “Yes. We’re going.”
She narrowed her gaze at him, glaring at him stubbornly. No, they were not. “No.”
He growled. Actually, growled at her! What the hell? Was the man part wolf?
She crossed her arms over her chest and gave a fair imitation of his growl then shook her head back at him.
Tom barked out a laugh, then patted Bain on the back. “Good luck with that, buddy.”
Bain turned and scowled at Tom. “She never argues.”
He couldn’t believe that she’d growled at him. What the fuck? And she was giving him that stubborn-ass look.
She was not in charge of this, though. This was her safety. And she would be going to the hospital to get checked over.
End. Of. Story.
“She’s sitting right there, man. One thing I know that will piss a woman off, it’s talking about her like she’s not even there and capable of making her own decisions.”
“This isn’t her decision. It’s mine.” He spoke to Tom, but he kept his gaze on Arianna, making certain that his face was firm. “You are going. I’m responsible for you. You’ll do as I say.”
“Because every man who ever said that to a woman kept his balls attached to his body,” Tom muttered.
“You’re not fucking helping,” Bain snapped at Tom who leaned back against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Good,” Tom replied. “‘Cause I’m on Ari’s side.”
Arianna sent him a big smile. What the fuck? “You’re on her side? There aren’t any sides. I’ve said what’s going to happen and there will be no arguments, understand me?”
Bain gave Arianna a stern look.
“How about you have a look at her feet and see how bad they are before you rush her off to sit in an emergency room for God knows how many hours, with people bothering her all the time, hmm?”
Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies Book 7) Page 8
