IX

REX

There’s an ease that washes over me when I’m with Raina. I can’t deny it. We’re in a rhythm every time we get around one another. She doesn’t flinch or turn away when I tell her to let me take care of her, when I hint at her calling me Daddy.

“Is that what you want to do, Daddy?” she asks with a shy grin. Her voice is low and I want to kiss her until she understands that’s all I want to do. We fall into that familiar rhythm, but now it’s far more intimate than it used to be.

I reinforce what I need her to know. “That’s what I’mgoingto do. Once you’ve finished your breakfast, we can make a few stops before we get out of town.”

I pull out my phone and send out a few messages to make sure everyone at the firm knows I’ll be out for a few days. My next call is to my locksmith friend. We haven’t spoken in a while, but I know he hasn’t moved. He picks up on the first ring and tells me he can have everything I need delivered to Raina’s address within the hour.

With that in place, I head i