It feels strange having someone—a man, in fact—asking for my forgiveness. He’s so sincere. I don’t like the frown on his face. I put it there. So I reach up and squeeze his hand. “Of course.” Then I glance down. “Can I have more of those fries, please?”
He finally relaxes and leans back. “You may have all the fries in the world if that’s what you want, Eloise.”
I eat another one, careful not to make a sound as I chew, swallow, and then smile. Fuck, they are tasty.
We eat our burgers in silence, and then I down half that soda before Cannon puts a hand over mine. “Slow down, Little one. I mean it. You’ll end up puking in ten minutes.”
I nod and put the soda back in the holder. “Sorry. You’re right. I don’t want to vomit in your car.”
“I don’t give a fuck about my car, Eloise. I care about you having an upset tummy.” He lifts a brow.
“Okay.” Again with the caring. I’m going to go all soft if he keeps taking care of me. It feels so…parental? I’m not sure if that’s the right word. I know I’m young, but I’m not that young. Maybe he thinks I am?
“I’m twenty-two, you know,” I blurt out.
“Yes, Little one. I figured that when you said you were with a foster family four years ago. That was my guess.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirty-five. Does that make me old?”
I shrug. “Not really. Does twenty-two make me a child?”
His brow furrows. “Not even close.”
“You keep calling me Little one. You even pointed it out.”
His face relaxes. “Little one is a term of endearment for me.”
I nod slowly. “I’ve never heard it.” Though, again, the only terms of endearment I’m used to are bitch and cunt.
“Now you have.” He stuffs our wrappers into the bag, jumps out of the car, and jogs over to the trash can to dispose of everything. When he’s back, he buckles in. “It’s about two hours to my apartment in Seattle. If you want to adjust the seat to take a nap, there’s a lever next to the door.”
“I’m okay,” I murmur. I’m actually more tired than ever before. Possibly because I really do feel safe, and that safety is causing me to let my guard down. I wonder if I could rest without one eye open while he drives.
Just in case, I reach for the lever and enjoy the way the electronics lean me back. I stare out the window for a while, breathing easier. My mind is settling. Currently, I’m not in danger. No one is going to find me while Cannon drives me down the highway toward Seattle.
I close my eyes.
Maybe just a short rest…
Chapter Seven
Cannon
* * *
Eloise is out so fast that she doesn’t even flinch when I take a call. I pop an earbud into my left ear so I can talk without disturbing her much, keeping my right ear free in case she stirs.
It’s Blade. He’s probably halfway back to the office. “How’s June?”
“Exhausted.”
“Understandable. So is Eloise. What happened after I left?”
He updates me on everything that occurred after I carried Eloise out of that hellhole. I keep my voice low as I tell him what little I know about her. I don’t have her last name, nor do I have a clue where she might have grown up. I doubt I know enough information for Mace to figure out who she is and who she might be running from. Plus, I’d rather hear it from her. The idea of digging into her past without her knowledge doesn’t sit well.
It doesn’t surprise me when Blade goes right into problem-solving mode. “So, you need clothes and a food delivery. I’ll make that happen so you’ll have what you need in your apartment by the time you get back to the building. Anything else you can think of?”
