After exchanging goodbyes, the call ended, and she was left in the quiet of her car. Ella felt a surge of overwhelming emotion. The mixture of her parents’ love and the hope of a future withKing swirled inside her, and before she could stop herself, tears of happiness streamed down her face.
Ella wiped her cheeks, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself. The emotions of the conversation with her parents still lingered. She couldn’t believe they knew about her Little side. And they accepted it. They understood it. They understood her.
After letting out a deep sigh, she started her car.
She wanted to see her Daddy. To hug and kiss him.
As she pulled away from the park, a shiver crawled down her spine.
The uneasy feeling prickled at the back of her neck. It felt like she was being watched. She shook it off, gripping the wheel tighter as she turned onto Main Street.
But the anxiety didn’t go away.
She checked her mirrors. Nothing seemed out of place. Just the usual slow-moving cars, pedestrians walking along the sidewalks of Shadowridge’s quaint streets, customers popping in and out of the various shops.
The sensation lingered the entire time she drove, but she knew she was being silly. She was just out of sorts after talking to her parents, that was all.
As soon as she pulled into the firehouse lot, the tension in her shoulders eased, and her smile returned because King was standing at the bay opening, almost as if he was expecting her to show up at any time.
EIGHTEEN
KING
King was standing by the entrance of the firehouse when he noticed Ella pull into the parking lot. His heart clenched as he watched her climb out of her car and approach. His sweet girl. Then, as he looked closer, he found himself on alert because her eyes were red and puffy like she’d been crying.
Rushing toward her, he pulled her close. “Baby, are you all right?”
She waved him off with a small, reassuring smile before she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. “I’m fine, Daddy.”
When she released him, he studied her and nudged her toward her office. She’d definitely been crying, and he wanted to know why.
Once inside, with the door closed, Ella set her phone on her desk and exhaled slowly. “I just got off the phone with my parents.”
King’s gaze softened, and he pulled up a chair beside her. “Is everything okay with them?”
Ella hesitated, glancing at her hands. “Mom asked if I was doing okay. They reminded me that I can always come home.”Her voice trailed off, and she paused before continuing in a quieter tone, “It was hard. I don’t miss New York at all. I love it here, but I missthem.”
The room was silent except for the distant hum of activity outside. King’s heart ached for Ella. He was relieved that her parents were supportive of her being in Shadowridge and that they cared enough to offer her a way back home, but he hated the thought that she missed them. He reached out, lightly stroking her cheek.
“I’m glad they care, baby,” he told her. “I wish I could do something to make your hurt disappear.”
Ella looked up into his eyes and smiled. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome, baby.” His fingers still gently grazed her skin. “We’ll figure something out. There’s no reason we can’t make trips to New York every couple of months or they can come here.”
Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked up at him. “I feel so lucky to have you.”
He let out a deep breath and leaned down so his mouth hovered over hers. “You have no idea how much I feel the same way, dollface.”
King leaned against his motorcycle, arms crossed as he watched Ella’s car pull into the lot. A slow smile spread across his face, and the second she stepped out, he made his way toward her. Every moment away from her was too long.
“Hey, Little one,” he greeted as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his chest before pressing a deep, lingering kiss on her lips.
Ella giggled against his mouth, her small hands pressing against his chest as if to steady herself.
“Hi, Daddy,” she murmured once he pulled back, her cheeks already pink from his attention.
King cupped her face, running his thumb along the softness of her skin. Something inside him twisted with a deep possessiveness that he couldn’t deny. He wanted her.Neededher. “Are you staying the night?”
