Dirty Vegas Nights (The Trifecta #2) - Logan Chance Page 0,31

we could talk.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Emma, what’s going on? Did something happen? Did you already save enough money to open your yoga studio?”

I can see the indecision on her face. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

My instincts roar inside me. She’s mine, and I want to take care of her and eliminate anything that’s bothering her. I have to stop myself from taking control of the situation. She’s been surviving by herself for so long, taking care of her parents and Felicity. I’m sure she’s not going to let me barge in just yet.

“I’m sure it’s nothing you can’t handle. You’re the strongest woman I know.” She shakes her head and I refuse to let her deny the truth. “You took care of your dad’s medical bills. You set your dreams aside to keep your family out of debt. You are a fantastic mother. I don’t have any doubt you can handle anything life throws at you.”

“But?” she says, her eyes curious.

“But, you don’t have to. I want to help you, not because I don’t think you aren’t capable, but because I know you are very capable. You’ve been through so much. I’m here if you let me help you. I don’t want to take over. I want to be here to support you.”

She hesitates. We watch each other, knowing we’re on a precipice of taking what we’re doing to the next level. What she doesn’t seem to understand is I’m already on the next level just waiting for her to catch up. There’s something holding her back, and I want to figure out what it is.

A whimper down the hallway stops us both. I cock my head, but Emma’s already jogging toward Felicity’s room. I’m half a step behind her when we get to her room. Felicity’s face is scrunched up, her little body is tense, showing signs she’s in the beginning of a nightmare.

Emma runs over to her and I watch helplessly as Emma comforts her. Leaning against the doorframe, suspicion flooding through my veins. Felicity hasn’t had a nightmare since I read her a story and informed her she had superheroes next door. The timing could be a coincidence, but I can’t shake the feeling this has something to do with Felicity’s dad.

The badman.

I enter the room, Felicity brightens up when she sees me. “Hey, were you having a bad dream?” I ask, sitting on the opposite side of the bed from Emma.

Felicity nods her head, still half-asleep and obviously having a hard time fighting it off.

“Do you want me to read you a story?” Felicity nods her head again pointing to the ballerina book sitting on her nightstand. I catch Emma’s eyes, as she hands me the book as she moves to the rocking chair in the corner. Her face lets me know she understands I will be asking for an explanation when Felicity goes back to sleep.

Felicity doesn’t get past page four before she’s snoring lightly with her stuffed animal clutched in her hand. I continue reading, giving Emma more time to compose herself. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as she chews on her bottom lip, not paying attention to the book, and most likely lost in her own thoughts.

When I finish, I put it back on the nightstand, getting it ready for it’s next performance. Emma glances up and her eyes are glassy, breaking my heart which I now realize belongs to her. My thumb traces her tears, wiping them away just to be replaced by another.

“Don’t cry.” My tone is hushed, not wanting to wake up Felicity.

Felicity moves in her bed. I put my finger to Emma’s lips before picking her up off the rocking chair and not letting her go as I carry her outside. It’s time for us to talk, and by the determination on her face she knows it.

14

Emma

Watching Axel read to Felicity is the sexiest thing he has done since coming into my life, which is saying a lot because I’ve been on the receiving end of one of his lap dances. This is the second time he’s read my daughter to sleep because she’s had a bad dream and this time is better than the last. To see the true concern and love on Axel’s face for Felicity makes it impossible to keep my heart from him.

When I got up to sit in the rocking chair, his face showed we’d be talking later. I tuned him out while he read, trying to