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At Boone. And he didn’t get angry or anything. He just grinned and threw a glance at Trace. It was a glance Kenzie didn’t miss, either.

“Did you tell him Ruby was serving asparagus tonight? You know I hate that stuff. It’s slimy.”

Trace held his hands up in surrender, but Tanner laughed. “Ruby has never served slimy asparagus in her life, and you know it. I’ve a good mind to tell her you said that. Matter of fact, I think I’ll go find her right now.”

With a wink at Tildi, Tanner strode from the room, a protesting Kenzie hot on his heels. Tildi wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about. Asparagus was awesome. Especially if it was roasted. Now, if they’d been having squash, well, that was a whole different matter. Everyone knew squash was gross.

Boone took her hand. “Come on, Tildi. Let’s get settled in.”

Tildi walked by his side, still reeling at the welcome they’d received. Everyone was so nice and accepting. She hadn’t known a family could be that way. She was beginning to wonder if she knew what being a family meant.

CHAPTER 7

Boone watched his Little girl as she slept. She was so damn beautiful. Inside and out. And everyone could see it but her.

Now that he was back home, they were going to work on that. He didn’t think it would be easy, but he’d never been afraid of working hard.

The only thing that scared him to death was losing her. She better have been paying attention when he went over her rules. She’d never been to a place like Wild River Ranch. It was the safest place in the world when it came to the men and women who lived and worked here.

But as long as Nico Midnight walked the face of the earth, his Little girl wasn’t safe. He and his men knew that. Tildi didn’t. and he didn’t want her to have to think that way. Even after everything she’d been through, she managed to keep this special innocence and joy. She was a miracle as far as he was concerned.

How could she think she was weak for reacting the way she did? When he got her settled, when she was stronger in her belief in herself again, he’d be paying a visit to Darling, Tennessee and that living piece of shit she called the General. That man hadnever met someone he could kowtow, but he’d be meeting one soon.

But right now, he needed to focus on his girl. She’d been sleeping for almost an hour. If he let her keep sleeping, she’d never sleep that night. He wouldn’t be doing his duty as a Daddy if he let that happen. It’d be a downright shame.

With a smile that he was pretty sure his bluebell would describe as wicked, he gently pulled down the blanket that kept her warm. He’d be providing all the heat she needed soon enough.

Tucking her hair behind her ear, he pressed gentle kisses on her forehead and worked his way slowly to her soft lips. She slept with them slightly parted, which was damn convenient. He could think of several ways to thank her.

She returned his kisses before she opened her eyes. Having become addicted to her bedroom eyes when she first woke, Boone pulled back to reward himself for his patience. After all, he’d wanted to make love to her as soon as they’d gotten to his bedroom. As far as he was concerned, he should be nominated for sainthood.

Then again, who wanted to live as a saint with a delicious Little girl in their arms?

Bit by bit her eyes blinked open. He held his breath. As soon as she found his eyes, pure love shone from her lavender eyes and everything in his world centered. On her, right where it should be.

Her eyes were his favorite feature. He could lose himself in those mountain bluebell eyes. And then she gave him a sleepy, shy smile and he forgot all about her eyes. He followed the tip of her tongue as it meandered across her bottom lip, and he was done with looking.

Desire graveled his voice as he pulled her closer. “Feel better?”

She breathed a silent laugh. “I always feel better when you’re holding me, Daddy.” Her gaze traveled past him and scanned his bedroom.

He followed her gaze, taking in the room he’d claimed three years earlier when he’d left the military and trying to picture it through her eyes.

It was definitely a man’s room. He’d always loved it. It had been his parents’ room when he was younger, and it had seemed natural to make it his.

But what if Tildi didn’t like it? More than anything, he wanted her to be comfortable in their private space. She could decorate it any way she wanted. He didn’t care what the bedspread was made of or what color the walls were.

She snuggled closer and he decided he’d find out her thoughts on the decorating later. She shifted again, this time away from him. He wasn’t about to let her do that.

Reaching out, he pulled her back to him. Just to make sure she got what he had in mind for her foreseeable future, he made sure her ass lined up with his swollen cock. “What’s on your mind, Tildi?” Stone wasn’t as rigid as she became at his question. “Tell Daddy the problem so I can make it better.”

It couldn’t be that bad a problem. The only thing she’d done since they arrived was take a nap. He knew better than to press. She’d open up when she had the words.

“I want to know more about everyone.”

He tensed. “Why?” Discussing his siblings was not how he pictured spending their first private moment in days.

She gave a deep sigh. “I want them to like me. They know a lot about me. I need to know more about them so I’ll know how to act and what to say.”