Page 140 of Broken Daddy

She needed a moment to think about that before she replied.

“I’ll get a cloth.”

“Why can’t I wash my hand? Hayes?” she questioned after he didn’t say anything.

He sighed and glanced down at her. His gaze was on her cheek and she stiffened.

Shit.

Why didn’t she think of that?

“It’s because I’m hideous, isn’t it?” she whispered. “And you don’t want me to see how hideous I am.”

The scowl that overtook his face made her breath hitch. Oh, he looked mad.

What did you do?

“I don’t want to hear that shit coming out of your mouth again, understand?”

Devi nodded, not capable of speaking right now.

Then he sighed and she watched as he wiped the scowl off his face. Although she wasn’t fooled into thinking that he suddenly wasn’t mad anymore. It was more that he was trying to hide it so he didn’t . . . so he didn’t scare her?

Was that what he was doing?

Why would he do that?

I care about you, Devi.

Holy crap. She let those words sink in, fill her up. Maybe he truly did care about her.

And he was mad because she was calling herself hideous.

Because . . .

“You don’t think I am hideous.”

“Honest to fucking Christ, Devi . . . in no possible universe could you ever be considered hideous,” he snarled. “Understand me? Tell me you understand. And then promise me that you will never say shit like that again. Because you are not allowed to put yourself down.”

29

Way to tread lightly.

Good job of being considerate of her feelings.

Of not pushing too much too fast.

Fuck it. Just ten minutes ago, she’d been fighting off tears because she’d been worried she’d upset Kent and now . . . now he was growling at her like a bear with a thorn in its paw and he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

But hideous?

Holy fuck. If she was any more beautiful then his head might explode.

The nightgown she wore was new. He didn’t know where she’d found something like . . . this. But it looked like something his grandmother wore.

And even that wasn’t helping him get his dick under control around her.

She’s recovering from being attacked. She’s in pain. She can’t even go to the bathroom on her own.