Page 146 of Broken Daddy

“Oh, I don’t mind. I like you either way. You’re cute when you’re grumpy. Although you’re even cuter when you smile.”

“I’m not cute at all. I’m a man. Men aren’t cute.”

To her shock, she actually felt like smiling. She didn’t think she’d felt like smiling since this had all happened.

“Sorry, manly man,” she told him. “I’ll try not to call you cute again.”

He gave her an arrogant nod. “See that you do that.”

There was a knock on the door and he gave her a stern look. “Stay right there. Remember the rule about not getting out of that bed without my help.”

He was so bossy.

It was awful.

And you’re lying, because you love it. Because no one has ever fussed over you and ordered you to stay in bed and let them help.

Ever.

It was wrong of her to lap it up the way she was. But just this once maybe she could be selfish.

He opened the door, and to her surprise, Donovan walked in carrying a white bag.

“That was quick,” Hayes said. “I only messaged you a few minutes ago.”

“Oh, I already had the food and was on my way. Figured Devi didn’t want to eat the crap food here. She needs some good hearty food in her.” He winked at her.

“Don’t wink at her,” Hayes snapped.

What the heck? Was he angry with his friend?

“Hayes, don’t snap at Donovan. He brought us food.”

“Oh, I didn’t bringhimfood,” Donovan told her. “This is for you and me, sweetheart. He can go get his own.” He walked toward her and dumped several bags of food on the bed by her feet. Then he removed the tray of breakfast she’d been given by an orderly and set it aside before laying piles of food out. There were pancakes, fluffy scrambled eggs, sausages, potatoes, and two breakfast burritos.

“Dig in, sweetheart,” Donovan told her. “Oh, I have maple syrup and butter for the pancakes, too. Here you are.” To her shock, he sat on the bed facing her.

“Get off her bed,” Hayes snarled, walking behind him to grab his shoulder, almost as though he planned to shove him off.

Worry filled her. They weren’t going to fight, were they?

Donovan winked at her again. Then he climbed off the bed after grabbing a breakfast burrito and sat on the chair next to the bed.

“Aren’t you supposed to be relieving Kent and guarding the door?” Hayes muttered.

He was?

“Is that necessary?” she asked.

“It is,” Hayes told her firmly. “So this bastard should be out there doing his job.”

“Hey!” Donovan protested. “I should be allowed to eat.”

“Eat while standing outside,” Hayes ordered as he sat on the bed and reached for the knife and fork that was wrapped up in a napkin. He unwrapped them and started cutting up the sausage. “Go!”

Donovan grumbled but winked at her again. “I’m right out there if you need me, sweetheart.”

“You know, Kent was quiet and stayed out in the hall,” Hayes said.