Page 83 of Dragon Charmed

She turned back to the road. Did she want him to know about her? Really know about her and the prickly smart mouth he appeared to like so much? She blew out a breath. “I started modeling at fourteen. Even with my mom watching out for me, I was still exposed to a lot. Especially after I turned eighteen and I didn’t have a chaperone with me. I was around men with money. And it was flattering and overwhelming. But I figured out quickly,” and painfully, but she didn’t share that, “they didn’t want me as an equal partner. They wanted to own me. It’s a hard pill to swallow when you realize you’re not a person but a pretty bauble. Heaven help I speak my mind or tell them I wasn’t interested.”

He tensed next to her, and she realized what her words sounded like. “I wasn’t ever forced. My mom had me start self-defense classes when I was thirteen. It’s okay.”

“It sure in the hell is not okay. Shit, Tessa. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. And my manager took advantage of both my mom and me when he signed me. Kept way too much of my earnings as a model.”

“And your father?”

Tessa shook her head. “My father—or sperm donor, as I like to call him—liked to have my mother on his arm until he found out she was pregnant, and then didn’t stick around. Mom tried to sugarcoat what had happened when I was younger, but I overheard her talking with one of her friends when I was a teenager.”

“No one deserves to be treated that way.”

“Yep. That’s why…” She swallowed hard.

“You immediately go on the defensive. Push people away.”

She should have known he would understand what she was trying to say. “I spent too much time in a world where pretty is to be seen, not heard.”

“So you make sure you’re heard.”

Some of the tension left her shoulders. How could he know her so well already? “Too much baggage, right? Do you still like my smart mouth?”

“Even more so.”

Her heart ricocheted around her chest at his response. But she couldn’t let it out. She didn’t know what the future held between them.

Yes, he understood her.

But he was still finding his own footing, and until he was on solid ground, she would keep her heart in its protective cage.

Chapter 32

Tessa was nervous. Nervous to talk to Lily about things that an adult would struggle with, let alone a five- (or at this point possibly six-) year-old girl. God, they weren’t even sure of her age. This little girl had way too much on her shoulders. Tessa looked at Ben to see if he was questioning what they were about to do. He gave her a nod, which got her moving. They walked into the living room where Lily had set up some blocks into the shape of a tower. She held her dragon and pretended to fly over as if it was invading the castle.

“Hi. Can I sit with you?” Tessa asked.

Lily patted the floor next to her, and Tessa sat with a humph—she needed to start yoga again—and Ben smartly sat on the chair close by.

“Is Adam the Dragon out for a flight?” she asked.

Lily nodded.

She took a fortifying breath. “We wanted to talk to you about your drawings. Is that okay?”

Lily’s smile faded a bit as she lowered the dragon, but she didn’t say no so Tessa continued. “Do you see the pictures in your head like a dream?”

Lily signed yes.

She continued. “When you’re sleeping?”

Lily signed no.

“So when you’re awake?

Yes.

“I know, sometimes that might be scary,” Tessa said. “But we’re here to protect you, sweetheart, if you see something bad. You’re not alone.” She would not let Lily face anything alone and neither would Ben.