Guardian’s Touch by Darcy Rose

PROLOGUE

Camilla

Two Years Ago

My feet dangle down the side of my new bed. A bed the size of my old room. In a room the size of my old house. Everything is new and luxurious, like something out of a better home magazine. The attached closet holds thousands of dollars’ worth of designer clothes, and the bathroom is stocked with half a bath & body store supply.

This would be every girl's dream if it wasn’t for the nightmare surrounding me. Yes, I’m well taken care of. I don’t have to worry about money or a place to stay. At least not until I’m eighteen. But that doesn't help fill the giant hole left in the center of my chest. My parents are gone, and they are never coming back.

I’m an orphan. Unwanted. Alone.

My eyes burn with unshed tears. I let my head hang low and force the sadness away. I have to be strong now, but it’s so fucking hard.

A man clears his throat. The sound makes me jump off the bed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Dane’s gravelly voice fills the room.

My eyes snap up to where his large muscular frame fills the door. He is holding some kind of box in front of him. Great, another gift I don’t need.

He’s dressed in a dark suit, his black hair shaved on the side and longer on the top, slicked back today. As always, he wears an unreadable expression. I’m pretty sure if you look in a dictionary, you would find a picture of Dane next to the word stoic.

He looks like a grumpy businessman who doesn’t know how to smile, but he must have a heart in there somewhere. Because if it wasn’t for Dane Miles stepping up, I would be in some foster home or halfway house. He took me in, gave me a home, and everything else I could possibly need.

“It’s okay. I’m easily startled.” I wring my hands in front of my royal-blue dress. Being in Dane’s presence always made me nervous. Not the scared type of nervous, but the kind that has you hyperaware of everything.

“Did the maid bring your clothes?” Dane asks as he takes a small step toward me.

“Yup, brought them, put them in my closet and all. Thank you for those. You really didn’t have to—”

“I know I don’t have to do anything. I do it because I want to.” His voice is stern, his gaze serious. “I brought you another gift.” He holds out the paper box but doesn't move closer.

Hesitantly, I cross the room until I’m standing right in front of him. He is much taller than me. Even though I stand two feet away, I have to tilt my head up to look into his face.

I briefly think about denying the gift, but I already know he’ll give it to me anyway. I stare at the box, waiting for him to hand it to me. Instead, he crouches down and sets it on the floor.

“Open it,” he offers.

The box isn’t taped, the flaps on the top are only loosely closed. I get on my knees and pull the box open. I expect many things, but what I find on the bottom of the box isn’t something I could have imagined.

“Oh my god.” I gasp.

The sound of my voice has the puppy inside on high alert. Ears pointing up and white fluffy tail wagging, followed by a high-pitched bark. Two black button eyes look up at me with pure joy, begging me to pick him up.

“It’s a puppy,” I stupidly state the obvious. “You got me a puppy?” I reach into the box and lift the tiny dog into my arms. He immediately starts licking my face, giving me kisses like he’s happy to see me.

“I work a lot, which means I’m rarely home. I figured he could be your company,” Dane explains. “Do you like him?”

“Like him? I love him!” The more I talk, the more excited the dog seems to get. His whole body is wagging now, and his kisses wet my face.

It takes me a moment to realize I’m smiling. I haven't smiled in the past two weeks, and I wasn't sure I would be able to again.

As the puppy continues his lick attack, I peek up at Dane. “Thank you.”

The ghost of a smile appears on his lips a second before he spins around and walks out of the room.

I don’t know what this new life will bring, but for the first time since my parents died, I have hope that everything will be okay.