Hanna's Awakening Read Online Free Page B

living under her father’s overbearing authority. He was more than glad to help her overcome it.
    As the silence loomed, Ben decided it wouldn’t hurt to show her some physical affection. He covered her hands with his. Their first skin-to-skin contact. The temperature in the truck rose ten degrees. Panic flickered briefly in her eyes, and she surveyed the parking lot, as if to make sure no one witnessed this semi-intimate moment.
    “I’m happy to help you, Hanna. You’re a good kid. You deserve the best out of life.” He grinned and gave her hands a gentle squeeze, reveling in the warmth of the touch. “Besides, I enjoy your company. Helping you is no hardship to me.”
    She returned his smile. “I’m not a kid, Mr. Foster.”
    He almost sucked in a quick breath, but stopped himself. Instead, he mumbled a placid response, released her hands, and drove to the pizza place.
    Tony’s Pizza wasn’t fancy by any means, but by the way Hanna gawked around with open wonder, it could’ve been a five-star restaurant. To his surprise, she made small talk with the waitress when she came to take their order, and she smiled at a few of the patrons sitting nearby. It seemed Hanna was starting to come out of her shell, little by little. He alone would witness her transformation. He would help make it possible, and he felt charged with responsibility to guide her and keep her safe. Failing her wasn’t an option.
    She visited the restroom as he paid the bill. His mood was light, until three college-aged girls who reeked of pot and beer walked past the counter and into the same restroom. He waited and waited, wondering what was taking Hanna so long. Just as he was about to storm in after her, she emerged, laughing amidst the group of potheads. Ben frowned as they all approached him.
    “Daddy, I was wondering if I might go to a movie with Carla, Theresa, and Vicky while you run your errands?” She gestured at her new friends.
    Ben’s jaw tightened. Carla, Theresa, and Vicky probably knew Hanna used to be Amish based on her accent. He hadn’t taken her Dutch accent into account when he came up with the grand idea of pretending he was her father. No doubt these girls thought it would be funny to get Hanna high or corrupt her in some other fashion. His teeth ground together as he glared at the mean-spirited young women, but his countenance softened when he regarded Hanna. “Not today, sweetheart. I need your help picking out some things.”
    “Oh, come on, Daddy ,” one of the girls said mockingly. “Hanna says she’s new in town and doesn’t have any friends. We’d love to show her around.”
    “Absolutely not!” His incensed tone earned him curious stares from several diners.
    Hanna looked hurt and confused. Her eyes flashed. “If I want to go to a movie with someone my own age, Mr. Foster, I have a right to do so.”
    “Mr. Foster? I thought he was your dad?” another of the girls said. The three of them exchanged glances, giggling.
    “It’s time to go, Hanna. Now.”
    Though her face reddened and her eyes still blazed, Hanna nodded and said a quick apology to her friends before taking a step toward Ben. Without thinking, he gripped her upper arm and guided her outside, not releasing her until they reached the truck.
    “Young lady, I ought to give you a good spanking for that. I told you in town you needed to do as I say and call me Daddy. I warned you about people trying to take advantage of you. Did you not listen to a word I said? What were you thinking, arguing with me and calling me Mr. Foster in front of the whole restaurant?” He leaned down to scold her, hands braced against the car door on either side of her body, pinning her in place without actually touching her.
    Lip trembling, she peered up at him from under thick eyelashes, her cheeks suddenly pale. “I…. I…” She fumbled to speak but soon clamped her mouth shut.
    “Those girls were high as a kite, Hanna. That means they were on drugs. You