Three Wishes (Dreams Come True #3) by Emma Nichols Read Free Book Online

happening, Ben hauled me up off the floor and into his arms.
    “Shh…calm down for Ollie,” he murmured into my hair.
    Slowly, I nodded against his chest as I struggled to take in deep soothing breaths. “I’m…sorry,” I moaned between hiccups. “I’m just so…” Words escaped me. I didn’t know what to say, how I could possibly make this man, a stranger in my life, understand. Only a moment later, he spoke and I knew somehow he already did.
    Gently, he pushed me away so he could see my face, ducking low so we were eye-to-eye. “You’re worn out. You’re doing everything alone. You have the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Ben shook his head as he took the handkerchief from me and started to dab at my eyes. “Anyone else would’ve broken by now. You just need some rest. And food.” He nodded to the table where he’d set the Dunkin Donuts boxes, bags, and drinks. Turning me, Ben playfully pushed me toward it while gesturing for Ollie to join us. “Let’s eat.”
    Somehow, this was all it took for my day to turn around. The few times I’d run into him on campus, he’d never seemed like he had much personality. Every time, he wore this deer in headlights look. The man here with me now was nothing like I expected in all the very best ways.
    My shoulders slowly relaxed. “Donut or munchkin?” I looked down at Ollie. Already, she seemed to have recovered from my meltdown, which was more than I could claim.
    “Why must I choose?” Ollie fell to her knees and clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Please, mother!”
    I rolled my eyes. “You can be so dramatic.” Then I turned to Ben. “I have no idea where she gets it from.”
    He snorted. “I mean…me neither.” He winked at me and made my stomach flutter.
    Whoa. Focus, Charlie. He’s here for Ollie, not you. Then I realized I was still staring at him. I shook my head and addressed my daughter, still on the floor. “Get up. I suppose you could use the calories. Just don’t eat yourself sick.” I gave her my most serious, scolding look.
    Olivia held out her hands. “Help!”
    Grabbing them, I carefully aided her as she struggled to her feet again. “There. Now eat.” I gestured to the table.
    A smile broke across her face and Ollie moved to open everything. Ben took a step closer. “I’ll help. I’m starving.” He chuckled. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.” He raised an eyebrow as he waited to see if my girl was interested in playing.
    Apparently, she caught on. Instantly, her hands were on her hips. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a hippopotamus.”
    Crossing his arms over his chest, Ben continued the challenge. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a herd of elephants.”
    Laughing, Ollie was already prepared. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a megalodon.”
    “Hey!” Ben smirked. “There are no megalodons!”
    Ollie whirled around on him. “Yeah, well with all the poachers, good luck finding a herd of elephants!”
    “Touché.” He held out a hand, an offer to call it even.
    Hesitating, Ollie looked to me for guidance. I nodded and tugged on his shirt. “Ben, you need to sanitize first.”
    Immediately, he slapped his forehead. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Show me the ropes. I’m totally trainable.” He smiled at me, but I still read the worry and guilt in his eyes.
    “Eat.” I gestured for Ollie to prepare some food. “I’m going to break Ben in.” I offered her an exaggerated wink and earned a giggle. Then I motioned for Ben to follow me.
    Once inside our tiny kitchen, I pointed out the hospital grade soap and sanitizer. “We wash for three minutes, then we dry and sanitize.” Then, before he could ask, I picked up the cow timer I had sitting beside the sink. “Use this.”
    He took a deep breath and expelled it slowly while staring at the soap. Then he carefully met my gaze. “I’m sorry. Really I am. About everything.” He shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. I was eager to get to working with