She groaned, her eyes fluttering shut. “I do.”
“Poor baby, if I had more time, I’d give you a proper rub down.”
Her eyes opened. “You have to leave now?” She sounded so disappointed that it made his insides melt.
“Soon,” he told her, even though he should have left an hour ago. “I have to go out of town tomorrow. If I make it back, it will be late so I won’t be able to come for dinner. But I expect you to eat one of those frozen meals, understand? I want you to send me a photo of you eating real food.”
“I don’t have your number.”
He nodded. “Yeah, forgot to give it to you last night. Go get me your phone and I’ll put it in.”
She climbed off his lap and he couldn’t help but give her ass a slap. She turned back, looking startled, her hand against her butt. “Brute.” There was a glint of amusement in her eyes. She skipped over and grabbed her cell. She seemed to get a burst of energy at night.
He took her phone, programming in his number. “You sleep well last night?” He kept his voice light. Still, he noticed her tense and send him a suspicious look but he wasn’t going to mention anything about the worn piece of blanket he’d found in her bed. Or the number of cues he’d picked up on tonight. But it was too soon to bring it up. He’d already thrown enough stuff at her.
He handed her back her phone.
“I did,” she said quietly. “Sorry I fell asleep so quickly. I didn’t do anything embarrassing did I?”
“Like what?”
Her eyes bounced off his. “I don’t know, snore or something? I thought maybe I had when you didn’t call me today. I figured maybe you’d decided not to come tonight.”
Oh, poor baby.
He reached for her, tumbled her back into his lap and took a deeper drink of her lips this time, playing with her, building their arousal higher and higher before he had to pull back. Her eyes were dazed as she stared up at him dreamily. Damn, she was satisfying.
“I’d have been here first thing this morning if I could have. Before I go it’s best you know the other rules, yeah? So, you can make sure to behave yourself.”
“Yes.” She watched him warily now.
“First is honesty. No lies between us. That includes evasive answers.”
She nodded.
“Second is no running away without telling me. Something goes wrong, upset you then you talk to me. Understand?”
Her eyes went wide. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.” Although he wasn’t sure he quite believed that. Yet.
“I said this last night, I’ll say it again because it bears repeating. You get in trouble, you call me. Straight away.”
“Not the police?”
“Depending on the situation, police first then me a close second. Clear?”
“Yes.”
“Four is about safety. You check the door to see who’s there first before you open it. We’ve already talked about you going out and what I expect.”
“Okay,” she answered.
“Five is eating habits. I don’t want you to get sick and you’re going to you keep eating the way you do. You can’t live on sugar and caffeine. You eat three real meals a day, understand me? Even if I’m not here to make sure you do that.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Yes, I got that.”
“Last, I don’t make it back tomorrow night, I want a text before you go to bed. I’ll call if I can to say goodnight.”
“All right.”
“And Daisy, what we got here, it’s exclusive, understand me? There is no one else. Understand?”
Hurt stabbed at her. He really thought she would do that to him? That she would see someone else on the side?
Of course, he does, because he thinks you cheated on him once. He’s never going to trust you without the truth.
“Hey, I didn’t say that to cause you pain. We were kids back then. Holding onto anger and hurt doesn’t help anyone.”
Yeah, she knew that. Possibly more than anyone.
Get yourself together, Daisy. He’s here with you now. So what if he thinks you were a cheating slut?
Ouch. Ouch.
“Hey. Look at me.” He raised her face, undoubtedly seeing the misery in her eyes. Even if he was misreading the cause. He probably thought she felt remorse. Well, she did. But not for the reason he thought.
She was not a whore.
Did you really think that I’d allow my grandson to get mixed up with white trash little slut like you?
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. She pressed her nails into her palms, waiting for the pain to chase away the words.
“Daisy? Baby? Fuck.”
Suddenly, she found herself pressed against hard, warm male. And the voice disappeared. Like magic. Wow. Okay. Maybe there was another cure for getting rid of the bad words and thoughts. The memories.
Jed.
He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “Hey, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I just wanted everything to be clear. Fuck. I’m sorry, baby.”
She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight, hating that he sounded so upset. This was her dragon. He was usually encased in steel but the idea of hurting her got through that tough shield of his.
And that was sweet as hell.
“I’m sorry too,” she told him, her voice filled with emotion. She knew he wouldn’t fully understand what for but as soon as she said it some of that weight lifted from her chest. She felt his arms loosen and worried for a moment that he would push her away. But he pulled her tight.
“Damn, how did I ever think I’d get over you?” he asked
“Um, I’m not sure if I’m meant to apologize or not for that?” she asked.
“No apologies, so long as you never got over me as well.”
“I didn’t,” she whispered. “Not in all those years, a day didn’t ever go by where I didn’t think of you. Wish I could talk to you.”
“You could have, you’d just picked up a phone,” he growled, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
“But I—”
Instead of letting her talk, he pressed his mouth against hers.
“Don’t remember you ever being this sweet. But I like it. Like that it’s all mine. Mine.” He wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck. “All fucking mine.”
His. She’d always been his. Even if he was an over-protective, bossy, blunt dragon.
“I really have to go,” he muttered. “Don’t want to.”
She didn’t want him to either.
“You got any questions for me?”
“Yeah, do I get to make rules for you?”
His lips twitched. “You gonna be able to enforce them?”
She blushed bright red. “I could figure out a way.”
“Most of those rules apply to me as well. It’s about respect, communication and honesty.”
“What about contacting me if you’re in trouble?”
“Baby, no offense, but I’m in trouble, you’re the last person I call.”
Hurt filled her and she fought it down.
“Daisy, listen to me. I didn’t say that to hurt you or because I don’t trust you. But any trouble I’m in is probably due to my job, which means it could be dangerous. I protect you; I don’t pull you into danger. Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.” She guessed she got it. But this felt kind of one-sided to her.
He lifted her off him then stood. “I got to go before I turn into a pumpkin.”
She giggled. “It was the carriage that turned into a pumpkin not Prince Charming.”
“Prince Charming, huh? Not sure I’ve ever been called that.” He leaned in and kissed her gently. “Been called a lot worse. Charlie and Ellie call me Rambo.”
She studied him and nodded. “I get it.” He was way more Rambo than Prince Charming. For sure.
He rolled his eyes. “Lock the door behind me then get to bed, understand?”
She saluted him.
“Smart ass.” He gave her ass a slap then slipped hi
s hand into the back pocket of her jeans as she walked him out. She liked that. A lot. He pulled on his jacket and boots then opened the door and walked onto the porch, shutting it behind him.
“Night, sugar,” he called out.
“Good night, pumpkin,” she called back.
8
She studied the contents of her wardrobe scattered around the bedroom. Jed had called to tell her he was taking her out for dinner tonight and to be ready when he got there. She rolled her eyes at his no-nonsense tone. She glanced at the clock and saw she had thirty minutes before he arrived. Why hadn’t she asked him where they were going?
What if it was somewhere fancy? What if she didn’t know how to act? What if she made a complete idiot of herself and embarrassed him?
Realizing she was on the point of hyperventilating, she forced herself to sit and take deep breaths.
Think, Daisy. This is Jed. He’s not into fancy.
Right.
If you needed to dress up, he would have told you.
Maybe.
He wouldn’t let you make a dick of yourself.
Her breathing calmed. Nope, he wouldn’t do that. They’d been seeing each other again for less than a week, but one thing she had learned was he liked to take care of her. He was also too bossy for her own good. She winced thinking of what her tally was up to. He was far too interested in what she ate and how much sleep she got. She hadn’t realized that men cared about things like that when it came to their girlfriends.
You don’t know that you’re his girlfriend. You don’t know what you are.
She chewed at her lip. This wasn’t helping her get ready. Finally, she picked up a pair of comfortably faded jeans, some kick-ass deep green boots that went just above her ankle, a green top that had a wide neck and flowed around her body. She’d take a jacket for the cooler weather.
She dressed and dabbed on some make-up then brushed her hair until it sparkled. Her phone rang and she picked it up off the bed. Unknown number.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
“Hello?” she asked again, getting annoyed if this was some scammer trying to get money from her, they were gonna get an earful. “Hello, are you there?”
Still nothing.
“Jerk! Don’t call back.” She ended the call and glared at her phone. Then the doorbell went and she forgot all about the call.
She raced down the stairs, and remembered at the last moment to check out the side window. Definitely didn’t need to add to the tally she’d already accumulated. There he stood, dressed in jeans, boots, dark blue shirt that was tucked in and a jacket.
Whew. She’d dressed right.
She opened the door with a smile.
“Hey there, baby.” He looked her up and down and his eyes showed that he liked what he saw.
“Come in, or do we have to get going?” she asked.
“Need to get moving.” But he stepped forward. “First, though, I need my kiss.”
He was big on kissing. He always insisted on her kissing him when he first saw her and when he left. She guessed it wasn’t such a big deal to give him what he wanted.
Like you don’t love every second of it.
He pressed his hands into the back pockets of her jeans and squeezed her ass as he took her mouth with his. He pulled back to study her. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. You’re looking damn beautiful.”
“Thanks,” she said shyly. Just in case tonight was the night he took things further; she was wearing her sexy new bra and panties and she’d shaved her pussy. The bruising had pretty much faded from her thigh, at least to the point she could just tell him she’d knocked into something. That part had been hard, making sure she didn’t pinch herself. But she’d done it. Because she knew that was one conversation she definitely wasn’t ready to have.
He wiped his thumb under her lower lip. “Smudged your make-up.”
“I don’t care.”
Crinkles appeared around his smiling eyes. She sighed dreamily.
Okay, Daisy. Get yourself together.
“Get your jacket, baby. It’s cold out,” he bossed. “You got another cardigan or sweater or something to go over that top?”
“You don’t like this top?” she asked.
“I fucking love this top.” He ran his finger over her bared shoulder. “But I don’t want you getting cold.”
“You can keep me warm,” she surprised herself by saying.
“I can. Other people in the restaurant might not like when I pull you onto my lap to cuddle you, though.”
She grinned. “Maybe not. I’ll be all right, though. I’m warm enough.”
He frowned slightly. “Go get another top.”
She sighed. Made certain it was long and loud. “You are entirely too bossy.” But she turned to climb the stairs, jumping with a yelp as he slammed his hand on her ass.
“Hey, what was that for?”
“That sigh. It was very bratty. Bratty behavior gets an immediate response.”
“Still haven’t made my mind up about that,” she grumbled as she made her way upstairs.
“Yes, you have,” he called back, sounding almost cheerful.
The ass.
But she couldn’t deny the delicious thrill that ran through her and as soon as she was out of sight, she cupped her ass cheek. Wow.
* * *
She looked down at the menu. He’d brought her to a steakhouse. A nice one. Not some sleazy bar like Moany Mike, who it seemed hadn’t got the memo that she wasn’t interested in him. He’d tried to contact her twice through the dating app. She’d finally taken herself off the site, deleting her profile. She didn’t need it anymore and she didn’t want Jed finding out that he was still trying to contact her. Last thing she wanted was Mike turning up dead in a ditch and Jed to end up doing life behind bars. She was way too chicken-shit to visit a prison.
“What do you feel like eating, baby?” Jed asked her.
Hmm, that was a good question. “Lasagna sounds good.”
“Hi, what can I get you?” the waitress asked cheerfully, her gaze studying Jed hungrily.
She guessed she couldn’t blame the other woman. Jed was gorgeous.
“Hey, I’ll have a steak, medium rare. No sauce. Baked potato with the works. She’ll have the lasagna and we’ll both have salad on the side. Thanks.”
She gaped at him as the waitress collected their menus. “I can order for myself.”
“Yep,” he agreed amicably. “But we both know you wouldn’t have bothered ordering any salad if you had.”
“I didn’t want salad,” she said with a pout.
He reached over and tapped his finger against her lower lip. “What happens to girls who pout?”
She immediately pulled her lip back. “Sometimes I think you forget I’m an adult.”
He stared at her, the look in his eyes pure heat. Her breath caught. “Believe me, I don’t forget that. But you can be an adult and a Little too.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll explain it later. Here isn’t really the place.” He ran his hand up her thigh.
Her breath caught. “Jed!”
He leaned over and kissed her neck. He nuzzled at her ear. Oh hell, who knew that could send a direct zing straight to her clit? Their food arrived and she stared at the salad with disgust, digging into the lasagna immediately. By the time she was half-way through, she was full.
Jed cleared his throat as she pushed her plate away, rubbing at her tummy. “That was yummy.”
“Hope you left some room for your salad,” he told her.
He took a sip of water. She’d ordered a pop, ignoring his glower.
“Oh, I forgot about that.” She picked up her fork and ran it through the leaves. Maybe if she did that enough it would look like she’d eaten something.
“Sure, you did.” He leaned in, kissed her earlobe. “Eat ten mouthfuls like a good girl and I’ll give you a reward.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll be adding another twenty to your tally.”
“Twenty!” She gaped at him.
“Yep.”
She figured lettuce wasn’t that bad. Rabbits ate it. Rabbits were cute.
“Babe,” he said with amusement. “It’s salad, not a bowl full of worms.”
“Eew.” She wrinkled her nose. “Why’d you have to go say that, now I’m wondering if they washed the salad properly. What if there are slugs in there?”
“You’re so damn cute. Eat the salad. There are no slugs. I promise. Here, I’ll check it for you.” He pulled the bowl of salad towards him and ran the fork around it, checking all the lettuce over. “Slug-free. Scout’s honor.”
“You weren’t a scout.”
“I was. Grandfather insisted. I lasted a week before they asked me very politely to leave.”
She grinned and placed a small forkful of salad in her mouth. Yeah, okay, it didn’t taste that bad. In fact, the dressing they had on it was quite nice.
But she wasn’t going to tell him that.
9
She stared at those last few forkfuls of chocolate mousse cake with a groan. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I don’t think I can fit any more in.”
Jed, who hadn’t eaten dessert and was sipping on a coffee, raised his eyebrows. “Am I gonna need to carry you out of here?”
“Will you be embarrassed if I undo the top button on my jeans,” she half-joked.
“Baby, you could never embarrass me.”
Wow. That was sweet. And totally not true.
“Give me a chance, I’m sure I could.”
His gaze was serious. “No, baby. You couldn’t.”
“What if I tripped, bumped into the waiter and he spilled red wine all over that woman’s white dress?” She nodded over at a table where a woman in a very tight white dress sat eating.
“I’d pick you up, make sure you were unharmed then offer to pay for her dry-cleaning.”
“All right.” She thought for a few seconds. “What if I was wearing a flowy skirt and a gust of wind pushed it up, showing my panties to everyone?”
“I’d hold your skirt down for you until we were out of the wind.”
Daddy’s Lost Love Page 9