Taking your pulse.
“Your pulse is fast. Damn it. I knew I should have taken you to get checked over. We’re driving to the clinic.” He reached for the key to his truck.
“What! No! I’m fine! Really.”
“You went all pale and your breathing picked up. Your pulse is going too fast. Are you feeling ill? Clammy? Hot? Cold?”
She undid her belt and leaned over to squeeze his hand. “Linc, I’m fine. I promise. I’m sorry for scaring you. I was thinking about something.”
He frowned. “What?”
She shook her head, not wanting to lie to him. “I have to get inside. My aunt will be wondering where I am.”
He studied her. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Mari-girl, you can tell me if there’s something wrong, you know that, right?”
She sighed. “I can’t talk about it. It’s family stuff.”
Understanding filled his face and he backed off with a nod. “Wait there. I’ll come around to you.”
She knew it was pointless to argue. Those old-fashioned manners of his. He opened her door and reaching down, grabbed her bag, putting it on her lap. That should have been her first clue. But she was still caught by surprise as he swung her up into his arms.
Marisol gasped. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying you inside,” he replied in a matter-of-fact voice. “You shouldn’t walk on that foot until the pain and swelling have gone down. Now which door should I take you in?”
“You really don’t have to carry me in. It’s just a bee sting, I’ll be fine.”
The look he gave her could have given a snowman the chills. “Marisol, I know we don’t know each other well. I’m a pretty easygoing guy. But there are some lines you don’t cross with me. And there are some things I don’t bend on. This is one of those things. You’re not walking on your foot until the swelling has gone down and it doesn’t hurt. Now, either I carry you in here or I take you home with me.”
Home with him?
God, it was tempting to say yes to that. She swallowed heavily.
“Here, please. My aunt, um, she isn’t really keen on strangers in her house so she might be, umm. . .”
“It will be fine. Don’t stress,” he murmured to her reassuringly.
He hadn’t been on the receiving end of her aunt’s tirades or he wouldn’t say that. Although, Linc didn’t seem the kind of guy to take shit from anyone.
“Which door?”
Jesus, Marisol. Get it together. Don’t just leave him standing here holding you.
“Through the garage is the best idea, if you don’t mind.” It was a bit further to carry her but she didn’t have a key for the front door if it was locked. Which it likely was.
Unfortunately, she noticed her aunt’s car sitting in the garage as Linc carried her through.
“Nice wheels. Where’s your car?” he asked.
“I keep it around the back.”
He just made a grunting noise. Probably regretting offering to carry her all this way.
“If you put me down in the kitchen, that will be fine,” she told him as they moved through the mudroom and into the kitchen.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
“Upstairs, but you really don’t have to carry . . .” she sighed and stopped protesting. “I’m not sure why I’m wasting my breath.”
“Neither am I,” he replied, looking around. “Is this what the place looked like when you bought it?”
She studied the ornate hallway. The floors were marble and the lighting fixtures were all gold-colored. Everything screamed wealth but in the most ostentatious, showy way possible.
“Uh, yeah.”
He started up the stairs.
“Oh no, what happened?” her aunt cried.
She barely contained a wince. Damn it. Too much to hope that they might have got up to her room without her coming across Rosalind.
“Marisol! Did you hurt yourself?” The words were said with fake caring. A show all for Linc. But she could hear the sharp note in her aunt’s voice. She was annoyed. Whether it was about Linc being here or Marisol hurting herself or Marisol being carried by Linc, she wasn’t sure. Probably a combination of all three.
She peered up at her aunt who was dressed in tight pair of jeans and a sheer white top. Oh, and she also had a red, lacy bra on that could clearly be seen through the shirt.
Jesus.
“I’m fine, Rosalind,” Marisol told her. “Just a bee sting.”
Rosalind threw back her head and laughed. “A bee sting? Are you serious?”
Marisol wasn’t surprised at the laughter. It was a very Rosalind reaction to someone else’s misfortune or pain.
“Of course she’s serious. I don’t see how it’s something to laugh at,” Linc said stiffly.
“Oh.” Rosalind waved her hand through the air. “I know my reaction might seem callous, it’s just that Marisol is always hurting herself or getting ill. She’s a walking calamity. A bee sting is very minor to what I was imagining when I saw you carrying her.”
Rosalind gave him an admiring glance, her gaze eating him up. Marisol clenched her teeth together in reaction. She didn’t like Rosalind staring at him that way. Having a fiancé didn’t seem to stop her from sleeping around.
“You must be very strong to carry Marisol. She’s no lightweight. Why don’t you put her down, I’m sure she can walk the rest of the way. I’ll pour you a drink. You look like a scotch drinker.”
“Actually, I’m going to carry Marisol up to her room and make sure she has everything she needs. Then I have to get going.”
Rosalind sniffed, her face turning dark at the rejection. “Suit yourself. Try not to track dirt through my house.” She sneered at him. “I don’t want to be cleaning up after you.”
Like she did any cleaning anyway. Wisely, Marisol didn’t say anything. Linc dodged around her aunt and carried her up the stairs.
“My room is just down here.” She pointed to the far end of the hallway.
He carried her to the closed door that she pointed to, shuffling her weight around as he opened the door. She wondered what he thought of her room as he looked around. It was pretty bare. A double bed and closet. A small bookcase. Luckily her snuggly and Princess Nana were hidden away. She didn’t like leaving them out when she wasn’t home.
“I expected more books,” Linc teased. He set her on the bed and grabbed a pillow, waiting for her to get comfy before he set the pillow under her foot.
“We move around a lot so it’s not easy to bring piles of books with us. I had an eReader, but it broke so I’m back to paperbacks. Which is fine. I like reading from actual books too.”
Stop talking about reading, you’re probably boring him to tears.
But when she looked up at him, all she could see on his face was warm concern. “What can I get you? Water? Snacks?”
“I’ve got some water here.” She picked up the bottle of water she normally always kept on her nightstand. “And I have a couple of snacks in my bag.” She set her bag down on the floor next to the bed.
“Will your aunt bring you up some dinner?”
Drat. How to answer that without lying?
“Never mind, I can tell by the look on your face that she won’t. I should have just taken you with me to my place.” He ran his hand through his hair, looking worried.
“I’ll be fine, really. I’m sure the swelling will have gone down by dinnertime anyway.”
He shook his head.
“Linc, I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“I don’t like leaving you.”
“I know. Thank you for caring.”
He gave her a surprised look. “Of course I care. What time do you usually have dinner?”
“Around six.”
“Fine. I’m going to text you at five-thirty to make sure the swelling has gone down. If it hasn’t, I’ll find a way to get some dinner to you. All right?”
She wasn’t s
ure how he’d do that, but she nodded anyway.
“I can do that. I’ll be fine. Thanks for the picnic. Sorry about all of this.”
Sitting on the bed facing her, he leaned in and cupped the side of her face. Then to her shock, he brushed his lips against hers. Once. Twice. Small, soft brushes of his lips. But she felt his touch all the way down in her pussy. She pressed her legs together with a small moan as he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue against hers, teasing her.
When he drew back, her breath was coming faster and his eyes looked heavy with lust.
“It was my pleasure,” he told her. He brushed some hair behind her ear. “As I was trying to say earlier, I like you, Marisol. I know you said that things were complicated, but I want to do what I can to simplify them.”
She opened her mouth and he placed a finger on her lips. “Just think about it, okay? With Clint away on his honeymoon, this is likely my last day off for a couple of weeks. So just take this time to think things over. I’m still going to be texting and calling. But just know, I want to take this further. I want you.”
“Really?” When had anyone wanted her?
“Really. Think on it. And remember, I’m texting you at five-thirty. Make sure you answer, or I’ll be back here checking on you. And you’ll be in trouble.”
Ooh. Was it wrong that the idea of being in trouble made her shiver in delight?
11
Linc was grateful not to encounter Marisol’s aunt on the way out. That woman was a predator. He could handle that bitch staring at him like he was a snack and she was starving.
What he couldn’t handle was Marisol having to deal with the unfeeling bitch day-in, day-out. He had a feeling there was more going on in that house than Marisol was letting on.
He didn’t like it. Didn’t like that he didn’t know what was happening and that Marisol didn’t yet trust him enough with the truth.
Soon.
He started his truck, feeling a curious wrenching in his chest. Something that told him not to leave. To go back there and gather Marisol in his arms, carry her down to his truck and take care of her.
He sighed. Unfortunately, with Clint leaving on his honeymoon, he wouldn’t have a lot of free time over the next two weeks. Still, he was sure he could carve out some time for another date, maybe they could go into the city, take in a movie.
Do a bit of toy shopping.
She needs to know what you are, first. What you want. Need. And she may not want the same things. Perhaps she isn’t a Little.
There had been a few signs, but he’d hoped for something more concrete today. Especially when he’d walked into her room. But there had been nothing to hint at a Little side. No toys, no stuffies, no coloring stuff. Not that that meant anything. She could have a Little side and not know. Or maybe her Little was older, or didn’t like to play or . . . Christ, he didn’t know.
He’d enjoyed himself today. She was fun. Sweet. Funny.
Turning into the driveway for Sanctuary Ranch, he headed up towards JSI headquarters and veered off to where Kent and Abby lived. Parking, he got out and walked towards the door. Laughter hit his ears as he knocked. Sounded like someone was having fun.
“Daddy, no! Put me down!”
There was a smacking noise that made his eyebrows rise and his lips twitch. The door opened and Kent stood there. There was a glob of something on his forehead that dripped down his face. And he held a wiggling Abby over his shoulder.
“Well, hello there, Kent. Miss Abby. You’re looking beautiful today,” he greeted them.
“Eek! Kent let me down!”
“Hmm. Let me think about that. How about no?” Kent smacked her ass as she tried to get down.
“Kent!” she cried, the embarrassment in her voice clear.
“Linc, come in,” Kent told him, stepping backwards with Abby.
Walking in, Linc shut the door behind him. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Not at all. Abby here just thought it would be funny for me to wear the cookie dough rather than bake it.”
“Pfft.” Abby let out a breath of air in frustration. “You were teasing me first. Don’t believe a word he says, Linc.”
“Why, Little girl, do you think it’s a good idea to call me a liar?” Kent flipped her over once they were in the kitchen and set her on the benchtop. Then he placed both hands on the counter and leaned in with a stern look.
Though Linc thought he caught the other man’s lips twitching.
“Well? Hmm?”
Abby was bright red as she gazed from Kent then back to Linc. “No, Daddy.”
Kent turned to look at him. “Linc, what can I do for you?”
“I just need a quick word. I can meet you in your office in ten?” Linc offered, trying to give them some privacy.
“No, stay,” Abby said quickly. “Please. No need to go to Kent’s office when you can talk here.” She was a total sweetheart, even though he’d interrupted their Sunday together.
Abby looked a bit tired today. There was a paleness to her skin that he didn’t like. And dark patches under her eyes.
“What do you say?” Kent asked her.
“Sorry, Daddy,” she whispered.
Leaning in, he kissed her lightly. “Good girl.” He stepped back and grabbed a towel to wipe off his face. “Linc, you want a drink or anything? Coffee? Something stronger? Beer?”
“Beer would be good.”
Kent nodded and helped Abby down then he went to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers. Abby moved to the sink where there was a pile of dirty dishes, obviously from their baking. Some cookies lay out on the tray, waiting to go in the oven.
Kent handed him a beer, then wrapped his arm around Abby’s waist. “Leave these, sweet girl. I’ll tidy up soon. You go on up and have a lie down for a bit, okay? I’ll come in and check on you later.”
She looked over at Linc then up at Kent. “Are you sure? I can get these done quick.”
Kent shook his head then kissed her on the forehead. “I’ve got it. Off you go.” He turned her around and with a soft pat on her ass, sent her off.
“Come into the living room. Take a seat.”
Linc sat on one armchair while Kent sat opposite, both of them took a sip of beer.
“Abby okay?”
Kent nodded. “Yeah. Just tired. A nap and an early night and she should be fine.”
“She’s been busy lately, helping out with the wedding.
“Too busy for my liking. Everything okay with you?” Kent asked him. “Do you need something?”
“Ah. I’m fine.” He tapped the cap of the beer against his leg. “Have you spoken to Ed lately?”
“Saw him at the wedding last night. Why?”
“You know the new spa in town?”
Kent nodded. “Eden likes going there. Abby said that the woman who came out and did their nails and facials from there was nice.” Kent gave him a sly look. “Abby wondered if she could be a Little.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Charlie said the same thing. Course, they could be wrong. Said she was beautiful too.”
“Marisol is beautiful. And sweet. Funny.” His lips twitched.
“Oh yeah? Know her then, do you?” Interest filled Kent’s face.
Linc made an irritated noise. “Are you taking lessons from your brother about sticking your nose into other people’s business?”
Kent grinned, clearly not taking offense. “Hit a sore spot, did I?”
“I didn’t come over here to gossip.”
“Then what did you come here to talk about?” Kent asked.
“Marisol said that she was doing Mrs. Long’s nails the other day.”
Kent made a groaning noise. Yeah. Exactly.
“And she said that she’d heard rumors about what went on here at the ranch. About Caley living with the two Docs.”
Kent’s eyes narrowed.
“And about the women on the ranch being spanked if they misbehaved.”
Kent’s f
ace darkened. “What the fuck? How did that become a rumor?”
“I guess something was bound to leak out. No matter how careful we were.”
The people who lived and worked on the ranch were chosen because they were part of the lifestyle. Clint and Kent were very careful about protecting everyone on Sanctuary Ranch, but most particularly the women.
“Someone must have seen or heard something,” Kent mused. “Clint won’t be happy.”
No, he wouldn’t be. Clint was a giant mama bear. Gruff on the outside, marshmallow on the inside. But God help you if you threatened one of the people that he considered himself responsible for.
“But if it’s Mrs. Long and her cronies spreading the rumor, people aren’t likely to take too much notice,” Kent mused. “She’s a known gossip. They’ll likely think she’s making things up. And it’s not like we’re doing anything to be ashamed of.”
“Yeah, well, that’s the other thing. She went to Ed about it.”
Kent straightened. “She what?”
“Yeah. Apparently, she wanted him to investigate you all for abuse. Because she heard that your women are spanked and have to ask permission to do anything.”
“Fucking hell. That old bat. We’re not doing anything illegal.”
“So Ed didn’t come to you or Clint? He didn’t tell you about this?”
“No. He didn’t. But he might have been waiting until after the wedding, so he didn’t stress Clint out. I’ll call him. Things are bound to slip. Especially now that we have more Littles living here, it’s harder to keep everything secret. But the main thing is making certain that none of the women on the ranch are threatened or hurt by it.”
“Might be best if they didn’t go into town on their own for a while.”
Kent sighed. “Eden will be thrilled by that. I’ll let Zeke inform her.”
Linc didn’t envy Zeke that job. In a way, Eden was the most independent of all of them. Maybe it was because of the accident that had left her in a wheelchair, meaning she had to rely on people in other ways. Or maybe it was because she liked to drive fast and didn’t want anyone around to witness that and report back to Zeke.
He knew someone else who liked to speed. Linc shook his head at the thought of Marisol driving that piece-of-shit car at high enough speeds to get pulled over by Ed. Meanwhile, her aunt was driving around in a car that cost more than some people made in a year.
Daddy in Cowboy Boots (Montana Daddies Book 9) Page 9