Page 27 of Daddy's Little Cowgirl

She felt like she’d burst apart at the excitement racing through her. “Yes. I’d like that.”

They stopped in the kitchen to say good morning to Maggie before sitting at the table. It went like it had the first morning, and she took tranquility from it. She’d always been a person who liked to have somewhat of a schedule. It didn’t have to be rigid, but she liked knowing where she would be at any time during the day.

After breakfast, Ridge took her hand and led her out to one of the barns and over to wooden stairs attached to the wall.

Ellie looked up and then at him. “They’re up there?”

“The last time I checked. Don’t worry. I’ll be right behind you. You’re safe.”

Ellie nodded and started climbing.

“Remember to be very quiet and move slowly, or we’ll spook her.”

Ellie tried as hard as she could to be quiet. When they got to the top, Ridge pointed to a corner where the mama cat lay feeding her kittens.

Ellie pressed her hand over her mouth. “Oh my,” she whispered.

Ridge stroked her back. “I sometimes forget what a blessing new life is.”

He tapped her shoulder. “Let’s get down to our knees so we’re not so big.”

They sat and stared for a few minutes. Ellie was enthralled and could have sat there for hours.

She smiled and pointed. “Look, they’re all asleep, but they keep eating.”

“No, Sweetheart, the kittens don’t open their eyes until they’re around eight to twelve days old. They’ve been here about a week, so it should happen in the next few days.”

“What happens if they open them early?” she asked.

“It could blind the cat.”

She gasped and gazed up at him. “Oh, poor things.”

Ridge smiled. “It’s never happened here. We know how to take care of the babies.”

She nodded and turned back to the cats. She had no idea how long they knelt there when Ridge tapped her shoulder.

“What?” She was careful to keep her voice low.

“We can come back later. If we stay too long, the mama may get nervous and move them again.”

Ellie shook her head. “Oh, no. Then we might not be able to find them.”

Ridge nodded. “That’s right.” He stepped on the ladder. “Come here. You’ll climb down in front of me so I can keep you safe.”

“I’m not afraid of the ladder.”

“I am when it comes to you, so humor me.” He grinned.

She didn’t say anything and let him pull her in front of him.

“Now, let’s take a step down.”

She almost rolled her eyes.

They were halfway down the ladder when she noticed he had stopped, and the heat that came off his body and his hot male scent made her mouth water and her legs shake. She almost lost her footing when she felt his chest press against her back and his arms pinning her to the ladder.

They didn’t move for a long time, and she reveled in the attention. She wanted to believe that the thing pressing against her ass was his penis. She didn’t get a good feel for it before he took it away.

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