Page 28 of Daddy's Little Cowgirl

He sighed. “We better get moving. We both have work to do.”

She was disappointed, but she nodded and let him move them down and off the ladder.

At the bottom, he turned her and placed his hands on her shoulder. She could tell that Ridge saw something in her eyes he didn’t like because his brows snapped together.

“You want me to keep holding you?” Ridge asked.

Ellie nodded without thinking about it. She didn’t have to. Being with him felt right at the start.

He squeezed but kept her at arm’s length. “Tonight, after dinner, how about we sit and watch a movie together? Then I can hold you.”

“Yes. I’d like that.”

He pressed his lips against her forehead. “Good. You better check in with Maggie.”

“I will.”

He turned her to face away from him and then swatted her ass.

She looked over her shoulder. “What was that for?”

Ridge shrugged. “I thought you needed a boost to get moving.”

She couldn’t keep a straight face when he stood grinning down at her. Instead of saying any more, she walked out of the barn. She turned back when she got to the porch to see him with his hands on his hips, watching her.

Ellie’s body softened, or most of it. Her nipples were harder than they’d ever been, and it made it worse when the bra rubbed over them. Her panties were wet. Sopping wet. If she hadn’t known better, she’d have thought she had pottied in her pants.

He nodded when she opened the door and walked in. She watched him turn and walk back into the barn.

Ellie was amazed at how much she missed him after only a minute. The thought scared her because what would happen if she left? How would she be able to deal with living without him?

Chapter Seventeen

Several hours later, Ridge came in the back door, set his hat on a hook, and pulled his dirty boots off. Maggie was facing the stove and stirring something that smelled delicious.

“Do you know where Ellie is?” he asked.

Maggie turned and smiled. “I think she’s upstairs. I told her to lie down for a bit, and she said she’d try. I’m hoping she took a nap. She looked worn out.”

“Yeah. She had another rough night. I don’t know how to make it better for her,” Ridge said.

“She likes it when you’re close and touch her. Just be as affectionate as you can, and she’ll settle soon.”

“I hope so. I don’t like that she’s having difficulty living here.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “It’s only been three days. Give the girl time.”

Ridge relaxed. Maggie was right. He needed to chill and give Ellie time. “I’m going to shower. I’ll look for her after that.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t want to hug someone that smelled like cow poo. What did you do? Fall in it?”

“As a matter of fact, one of the cows caught me off-guard and shoved me to the ground.”

“Oh, Lord. How many people saw you?” she asked with a grin.

“Oh, it was at least a dozen,” he growled.

Maggie laughed. “I bet you won’t live that down for a while.”

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