Page 185 of Ride a Cowboy

Her father grinned. “I love you too. You’re an adult. I understand that. But that doesn’t mean you’re not my little girl. You’ll always be that.”

She recalled Vivi’s habit of calling her grown sons boys. Though her dad would respect her adult decisions, there was a part of him that would always remember the little girl who crawled onto his lap each night for a bedtime story. And as his child, she’d been too worried about disappointing him to come clean about what had truly begun as a casual affair.

Dad shrugged. “You could have told me about Daniel.”

She realized that now. Hell, she’d always known it. “I’m sorry I didn’t.” She rose from the couch and walked over to her dad. He stood, welcoming her into his strong embrace. Her dad gave some of the world’s greatest hugs. The only ones that had ever come close to comparing were Daniel’s.

“Now,” Dad said. “If you’ll excuse us a minute, Sienna, I think Daniel and I need to have a little chat. Man to man.”

She shook her head. “Hell no.”

Daniel stood. “It’s okay, Sienna. Your dad’s right.”

She glanced at him nervously. “Daniel?—”

“Just give us a few minutes,” Daniel prodded.

She flashed her father an unspoken warning, not that she expected it to work.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt your boyfriend, Sienna.” And then, because he was a horrible tease, Dad added, “Much.”

“Fine. I’ll just go find Mom and Vivi.” She could issue threats as well as her father. If there was any force capable of holding her dad back, it was Seth’s wife and his mother. Sienna wasn’t completely without backup.

She stopped at the doorway to the hall and glanced back. Daniel gave her a reassuring wink.

With that, she left.

“So what’s the plan?”

Daniel frowned at Seth’s question. “Plan?”

Seth crossed his arms. “Don’t play stupid, Daniel. You got it bad for her. But something tells me she hasn’t quite figured that out yet.”

Daniel grimaced and sank back onto the couch. “She knows.”

“Ah,” Seth nodded, reclaiming his own seat. “She still hung up on Josh?”

Daniel shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.” The more he thought of it, the more he realized Josh really was out of the picture. “No. She’s not,” he added, more firmly.

“I’m glad to hear it. So what’s your next move?”

“God, Seth. I wish I could figure one out. I considered taking a page from your book, but I’m guessing I wouldn’t have your blessing to kidnap Sienna and hide her away until she comes around.”

“You wouldn’t.”

Daniel chuckled. “Yeah. I didn’t think so. You can blame your brothers for that idea, by the way. They planted a seed at Christmas when they talked about the way you proposed to Jody.”

Seth nodded. “So noted. I’ll find my brothers after we finish up here and kick their asses instead since I foolishly promised my daughter I wouldn’t hurt you. Won’t be the first time.”

“I love her, Seth. I’m in love with her. I feel like I’ve been thrown off the bull and now he’s crushing my guts out under his hooves.”

“That sounds about right.”

Daniel looked at Seth incredulously. “Nothing about this feels right. Every time I think I’m getting through to her, every time I feel like maybe she’s starting to care for me, she takes three big steps back. Doesn’t help that Josh keeps creeping in every now and then. Everyone she loves keeps telling her to get out there, that there are other fish in the sea. She spent years of her life, walking toward a future that was certain in her mind. I’ve been here less than three months and I’m asking her to throw all that away, to take a chance on me.”

“Can I give you a little advice?”

“Hell yeah.” Daniel was grateful for the offer. He’d come to respect Seth Compton as much as he did his own father. Seth wouldn’t lead him wrong.

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